STOP SEXUAL EXPLOITATION!
Sexual exploitation is the sexual abuse of children and youth through the exchange of sex or sexual acts for drugs, food, shelter, protection, other basics of life, and/or money. Sexual exploitation includes involving children and youth in creating pornography and sexually explicit websites. While the Criminal Code of Canada defines sexually exploited youth as under 18 years of age, the Child, Family and Community Service Act is applicable to youth under age 19. Therefore, youth who are under 19 years old are able to access services through the Ministry of Children and Family Development
Other terms that are used to talk about sexual exploitation are “child prostitution” and “youth sex trade”. We use the terms “sexual exploitation” or “commercial sexual exploitation” to acknowledge that the use of children and youth for sexual acts is abuse and is inherently exploitative.
While youth may not use the term “sexual exploitation” to talk about involvement in the sex trade, this is the way that it is framed under the law. Many sexually exploited youth face realities of drug use, homelessness, past trauma, and other factors which have lead them in to the survival sex trade. Other youth may have no such history and may have been lured, tricked or forced in to being sexually exploited. Regardless of their personal history and life experience, it is important to respect the identities of these youth while also recognizing that any sex act between youth and adults is abuse.
Internationally, some sexually exploited children and youth are victims of human trafficking, that is they have been moved across borders through force or coercion for the purposes of sexual exploitation
Other terms that are used to talk about sexual exploitation are “child prostitution” and “youth sex trade”. We use the terms “sexual exploitation” or “commercial sexual exploitation” to acknowledge that the use of children and youth for sexual acts is abuse and is inherently exploitative.
While youth may not use the term “sexual exploitation” to talk about involvement in the sex trade, this is the way that it is framed under the law. Many sexually exploited youth face realities of drug use, homelessness, past trauma, and other factors which have lead them in to the survival sex trade. Other youth may have no such history and may have been lured, tricked or forced in to being sexually exploited. Regardless of their personal history and life experience, it is important to respect the identities of these youth while also recognizing that any sex act between youth and adults is abuse.
Internationally, some sexually exploited children and youth are victims of human trafficking, that is they have been moved across borders through force or coercion for the purposes of sexual exploitation