What Is Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation involves someone under the age of 18 exchanging a sexual act for something in return. A sexual act can be exchanged for money, food, shelter, protection, love, acceptance, popularity, and anything else.
Some forms of sexual exploitation:
> pressure to send naked images
> pressure to engage in sexual acts at parties
> forced prostitution by pimps boyfriending or befriending youth
> sugar daddy/sugar baby relationships
> pressure to engage in sexual acts through online predators
> selling of sex by girlfriends of gang members
Quick Facts About Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation is the most common form of human trafficking globally
100,000 to 300,000 children and youth in North America are sexually exploited each year
The average age someone is sexually exploited in Canada is 12-14 years of age
Pimps, who buy and sell people for sex, groom children under the age of 18 by friending or boyfriending them, creating a debt, and forcing them into prostitution
Pimps range from 13-34 years of age in Canada
One-third of sexual offences against children and youth are committed by another youth
Over 90% of grooming into sexual exploitation happens online
Child sexual abuse images have increased by 233% in the last 10 years
Internet Watch Foundation found that Canada is 3rd globally for hosting child pornography on the internet
