About Child Sex Exploitation The Issue E v ide n c e f r o m the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicates that more than 20 percent of victims of all trafficking, both within countries and across borders, are children. Most cases are not reported. Many children are sold into prostitution to pay off family debts or forcibly recruited on the street to work in brothels. Children as young as 5 are involved in this heinous industry. The Facts A lt h o ugh c hil dr en from all social and economic backgrounds are at risk of sexual abuse, those most vulnerable live in economically depressed situations. Street children are particularly vulnerable because they have very few resources and networks to turn to for protection. Children in poverty-stricken countries can be more vulnerable if their families are desperate for income. Many are forced, coerced, or tricked into prostitution. G ir l s a n d bo y s younger than 18, children living in poverty, street children, runaways, children in vulnerable or marginalized situations, and children of all social and economic status are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. A r e p r e h e n s ib l e pr ac t ic e known as trafficking is becoming increasingly common. Children around the world are recruited, abducted, transported, and often sold through fraud, and deception and then forced into slave-like conditions. Many are forced into prostitution, sexual servitude, or child labor. » Over 300 million children worldwide are subjected to hazardous physical labor, commercial sex exploitation, and child trafficking. (Source: UNICEF, “Stop Child Exploitation” webpage) » It is estimated that some $32 billion per year profit is made by criminals who exploit trafficked victims for both sexual and economic exploitation. (Source: ILO, 2009 Global Report on Forced Labour, The Cost of Coercion) PA G E 1 O F 4 Se xua l e xp l o itat io n o f c hildr en occurs in various locations, including on the streets, in brothels, in private homes, and in tourist facilities, such as hotels. The causes of sexual exploitation are varied. Organized crime, corruption, lack of enforced laws, as well as pornography and promotion of sex tours on the Internet all contribute to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, illiteracy, and lack of education also perpetuate both commercial and noncommercial exploitation, as do cultural customs that devalue women and girls. Long-lasting physical, social, spiritual, and psychological damages are levied on these children. They can suffer disease (including HIV), violence, abuse, drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, forced abortion, malnutrition, and social ostracism. They can be severely wounded, both physically and emotionally, and almost all experience rejection by their families and communities in addition to feeling fear, shame, and despair. Child sex tourism, the practice of traveling to another country for the purpose of having sex with children, exacerbates the commercial sex trade. Some sex tourists are pedophiles, specifically seeking underage boys and girls. Some Americans take advantage of prostituted children while traveling to impoverished countries for business, tourism, and other legitimate reasons. Others travel abroad specifically for sex tours. Sex tourists travel to countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Brazil expecting anonymity, low-cost prostitution, easily accessible children, and impunity from prosecution. The United States has laws that prohibit sex with minors in other countries and has greatly increased government efforts to combat this problem. Under the PROTECT Act of 2003, U.S. citizens or residents who engage in sexual activity abroad with children younger than 18 can face 30 years in a U.S. prison. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now actively investigating American sex tourists abroad and making arrests. What You Can Do » P r ay f o r p e o p le 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 who are abused, exploited, and neglected. » A dv o c at e . Ask your senators and representative to push for an increase in resources to prosecute U.S. citizens who sexually exploit children overseas. » Re p o rt a n A m er ic an sex t o ur ist. If you have information regarding a person who has sexually exploited a child, or suspect someone of child sex tourism, you can contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. PA G E 2 O F 4 » G o t o w o r l dv isio nr eso ur c es.c o m to become a sponsor. For about $30 a month, you can help communities learn how to make their families and homes safe from predators and traffickers. » Lea r n m o r e a b o ut c hildr en who are sexually exploited at worldvisionresources. com and click on “get involved” for more information. During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within, please contact World Vision Resources. Copyright © 2012 by World Vision Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, 253815-3320, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved. PA G E 3 O F 4 About World Vision W o rld V i s i o n is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org. About World Vision Resources E nding gl o b a l po v ert y and injustice begins with education: understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world. World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world. For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources wvresources@worldvision.org worldvisionresources.com PA G E 4 O F 4