The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Understanding and

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Understanding and Responding to Victims Katryn Haley-Little, LICSW Clinical Director A Program of Justice Resource Institute

“Teen Prostitute” vs. “Commercially Sexually Exploited Child”

What is CSEC? The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is: • A form of child sexual abuse • Includes remuneration in the form of something of value to that child (money, goods, services) • Preys on a child’s vulnerabilities CSEC is NOT: • Delinquency • “Promiscuity” • “Girls Gone Wild”

CSEC Includes… • • • Street prostitution Pornography Stripping Erotic/nude massage Escort services Phone sex lines • • • Private parties Gang-based prostitution Survival Trafficking Interfamilial pimping Internet-based exploitation

Media Images of Human Trafficking

The Reality: Maria On our community On victims’ mind, body and soul

The Reality: Mickey On our community On victims’ mind, body and soul

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking TVPA Definition The Trafficking Victims Prevention Act (TVPA) passed in 2000 is federal law that laid the ground work for combating CSEC. The federal definition of “severe forms of sex trafficking” for minors (under age 18) includes: • Any commercial sex act • Regardless of whether or not coercion is involved The federal PROTECT Act (2003), the MA Human Trafficking State Law (2012) and the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (2015) followed.

MLMC Stats: FY 2017 Of the 204 youth reached by MLMC in 2017 • The average of first exploitation was 14 years old • 51% were under 14 years of age at the point of first exploitation • 85% of youth were child welfare system involved

MLMC Youth Served 2017 Breakdown of Youth Served by Ethnicity/Race Latina 32% African American 22 % White 31% Asian 2% Mixed Race 13%

Routes of Domestic Sex Traffic in U. S. Source: GEMS

Profile of a Buyer USA DATA • 15% of American Men over 18 have purchased sex (~15 million) • 1% of American men over 18 purchased in the last year (~1 million) • 60 -80% of illegal commercial sex transactions are brokered online (Urban Institute, 2014) BOSTON DATA: • Average number of unique sex buyer contacts per ad posted in Boston is 33 (Oct-Feb) (Demand Abolition, 2015) • 21 is the average of first time buying sex (Boston Buyers Study 2011) • 43% were with friends when they bought (Boston Buyers Study 2011)

Who is at risk?

Girls Who… Have not reached 18 years of age Own or have access to a cell phone, IPod or laptop Want more independence Have ability to be in community without adult supervision Feel judged and feel like others don’t “get them” Want to fit in Want to be “in love” Are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain friendships and/or romantic relationships If this is the case, who is at risk from recruitment by a pimp? • •

Barbra On our community On victims’ mind, body and soul

Laura

Hidden in Plain Sight… 20% of youth in a Canadian study were living at home at the time when they were first exploited. (Saewyc et al. , 2008) “I was home for dinner at 5: 00. ” Nicole, 14, MLMC Leadership Corps member

Other Risk Factors • • Domestic Violence Addiction Loss of Parent Mental Health Concerns Learning Disabilities/Cognitive Limitations Racism Sexism Classism

How do pimps recruit girls and “turn them out? ”

ASK: “When young people are on the run, they often have to do a lot of things to survive. What did you have to do to survive? ” “Have you ever exchanged sex for money, food, shelter, or drugs? ”

Red Flags • Has a history of being missing from care/“running away” (including being out of state). • Has visible signs of abuse (i. e. cigarette burns, marks on body but not face, etc. ). • Behaviors are consistent with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (i. e. hypervigilance, fear, etc. ). • Attire/dress is not appropriate for the season/situation.

Red Flags • Clothing/jewelry/phone has upgraded over time in a way that can’t be accounted for by a family financial situation or job. • Has a tattoo which the youth is reluctant to explain. • Found in an area known for prostitution (a physical area or website). • Uses language from the Life. • Frequently truant from school.

Red Flags • Is involved with a male who is significantly older than her and/or gang involved. • Has a history of multiple Sexually Transmitted Infections and/or pregnancies. • Has access to hormone injections –outside the supervision of a medical provider. • Has new “friends”—older teens or adults. • Is disconnected from her family or other caregivers.

CSEC & Filing a 51 A: Key Points • CSEC is a form of child abuse. • You must file regardless of caretaker status. • 51 As filed due to concerns of CSEC will be screened as “Human Trafficking – Sexually Exploited Child” • DCF will screen and determine whether to initiate an investigative response. • Report will be sent to the DA’s office. • Multidisciplinary response should result.

Questions “My Life My Choice is the gold standard in prevention and mentoring programs for commercially sexually exploited and trafficked girls. ” RACHEL LLOYD PRESIDENT Girls Educational and Mentoring Services Katryn Haley-Little, LICSW Clinical Director 857 -330 -1002 klittle@jri. org Training Questions Nikki Valila Director of Training 617. 483. 0568 nvalila@jri. org www. fightingexploitation. org www. facebook. com/mylifemychoice