Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States A Guide for the Health Care Sector (2014) / Chapter Skim
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2 The Problem
2 The Problem
Pages 5-12
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From page 5... ...
One of the messages that emerges from this discussion is that, while the gravity of the problem is clear, critical gaps in the knowledge base for understanding and addressing it need to be filled. The Definition Issue The language used to describe aspects of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking crimes and their victims and survivors -- a collection of terms derived from the range of agencies, sectors, and individuals working to prevent and address these crimes -- varies considerably.
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From page 6... ...
. BOX 1 Definition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors Commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors encompass a range of crimes of a sexual nature committed against children and adolescents, including • ecruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, and/or r maintaining (acts that constitute trafficking)
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From page 7... ...
Guiding Principles "Minors who are commercially sexually exploited or trafficked for sexual purposes should not be considered criminals." The IOM/NRC report offers the following guiding principles as an essential foundation for understanding and responding to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors: • Commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors should be understood as acts of abuse and violence against children and adolescents. • Minors who are commercially sexually exploited or trafficked for sexual purposes should not be considered criminals.
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From page 8... ...
Extent of the Problem "Despite the current imperfect estimates, commercial sexual exploi tation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States clearly are problems of grave concern." Despite the gravity of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States, these crimes currently are not well understood or adequately addressed. Many factors contribute to this lack of understanding.
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From page 9... ...
Therefore, the report's recommendations go beyond refining national estimates of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States to emphasize that unless additional resources become available existing resources should be focused on what can be done to assist the victims of these crimes. Risk Factors Risk factors for victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors have been identified at the individual, family, peer, neighborhood, and societal levels (see Figure 2)
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From page 10... ...
10 Societal Community Relationship Individual Risk Factors Risk Factors Risk Factors Risk Factors • Lack of awareness • Peer pressure • Family conflict, • History of child abuse, neglect, or of commercial • Social norms disruption, or maltreatment sexual exploitation • Social isolation dysfunction • Homeless, runaway, or "thrown-away" and sex trafficking • Gang involvement • LGBT • Sexualization of • Underresourced • History of being systems-involved children schools, (e.g., juvenile justice, criminal justice, • Lack of resources neighborhoods, foster care) and communities • Stigma and discrimination FIGURE 2 Possible risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors.
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From page 11... ...
Consequences "Overall, research suggests that victims and survivors of commer cial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking face developmental, social, societal, and legal consequences that have both short- and long-term impacts on their health and well-being." The available literature shows that child maltreatment, particularly child sexual abuse, has significant negative impacts on the physical health, mental health, and social functioning of victims in adulthood, and leads to increased health risk behaviors and mental health problems among adolescents. While studies focused on consequences for commercially sexually exploited children and adolescents are rare, the data based on child sexual abuse are useful given evidence that these problems are linked in some cases.
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From page 12... ...
• eyond child maltreatment, the experience of childhood adversity, such B as growing up in a home with a family member with mental illness or substance abuse or having an incarcerated parent, may increase the risk for involvement in commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors. • eer pressure and modeling can influence a youth's entry into (or avoid P ance of)
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