SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

WHO CAN BE AFFECT BY SEXUAL EXPLOITATION?

CSE can affect any child, anytime, anywhere – regardless of their social status or ethnic background.
World Health Organisation (WHO) (2015) estimates CSE rates globally amongst children under the age of 18 to be 73 million and 150 million respectively. According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) (2015), 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused. 1 in 3 children sexually abused by an adult did not tell anyone. Over 90% of sexually abused children were abused by someone they knew. Over a third of sexual offences recorded by the police are against children. Over 2,800 children were identified as needing protection from sexual abuse last year. Child sexual abuse costs the UK £3.2bn a year (Saied-Tessier, 2014). However, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) (2015) evidence suggests that the number is far greater due to unreported cases.

CHANGE IN TERMINOLOGY

The term child prostitution has been removed or banished from the England legislation
referring to a:
“child sex trafficking victim,” “sex-trafficked child,” and “commercially sexually abused child”
As “sex worker” or “prostitute. “involved in prostitution is unacceptable.
They are Victims of – Child Trafficking or sexual abuse