By Constance Thum, Contributing Writer
A report was released by the Institute of Medicine (IOC) and National Research Council (NRC) regarding commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors, which refers to individuals younger than age 18, in the United States, and how such issues can be confronted. Several risk factors at the individual, relationship, community and societal levels were highlighted. This article will discuss preventive measures we can take in relation to some of the identified risk factors of youth sex trafficking and exploitation.
At the individual level, runaway and homeless children are easy targets for sex traffickers due to lack of adult supervision to protect them from predators. Some preventive measures that may be taken include alerting the authorities if suspicious activity is spotted, such as strangers approaching children, and referring runaway and homeless children to relevant agencies where they may seek necessary help or shelter. Youth with a history of neglect, abuse or facing discrimination are also particularly vulnerable to recruitment due to psychological factors such as poor self-esteem and depression, which may be manipulated by sex traffickers. People surrounding such individuals are encouraged to express their concern and to show their support, reminding their loved ones or friends that they are not alone.
Likewise, at the relationship level, minors living in families with conflict and dysfunction may leave their homes and thus lose the protection of parental figures or be subject to abuse and exploitation from family members themselves. In the latter case, hotlines and location of help centers should be widely disseminated, be it through flyers or posters, so that minors have ready access to such information in times of crisis.
At a community level, youth involved in gangs may be prone to sexual abuse while peer pressure may increase a youth’s likelihood of entering commercial sexual activity at a younger age. Children from under-resourced schools and neighborhoods also tend to be victims of sex trafficking and exploitation as they may be tempted by monetary incentives to unknowingly engage in unlawful activities. Poverty, crime, exposure to adult prostitution and police corruption are factors that contribute and increase the risk of involvement in sex trafficking. A feasible plan is for teachers to monitor the behavior of students for signs of abuse or exploitation and to alert the authorities and their parents if necessary. A similar approach should be taken for children facing social isolation and have teachers or counselors reach out to them.
At a societal level, lack of awareness and resources remains a problem despite having immense potential to combat sex trafficking and exploitation. Talks and workshops may be conducted through partnerships with schools and local communities to raise awareness amongst students, teachers and residents on warning signs and actions they can take in suspected cases of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation. Law enforcement agencies may even be involved to give training to teachers or teach basic self-defense techniques to minors. Advocacy through social media may also play a role in raising awareness and resources for sex trafficking causes that allow them to better help potential victims.
Overall, adults should intervene if red flags are spotted yet should be mindful not to overstep boundaries even when they have good intentions to protect children and youths at risk.
Resources and Further Reading
Sexual Exploitation & Sex Trafficking of Minors
Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States