Article
Breaking the Cycle:
Addressing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children – Part 1
By Catherine Lewis
Every year in the United States, approximately 2,600 children are tragically trafficked and exploited in what is called the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)[1]. However, due to the surreptitious nature of the crime, this statistic does not fully represent the true number of victims devastated by human trafficking. There are likely more victims suffering in silence, which is why it is crucial to understand risk factors, identification, and prevention methods so that we can help survivors and protect children at risk.
First, it is important to understand how children become victims of human trafficking. Often, victims of trafficking have been in or currently are in the foster care system. Sadly, these youth have likely been placed into foster care in the first place because of abuse and trauma they faced in their early life. While in foster care, they are more susceptible to trafficking due to lowered self-worth, losing faith that someone will take care of them, and the monetization of their care[2]. Neglect in the foster care system generates a need for love and belonging that abusers and traffickers weaponize. Outside of the foster care system, other risk factors include homelessness, exposure to domestic violence, parental substance abuse, difficulties at school, and a history of exploitation in the family or community.
To make matters worse, once a child is in a cycle of trafficking, it is incredibly difficult to break out of it. Unfortunately, the justice system tends to criminalize children by treating them punitively instead of giving them the resources they need to heal. For example, a young girl may be brought in for prostitution, and then charged for selling sex and other related offenses. However, the trafficker is not adequately punished because of prosecution disparities in the justice system. Essentially, punishment is considerably skewed towards the victims, meaning they don’t get sufficient support and treatment. Later down the line, this often leads to a higher risk of revictimization. It is clear to see how it is difficult to break out of this vicious cycle because of how victims are criminalized rather than rehabilitated.
Humanizing vulnerable youth is the key to open and honest communication and healing. Identifying victims can be difficult, however, because many CSEC youth do not see themselves as victims. Other times, they might be rehearsing a trafficker-provided script that masks their true situation. It can be helpful to build a trusting relationship with a victim before officially interviewing them. This creates a safe space where youth can feel more comfortable sharing their experiences.
Figure source: Human Trafficking in America’s Schools [https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NCSSLE-2021HumanTraffickingGuide-508.pdf]
After knowing how to recognize risk factors and identify victims, it is essential to know how to prevent further victimization so that lives aren’t needlessly ruined by human trafficking. To start, the justice system needs to make a significant change in how they handle CSEC cases. It must stop criminalizing the victim, place swift punishment on the perpetrator, and invest in providing resources to victims. Schools are also a place where solutions can be implemented. When trafficking victims are minors, they are often part of the U.S. public school system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed a three-tier trafficking prevention pyramid designed to be implemented in schools[3]. The primary tier focuses on broader and more universal prevention by training staff, educating students, and enacting investigative policies. The secondary tier involves identifying victims, providing immediate help, and preventing further abuse. The tertiary tier prioritizes healing and offering long-term support to victims. If implemented, this method shows promise in preventing trafficking and saving thousands of young lives from these atrocious crimes.
As a teenage girl, this deep dive into CSEC makes me fearful and wary of the world around me. It makes me sick to think that there are people my age who are victims of unimaginable physical, mental, and emotional abuse. The tragic reality is that commercial sexual exploitation could happen to any child, regardless of age, gender, status, or race. That is why it is so crucial to have open and honest discussions about CSEC with your loved ones and your community, especially children. Even just the knowledge that these dangers exist can be a powerful tool to empower youth to resist traffickers’ tactics. For these reasons, I plan to educate my peers on CSEC with the goal of making my community a safer place.
[2] The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
[3] National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments