What Is Sexual Exploitation

Definition

Sexual exploitation involves someone under the age of 18 exchanging a sexual act for something in return. The purpose of this exchange is the exploitation of a child or youth's needs. A sexual act can be exchanged for money, food, shelter, protection, love, acceptance, popularity, and anything else. It is never the child or youth's fault, even in the case of self driven exploitation.

Some forms of sexual exploitation include:

Online predators luring a youth into sexual activity
Peer pressure to engage in sexual acts at parties or within a relationship
Sextortion
Trafficking of minors by pimps (forced prostitution)
Sugar daddy/sugar baby relationships or escorting type behaviour
Selling of sexual acts by girlfriends of gang members

5 Warning Signs of Grooming

There are 5 warning signs of grooming into sexual exploitation. They do not all happen at once and not all of them need to be present. Reach out if your relationship displays any of the following:

Age Difference - Typically a 2-7 year age difference of someone in high school dating or having a friendship with someone a little older. This is a red flag as age difference creates a power imbalance. The exploiter has access to things such as transportation, money, or ID. They may also use their age to pressure youth into acting "more mature".
Gifting - This looks like someone buying youth things or treating youth to things that they can not typically afford themselves. This is done intentionally to build a debt that they will need to pay back later. Gifts include free drugs at parties, cell phones, or puppies.
Isolating - The purpose is to take youth away from their family or friends physically or emotionally. This can look like getting them to move out, keeping secrets from their parents, or taking them away from their friends.
Control - Can be physical, mental, or emotional through requiring secrecy, blackmailing, or withdrawing friendship, gifts, or love.
Unhealthy Changes - This person in a youth's life may cause them to skip school, be tired from late nights, party more often, develop a drug addiction, or hang around older peers and different friends.

5 warning signs of grooming into sexual exploitation and human trafficking Infographic.

News Stories on the Issue

Sexual Exploitation & Human Trafficking

Reza Moazami- First human trafficking charge in BC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/moazami-sentenced-to-23-years-for-running-prostitution-ring-1.3312627

Michael Bannon- Second human trafficking charge in BC: https://www.vancourier.com/news/court-hears-harrowing-tales-of-youth-prostitution-victims-1.23172424

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/victim-says-her-time-with-vancouver-pimp-was-experience-from-hell

2 charged with human trafficking Windsor Ontario: https://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2019/05/01/several-human-trafficking-charges-laid-windsor/

Montreal modelling agency head charged with sexual exploitation:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/modelling-agency-owner-sexual-exploitation-b-models-1.5103304

https://globalnews.ca/news/5182246/montreal-police-modelling-agency-arrest/

Ottawa human trafficking charges 2019:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5122680/ottawa-police-arrests-human-trafficking-investigation/

A study from Ontario- student voices on sexual violence:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5122680/ottawa-police-arrests-human-trafficking-investigation/

25 year old Toronto pimp sentences to 5 years:

https://www.thewhig.com/news/crime/pimp-gets-five-years-for-trafficking-16-year-old-girl/wcm/c1a0839d-44dc-495e-b22c-44c31acbdef5

19 year old pimp charged for trafficking underage girl through escorting:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/pickering-man-charged-with-human-trafficking/ar-AAAS8su

34 trafficking related charges to a male and female pimp aged 24 and 25 in Edmonton:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5263483/edmonton-human-trafficking-investigation/

46 year old Canadian predator charged for purchasing a 14 and 15 year old for sex:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/jonathan-pearce-sexual-exploitation-sentence-1.5128360

24 year old Ontario man wanted for human trafficking:

https://london.ctvnews.ca/man-wanted-on-human-trafficking-charges-involving-minor-1.4427596

Man wanted for human trafficking charges. Found in Victoria BC:

https://www.cheknews.ca/man-wanted-for-human-trafficking-arrested-in-victoria-police-looking-for-potential-victims-561536/

Canadian government and its response to human trafficking- an opinion article:

https://www.thepostmillennial.com/why-is-the-trudeau-government-failing-to-combat-growing-human-trafficking-problem/

Conservative leader plans to address human trafficking:

https://ipolitics.ca/2019/05/22/scheer-pledges-stricter-laws-revived-plan-against-human-traffickers/

https://london.ctvnews.ca/scheer-says-conservatives-would-change-criminal-code-to-fight-human-trafficking-1.4432084

Massage parlors- an experience:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/should-toronto-allow-more-body-rub-parlours-new-report-suggests-exploring-end-to-decades-old-cap-1.5143534

Canadian woman arrested for human trafficking:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-woman-accused-human-trafficking-court-appearance-1.5175756

https://globalnews.ca/news/5401226/bail-granted-saskatoon-human-trafficking-charges/

Teacher charged with sexual exploitation:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-teacher-david-harrison-90-days-sexual-exploitation-1.5191537

First female mayor of Amsterdam making changes to red light district:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5456004/amsterdam-mayor-overhaul-red-light-district/

5 arrested in human trafficking case:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5479753/5-arrested-human-trafficking-investigation-toronto-police/

Canadian female human trafficker:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-human-trafficking-jessica-vinje-trial-1.5203890

Jeffrey Epstein charged with human trafficking:

https://ottawasun.com/news/crime/u-s-financier-jeffrey-epstein-charged-with-sex-trafficking-of-underage-girls/wcm/bd9cbad3-506a-4018-a0d3-45d9c818a1c3

Female EA charged with sexual exploitation:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5712703/karen-bagshaw-peterborough-teaching-assistant-sentencing/

One girl's story of her boyfriend luring her:

https://www.thestar.com/life/2019/08/24/how-teens-are-lured-into-human-trafficking.html

BC pimp wants to make appeal:

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/convicted-pimp-plans-to-represent-himself-in-appeal-involving-disgraced-cop-1.4569081

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-thirty-one-people-arrested-in-connection-with-multi-province-human/?fbclid=IwAR1CA7V2jJxrmAoUNJ-TWZocbjppFpDmW_LnB6JJoetWUCx-QMoDbV0RXKI39 sexual exploitation charges:

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg-police-arrest-39-people-on-sexual-exploitation-charges-1.4581513

31 charged in Canada-wide human trafficking sting:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-thirty-one-people-arrested-in-connection-with-multi-province-human/?fbclid=IwAR1CA7V2jJxrmAoUNJ-TWZocbjppFpDmW_LnB6JJoetWUCx-QMoDbV0RXKI

Female human trafficker groomed youth through Snapchat:

https://www.cp24.com/news/woman-facing-list-of-charges-in-human-trafficking-case-1.4712345

Two Surrey men charged with human trafficking:

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/national-news/surrey-men-wanted-human-trafficking-1960380?fbclid=IwAR3wMYYaDbO_8_h1gP9ZRm6aajU17wDWVAVtQsKPyKU64EzWCKXCdHXLj6Q

Human Traffickers from BC charged:

https://vancouversun.com/news/crime/four-vancouver-islanders-charged-with-trafficking-two-young-b-c-girls?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1580435582

https://globalnews.ca/news/6565235/victoria-police-victims-human-trafficking-saskatchewan/

https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/two-nanaimo-men-arrested-for-human-trafficking-in-saskatchewan/

20 year old female trafficker:

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9834487-young-kitchener-woman-pleads-guilty-to-human-trafficking-of-15-year-old-girl/

Vancouver 19 year old human trafficking 16 year old from Surrey:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-human-trafficking-1.5111589?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar&fbclid=IwAR20gODPQgz0nBLm-W16--qQp3OGliDlxuKtNB1QFGasQPglUjZJL6bd5yQ

Toronto store creates awareness campaign:

https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/02/teen-girls-sale-toronto-storefront-raise-awareness-sex-trafficking/?fbclid=IwAR31f_fhgCdbQ4hxT4DF9L3V6V1BbSHdLph4yplY3pCKYXK3SJaVnXQE75Q

Escaping sex trafficking takes years:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-escaping-sex-trafficking-often-takes-years-new-research-shows/

Human trafficking survivor shares her story:

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/it-was-horrible-human-trafficking-survivor-shares-story-as-rates-soar-in-peel-region-1.4831294

Child sexual exploitation in Canada:

https://globalnews.ca/news/4047182/child-sexual-exploitation-in-canada-survivors-reveal-terrifying-reality/

Robber ended up being a human trafficked victim:

https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/local-news/victim-of-human-trafficking-ring-convicted-in-local-stealing-spree-2602772

22 year old Canadian charged with human trafficking:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/brampton-duo-charged-with-human-trafficking-after-police-find-teen-girls-in-burlington-1.5684587

Police dismantled.a sex trafficking ring:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7193361/opp-sex-trafficking-ring-bust-charges/

Man faces 67 charges linked to 11 boy victims:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7302705/manitoba-man-sexual-abuse-charges/

Teen tricked into trafficking through a female recruiter:

https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/tricked-into-trafficking

Missing teens saved from sexual exploitation and men wanting to purchase them:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/project-return-missing-youth-sexual-exploitation-winnipeg-1.5736954

Vancouver teacher charged with sexual exploitation by having relationship with student:

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/teacher-at-vancouver-school-charged-with-sexual-assault-documents-1.5118408

500 potential victims identified:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/prostitution-ring-arrests-in-montreal-and-toronto-1.3018248

Canadian teen female pimp:

https://torontosun.com/news/crime/hunter-teen-pimp-no-doubt-a-broken-little-girl

Man and young woman charged for selling 15 year old girl:

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/suspects-charged-in-alleged-sexual-assault-exploitation-of-teen-in-downtown-hotel-1.5176549

Calgary man human trafficked 2 girls, 15 and 16 years of age:

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-man-charged-with-human-trafficking-sexual-exploitation-of-teenage-girls-1.5282917

Quebec teen charged with human trafficking:

https://bayobserver.ca/2021/02/12/quebec-teenager-arrested-on-human-trafficking-charges/

Human trafficking starts as online romance:

https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/timmins-police-say-human-trafficking-case-started-as-online-romance-1.5323353

Pornhub and exploitation:

https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/pornhub-policies-reveal-legal-gaps-and-lack-of-enforcement-around-exploitive-videos-1.24288142

Facebook and human trafficking cases:

https://barrie360.com/over-half-of-online-recruitment-in-active-sex-trafficking-cases-last-year-occurred-on-facebook/

16 year old female trafficked by 27 year old female:

https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/10422956-suspect-accused-of-trafficking-girl-16-in-sex-trade-durham-police-say/

UN looks at grooming online:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1084262

3 men charged with human trafficking in Vancouver:

https://vancouversun.com/news/three-men-charged-with-human-trafficking-in-vancouver

The issue with OnlyFans:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57255983

OnlyFans and human trafficking:

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/trouble-shooters/investigators-say-onlyfans-is-being-used-by-traffickers-to-lure-victims-and-buyers

Online Exploitation

An explosion of online child exploitation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/us/takeaways-child-sex-abuse.html

15 apps parents should watch out for:

https://www.ksdk.com/article/tech/here-are-15-apps-parents-should-look-out-for-on-their-kids-phones/63-f198e876-5341-4d10-8ce6-b41c97fead51?fbclid=IwAR2D4Egq6u95hp80vQP_iUJUq6ZbQg1NTDm1tyAWtcPNyWX9KFKhBlrpps8

Study on effects of sexting:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/university-of-calgary-sexting-study-1.5178963

Predators on the app Tik Tok:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/child-predators-go-unpunished-on-popular-chinese-video-sharing-app-tiktok-report_2870526.html

The hidden dangers of Roblox:

https://www.websafety.com/2018/07/the-hidden-dangers-of-roblox-every-parent-should-know-about/

Fortnite and predator luring:

https://globalnews.ca/news/4484287/predators-fortnite-lure-children/

Child pornography globally:

https://www.icmec.org/press/new-study-reveals-child-pornography-not-a-crime-in-most-countries/

8 most dangerous apps for kids:

https://www.netnanny.com/blog/8-most-dangerous-messaging-apps-for-kids/

Police warn of 14 dangerous apps:

https://news3lv.com/news/local/police-warn-parents-of-14-apps-that-could-be-dangerous-for-kids

Instagram and predators:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/style/instagram-model-predators.html

Largest child pornography site busted- Canadian man charged: https://www.thepostmillennial.com/largest-child-pornography-website-busted-four-men-sentenced-including-one-ontario-man/

Dangerous app shuts down:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kik-shutting-down-after-more-than-1000-child-sexual-abuse-cases/?fbclid=IwAR063IMjVK-Zc5nknCjs1vxNP4BI9m2PNhvsYxWFBvtfuzoI1LDDO_09ZBU

Sexting Continues:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-teens-sharing-nude-images-1.5377305

Fake job postings for youth:

https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/police-warn-of-questionable-job-offers-to-youth-online

Live streaming an issue for exploitation:

https://globalnews.ca/news/6567053/tweens-live-streaming-internet-safety/

Dating apps a risk to exploitation:

https://globalnews.ca/news/6485721/dating-apps-us-inquiry-minors-sex-offenders/?fbclid=IwAR12Y8vcEYxrXZGOGLfNxR6M0jfrT_O75CksBevkrPJGFQJ5HWl7x6FeF-Q

Live-streaming exploitation on the rise:

https://globalnews.ca/news/6567053/tweens-live-streaming-internet-safety/

UN announces more online risk during COVID: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/beware-parents-your-child-may-be-at-risk-of-online-sexual-exploitation-cyberbullying-during-pandemic-lockdown/articleshow/75154179.cms?fbclid=IwAR0WiWHb_tRzd8_BE3jKdloevR56RFR6Nm_l0f7yHOBjEPNDLX4Si61HwUw

Online exploitation increased in Alberta during COVID:

https://globalnews.ca/news/6847825/alberta-child-exploitation-rise-coronavirus/

Predators taking advantage during COVID:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sexual-predators-children-online-pandemic-1.5542166

Predator grooming during pandemic:

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/experts-offer-advice-as-charges-laid-in-burnaby-for-parent-s-worst-nightmare-1.4977294

What are cappers? What parents need to know:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7102385/kids-online-safety-cappers/

Alberta ICE Unit- be vigilent during COVID:

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/be-vigilant-online-child-sexual-exploitation-charges-for-18-in-a-single-month-say-police

BC police see big jump in online exploitation:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7276949/pandemic-online-predators-bc/

Alberta's Exploitation Unit swamped:

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/record-number-alberta-s-internet-child-exploitation-unit-swamped-as-pandemic-pushes-kids-online-1.5309809

An online exploitation epidemic

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/mobile/we-have-an-epidemic-online-canadian-centre-for-child-protection-calls-for-changes-to-stop-spread-of-child-sexual-abuse-materials-1.5320038

Instagram to change its policy to prevent exploitation:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/16/22333580/instagram-bans-adults-messaging-teens-safety-notice-prompt

Tik Tok adds new policies:

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-announces-new-policy-updates-to-better-protect-young-users/593329/

Facebook and online recruitment:

https://barrie360.com/over-half-of-online-recruitment-in-active-sex-trafficking-cases-last-year-occurred-on-facebook/

5.4 million childporn images:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7946385/child-porn-report/

Grooming by OnlyFans:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57255983

UN looks at grooming online:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1084262

The issue with OnlyFans :https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57255983

video games grooming ground:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/07/us/video-games-child-sex-abuse.html

Video game predator: