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Sexual Exploitation

Child Abuse

Sexual Exploitation of Children

Human trafficking is widely defined as “a crime that involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex.” In Massachusetts the trafficking of children is known as Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). Our multidisciplinary team recognizes that CSEC occurs when a person under the age of 18 is offered/offers to engage, or does engage, in sexual conduct with another person for a fee or in exchange for food, shelter, clothing, education, or something of value to them. Child sexual abuse material (nude or sexual photos of someone under 18) is also considered a form of trafficking.

This video was made possible by grant funding from the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance.

Risk Factors

CSEC uses a child’s age or other vulnerabilities and any child under the age of 18 is at risk, but those with the following risk factors are especially vulnerable:

Has access to the internet

Anyone who owns or have access to any internet accessible device (including video game systems, tablets, PC’s or mobile devices) is at risk for being manipulated into online or in person exploitation.

Desires independence

As children become older and want more independence, they may take extraordinary, and sometimes dangerous, risk to “fit in” or to remain “in love.”

In foster care or residential placement

Children who are in the custody or care of child protective services already carry several risk factors, and often a history of abuse or neglect. Perpetrators manipulate those with lower safety nets to exploit due to these vulnerabilities.

Unstable home, school life, or housing

Children from unstable homes, either the family structure or environment may fall victim to those who romanticize relationships and build trust greater than the feel with their family. They then violate this trust to exploit the victim.

Family challenges with legal status

When families are vulnerable to threats of being reported to their legal status, exploiters may take advantage of the children in these systems, when families feel there is no way to get help. This is not true however, and victims and their families are protected if they are exploited.

May identify as LGBTQ+

Lack of family support, rejection from peers and support networks, or barriers in their living area isolates LGBTQIA+ youth. Nearly 40% of homeless youth in America identify as LBTQIA As such, survival base exploitation impacts LGBTQIA+ youth at an incredibly higher rate.

History of child sexual abuse

Nearly 70% of survivors of CSEC and human trafficking identify they had been victims of disclosed or previously undisclosed sexual abuse as a child.  The impacts on self-worth, value and at times survival tactics increases the vulnerability of individuals to further exploitation.

Signs of Exploitation

Unfortunately, there is no clear and discernable sign that a child is being exploited. At times, there may be no signs at all. However here are some red flags to pay attention to.

  • Regularly runs away from home, or goes missing from care, sometimes out of the area they live
  • Stops engaging in social activities, hobbies, or friend groups
  • Unexplained absences from school
  • Lies about age and identity or has secret online profiles and cell phones
  • Has profiles to dating sites used for adults
  • Has material items inconsistent with the child’s access to money or socioeconomic status
  • Dependency or misuse of substances
  • Has large amounts of cash, pre-paid cards, or hotel keys

If you see these signs with your child, or a child you know, click here to Get Help, or contact us today to discuss.

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Individuals pictured are models and are used for illustrative purposes only.
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