Child sexual exploitation is when a child is involved in a sexual act for money. Child pornography, child sex trafficking, sextortion, live streaming of child sexual abuse, and child prostitution are some of the examples. Child pornography is the production, distribution, or possession of sexually explicit images or videos of children for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. It is also referred to as child exploitation or child porn.
The term “child pornography” is often used interchangeably with “pornography” in the United States and other countries. Criminal sexual conduct is any sexual activity that is against the law.
Table of Contents
What Causes Child Exploitation?
A history of being abused or neglected as a child can increase a person’s risk of becoming abusive. Depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, family crisis or stress, including domestic violence and other marital conflicts, especially if the abuse was perpetrated by a family member or friend, is a symptom of physical or mental illness. Physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner.
Sexual abuse is defined as any act of sexual intercourse, oral or anal sex, or fondling of the genitals, breasts, buttocks or buttocks of another person, whether or not the act is forced or performed by force or threat of force. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, rape, incest, and statutory rape. The term “sexual abuse” does not include consensual sexual activity between two consenting adults who are not in a position of authority over the other person.
For example, a husband and wife may have consensual sex in the privacy of their own home. However, if one of them is a police officer, he or she may not be allowed to have sex with his or her wife, even if it is consensual.
Is exploitation a form of abuse?
Exploitation is the deliberate maltreatment, manipulation or abuse of power and control over another person. Usually, but not always, it is taking advantage of another person for personal gain. Exploitation can be done in many different ways. The exploitation of a person’s physical or mental health or well-being for financial gain or to satisfy a sexual desire or need.
The use of physical, emotional, or psychological coercion to obtain money, goods, services or other things of value for oneself or for someone else. An example of this type of exploitation would be a business owner who uses his or her position of authority to coerce a worker into working for less than the minimum wage. A person may also be exploited if he or she is forced to do something against their will.
For example, a woman may be forced into having an abortion because she does not want to have a child with a man who is not her husband. This is called “forced abortion” and is illegal in all 50 states. In some states, it is also illegal to force a pregnant woman to give birth to a baby that she would not otherwise be able to bear.
What is the most severe form of child exploitation?
The sexual exploitation of children (prostitution, pornography and pornographic performances): sexual exploitation is taking advantage of someone for personal gain and profit by involving them in a sexual activity. Sexual exploitation can take many forms, including but not limited to: sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment, forced prostitution, prostitution of minors, child pornography, and child prostitution.
It can also take the form of sexual abuse, such as rape and sexual molestation, as well as physical and emotional abuse. In some cases, the victim may be forced to perform sexual acts against their will, or may not be aware that they are being sexually exploited at all. Trafficking occurs when a person is forced into the sex industry by force, fraud, coercion or deception.
Sex trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of persons for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery, through the use of threats, violence, deception or other forms of coercion. The term “trafficking” as used in this article does not include the sale or purchase of sex by consenting adults in private, consensual, non-commercial settings.
Why is child exploitation a problem?
Increased risk of rape, sexual assault, physical violence, sexually transmitted infections, trafficking and pressure to use drugs and alcohol are some of the things exploited young people are at increased risk of. Every aspect of a child’s life can be impacted by exploitation.
What is child exploitation safeguarding?
The department for education, nidirect, and the department for children, schools and families all state that it occurs when an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to force a child or young person into sexual activity. Sexual abuse of children and young people is a serious crime that can have a devastating effect on the victim’s mental and physical health.
It can lead to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm and suicidal thoughts (NIDDirect, 2018). Sexual abuse can also have long-term consequences for the child and their family.
For example, children who have been sexually abused are more likely to be sexually active later in life, and are at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2015).
Children who experience sexual abuse may also be at increased risk for depression and other mental health problems, such as eating disorders, substance abuse and anxiety disorders (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).
