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Public identification of the sexual exploitation of children and youth within the sex trade in Canada as a real problem is a relatively new phenomenon. Legally and morally, this form of violence against girls and young women takes on a different meaning for Canadians than does adult prostitution (Busby et al., 2002). Legally defined as child abuse, child prostitution is still considered in the mind-set of most Canadians as rare and outside our normal experience. It certainly affronts our idealized perceptions of childhood and adolescence. We prefer to see youth operating within the ‘sex trade’ as isolated instances of ‘street kids’ who have opted out of mainstream society and use sex as a ‘trade’ for money, alcohol or drugs — essentially a business transaction (Task Force on Children Involved in Prostitution, 1997). The perceptions of youth prostitution run the gamut from a lifestyle choice to a criminal activity to child sexual abuse. The idea of the sexual slavery of children (controlled by pimps and other persons who profit from the abuse) and their exportation to other cities or countries is reserved for children in Bangkok or other exotic locales. Conferences such as the International Summit of Sexually Exploited Youth in Victoria, British Columbia in 1998 and provincial reports such as those by British Columbia (Assistant Deputy Ministers’ Committee on Prostitution and the Sexual Exploitation of Youth, 2001) and Alberta (Task Force on Children Involved in Prostitution, 1997) have helped to raise the profile of the problem of sexually exploited children and youth, not only abroad but as a Canadian problem as well. Prostitution is viewed as an extensive problem in most communities (e.g., in over 75% of communities surveyed in British Columbia), although the number of youth involved has not been determined (Assistant Deputy Ministers’ Committee on Prostitution and the Sexual Exploitation of Youth, 2001). We do not have reliable research data on the extent of Canadian children and youth being sexually exploited through prostitution, however, it is estimated that 10% to 12% of all individuals involved in prostitution are less than 18 years of age (Task Force on Children Involved in Prostitution, 1997). Approximately 14% of those charged for prostitution-related offences are youths with a 5 to 1 female to male distribution (DeKeseredy, 2000). There is an over-representation of girls, especially Aboriginal girls (up to 65% of sexually exploited youth in some communities). The Assistant Deputy Ministers’ Committee on Prostitution and the Sexual Exploitation of Youth (2001) reported that most youth involved in prostitution were females aged 15 to 18, although some were as young as 10 and under were known to be involved. Fewer boys were estimated to be involved and they tend to be less visible. According to the same study, sexually exploited youth come from every socioeconomic class, although children from economically disadvantaged, multi-problem families seem over-represented. Most of these young people have been sexually and physically exploited as children within their families and communities. They tend to leave school and home at an early age and turn to prostitution through economic need and association with other street youth. On the streets, these youth continue to experience considerable violence from johns, pimps and others, such as institutional harassment from some police members (Nixon, Tutty, Downe, Gorkoff & Ursel, in press). What We Know About School-based Sexual Exploitation Prevention School-based prevention efforts related to sexual exploitation are very new. Several sexual harassment prevention programs include sexual exploitation as a topic, but do not deal with this in an extensive manner. Program Objectives:Raising awareness and providing students with skills to recognize and avoid sexual exploitation are the objectives of the initial prevention efforts. Program Content:Separating myths and facts about child prostitution, understanding the realities of street life and how young people are lured into prostitution are the topics presented. Teacher Training: Raising awareness of the realities of child prostitution is the aim of the informal teacher training in this prevention area. Parent Involvement:As with teachers, parent presentations focus on raising awareness of the sexual exploitation of youth. Did They Work? These are very new initiatives and no formal evaluations have yet been planned. Assistant Deputy Ministers’ Committee on Prostitution and the Sexual Exploitation of Youth (2001). Sexual Exploitation of Youth in British Columbia. Victoria, BC: Ministry of the Attorney General. Busby, K., Downe, P., Gorkoff, K., Nixon, K., Tutty, L.& Ursel, J. (2002). Examination of innovative programming for children and youth involved in prostitution. In H. Berman and Y. Jiwani (Eds.), In the best interests of the girl child (pp. 89-113). London, ON: The Alliance of Five Research Centres on Violence. DeKeseredy, W.S. (2000). Women, crime and the Canadian criminal justice system. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing. Nixon, K., Tutty, L., Downe, P., Gorkoff, K., & Ursel, J. (in press). The everyday occurrence: Violence in the lives of girls exploited through prostitution. Violence Against Women [Special Issue on Prostitution]. Raphael, J. & O’Leary, C. (Eds.). Task Force on Children Involved in Prostitution (1997). Children involved in prostitution. Edmonton, AB: Government of Alberta. |
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This site last updated: 23 September, 2002 Home RESOLVE Alberta
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Sexually
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