CSEC Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Youth Advocate

CSEC Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Youth Advocate Program International 4545 42 nd St. NW, Suite 209, Washington DC 20016, USA www. yapi. org

CSEC What do you know? o Do children around the world share the same rights as children in the United States? o What countries have children who are forced into sexual prostitution, exploitation, and pornography? o Do men from wealthy countries, such as the United States of America, Great Britain, and France participate in child prostitution? o How old do you think children are when they enter the commercial sex industry? Source: Dario Mitidieri

CSEC What is CSEC? o The term CSEC stands for the commercial sexual exploitation of children. o “[CSEC] comprises sexual abuse by the adult and remuneration in cash or kind to the child or a third person or persons. The child is treated as a sexual object and as a commercial object. The commercial sexual exploitation of children constitutes a form of coercion and violence against children, and amounts to forced labor and a contemporary form of slavery. ” Source: Youth Advocate Program International (YAPI), ed. Laura A. Barnitz. Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Youth Involved in Prostitution, Pornography & Sex Trafficking, DC: Master, 1998.

CSEC Different Forms of CSEC Child Prostitution – to offer a child for the purpose of sexual activity in exchange for pay or other form of remuneration. Child Pornography – writing, film, images, or other material that portrays children in a sexually explicit manner for the purpose of the viewer’s sexual gratification. Source: Stop Child Trafficking

CSEC o Every year, as many as 2 million children around the world are exploited through prostitution or pornography. o 50, 000 - 100, 000 people are trafficked every year into the United States; of these, between 18, 000 and 20, 000 are children. Where does it occur? Source: ECPAT. “Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. ” March 7, 2002 http: //www. ecpatusa. org/pdf/senate_testimony. pdf (April 1, 2004). Source: “Child Protection: Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, ” http: //www. unicef. org/protection/index_exploitationhtml. (March 3, 2004).

CSEC Where does it occur?

CSEC Where does it occur? o Girls as young as 13 (mainly from Asia and Eastern Europe) are trafficked as ‘mail-order brides. ’ In most cases these girls and women are powerless, isolated, and at great risk of violence. o Approximately 200, 000 to 300, 000 children within the US are “at risk” of commercial sexual exploitation every year. The exact number of those actually exploited is unknown. o In Lithuania, estimates calculate that twenty to fifty percent of prostitutes are believed to be minors. o Thirty to thirty-five percent of all sex workers in the Mekong subregion (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand) are between 12 and 17. Source: “Child Protection: Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, ” < http: //www. unicef. org/protection/index_exploitation. html > (March 3, 2004). Source: “The Commercial Exploitation of Children in the US, Canada and Mexico, ” 10 September 2001, http: //www. ssw. upenn. edu/~restes/CSEC. htm (March 3, 2004). Source: “Child Protection: Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, ” < http: //www. unicef. org/protection/index_exploitation. html > (March 3, 2004). Source: Amy O’Neil Richard. April 2000. International Trafficking of Women to the United States: A Contemporary Manifestation of Slavery and Organized Crime. US State Department.

CSEC Why does it exist? o Poverty and related problems (such as homelessness and unemployment) mean children may be forced into the commercial sex industry because they need money for survival. o Above all, CSEC occurs because it is demanded and supplied by adults such as: n Pimps and madams n People involved in child sex tourism. n Child pornographers n Organized criminals Source: Stop Child Trafficking

CSEC Who is most vulnerable? o Children who experience poverty. o Children who are homeless. o Children who live near sex tourism destinations. o Children who live near military bases. o Children who have uncertain legal status.

CSEC o Consequences Children who were sexually exploited have their childhoods stolen from them. n n n They may feel worthless and dirty. They may lose their self respect, desire to live, and sense of purpose. They may become aggressive, violent or depressed. o Children are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV/ AIDS. o Children may be rejected by family and friends. o Children are prone to substance abuse (such as drugs or alcohol) in order to cope with their experiences.

CSEC Source: Stop Child Trafficking Recap and Discussion o Did you know so many children in the world are victims of CSEC? How many children did you think were victims? o Why do so many children become victims of CSEC? o What are some ways to prevent children from becoming victims of CSEC? o What can be done to help children who are already victims? What kind of help would you like if you were a victim?

CSEC What you can do o Educate yourself about CSEC. o Contact local, state, and national politicians: n o Talk to your parents about CSEC. n o Write letters asking for their opinion on CSEC. Educate the adults in your life! Advocate for awareness of CSEC. n Begin a social awareness/ human rights club.

CSEC For more information US Campaign Against CSEC www. stopcsec. us The Protection Project www. protectionproject. org Casa Alianza www. casa-alianza. org Polaris Project www. polarisproject. org Children of the Night www. childrenofthenight. org UNICEF www. unicef. org/crc ECPAT International www. ecpat. net Youth Advocate Program International www. yapi. org