Stop the sexual exploitation of children

An estimated 2 million children are enslaved in the global commercial sex trade (1) . Most are girls, but a significant number are boys (2). An untold number of others are sexually abused noncommercially. Most cases are not reported.

The sexual exploitation of children

Where does it occur? | Who are the most vulnerable? |What are the causes? | How does sexual exploitation impact the lives of children? |
What is World Vision doing? | What can you do?

What are the manifestations of child sexual exploitation?

Commercial		Noncommercial
Prostitution Sex tourism Child pornography Trafficking and sale of children for sexual purposes		Sexual abuse of girls or boys by family and community members Forced marriage

• In countries such as Lithuania, children as young as age 11 are known to work as prostitutes. Children from children’s homes, some 10 to 12 years old, have been used to make pornographic movies. (3)
• Girls as young as 13 (mainly from Asia and eastern Europe) are trafficked as "mail-order" brides. (3)
• Trafficking affects an estimated 1.2 million children per year, many of whom are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation. (3)
• Child sex trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry. (1)

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Where does it occur?

In all countries, both rich and poor. According to studies:

• Thailand, Cambodia, India, and Brazil have some of the highest rates of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
• In Mexico, more than 16,000 children are involved in prostitution. (3)
• Sexual exploitation of children occurs in various locations, including on the street, in brothels, in private homes, and in tourist facilities, such as hotels.

Who are the most vulnerable?

• Girls and boys under age 18
• Children living in poverty
• Street children
• Runaways
• Children in vulnerable or marginalized situations
• Children of all social and economic status

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What are the causes?

Poverty and unemployment Drug and alcohol abuse Government /law enforcement Corruption Expansion of organized crime and trafficking of children

Low status of girls in many countries Illiteracy and lack of education Inadequate or non-enforced laws Lack of political will to end the practice Pornography and the promotion of sex tours on the internet

How does sexual exploitation impact the lives of children?

• Long-lasting physical, social, spiritual, and psychological damage
• Disease (including HIV)
• Violence and abuse
• Drug addiction
• Unwanted pregnancy and forced abortions
• Malnutrition
• Social ostracism

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What is World Vision doing?

Throughout World Vision’s vast network of Area Development Programs (ADPs), there are programs designed to prevent children from being abused or drawn into the sex trade and to help those who have already been victimized. Our work focuses on prevention measures such as:

• Alleviating poverty which often makes children vulnerable to exploitation
• Raising awareness to help protect children from all forms of abuse and prevent children from being drawn or forced into the sex trade
• Providing skills training and income generation programs to reduce the prevalence of children being sold into or lured into the sex trade.

Protecting children before as well as after exploitation is a priority. This includes:

• Protecting child victims from criminalization
• Enabling child victims and their families to access legal and social services
• Urging the prosecution of exploiters
• Assessing the physical and emotional condition of children who have been abused and providing adequate medical attention and psychosocial support
• Sensitizing communities for child reintegration and follow-up on children who have been reintegrated
• Providing educational and skills training opportunities

World Vision has joined forces with national governments, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations to fight child sex tourism. U.S. citizens are among those from several wealthy countries who exploit children trapped in the commercial sex trade and fuel a demand for younger children.

With financial support from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, World Vision is tackling this problem through deterrence messaging, assisting law enforcement agencies, and prevention programs.

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Learn more

• Take a look at the World Vision report "Sex, sun and heritage:
  Tourism threats and opportunities in South East Asia," (PDF, 1.02 MB, 72 pgs).
• Read the World Vision congressional testimony "Examining U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking and slavery."
• The PROTECT Act provides a number of new measures to increase protection of children from sexual exploitation.

What you can do

Join us in the fight to protect children from sexually exploitation.

• Pray for people trying to assist these children. Pray for a transformation of the perpetrators of this crime. Pray for protection and healing for children around the world that are abused, exploited and neglected.
• Speak out. Ask Congress to increase resources to prosecute U.S. citizens who sexually exploit children overseas.
• Raise awareness among the members of your church or other communities. Inform them of the problem and get them connected with agencies that help children in conflict.
• Become a Child in Crisis Partner. For $20 a month, you can help one child after another escape a life of horror.
• Report an American child sex tourist. Contact the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if you have information regarding a person who has sexually exploited a child overseas, or suspect someone of child sex tourism.

Sources

1. State of the World's Children 2007 [PDF]. UNICEF. (2007)
2. State of the World’s Children 2006 [PDF]. UNICEF. (2006).
3. Factsheet: Child Trafficking. UNICEF. (2006).

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