COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN

What Every Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Needs to Know

HOW IT IMPACTS YOU…

  Due to a recent change in the law, mandatory child abuse reporters must report any child they believe is commercially sexually exploited to the Division of Family and Children Services  Failure to report a reasonable belief that a child is being exploited is a misdemeanor As professionals who interact with children, you are in a unique position to help victims to escape from this terrible form of abuse

DEFINITION OF CSEC

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)

 Sexual abuse accompanied by remuneration in cash or in kind to the child or a third person or persons  Types of Victims/Exploitation:  “Street” victims  Internet victims • Internet is the method or “ virtual street” (i.e. Craig’s List)  • Child pornography victim “Legitimate” businesses (i.e. massage parlors, escort services)

DEFINITIONS OF TRAFFICKING

 Human Trafficking - Compelling or coercing another person to perform labor or other services.

 Coercion can be overt or subtle; physical or psychological  Two types of human trafficking: Sex and Labor • Sex Trafficking  Recruiting, harboring, transporting, obtaining or employing a person for commercial sexual activity induced by force, fraud or coercion or performed by person under the age of 18

KEY COMPARISON

 CSEC  Sexual exploitation of

children

 Includes both girls and boys, and transgender youth  Involves both domestic and international minors  Human Trafficking  Has both adult and minor victims  Deals with both labor and sexual servitude  Misconception: Is thought to be only international in scope, but is also domestic

SCOPE OF PROBLEM

• Atlanta is one of the 14 cities with the highest rates of prostitution of children in U.S.

(source: FBI) • Atlanta is a top sex tourism destination (source: Priebe A., Suhr C. Hidden in Plain View: The Commercial Exploitation of Girls in Atlanta, 2005 ) • 250-350 girls are exploited in Georgia each month (conservative estimate) (source: A Future. Not a Past.)

METHODS USED TO CONTROL CSEC VICTIMS

 Seduction  Force: Rape, beatings, confinement  Fraud: False and deceptive offers  Coercion: Threats, debt bondage, psychological manipulation

MINDSET OF CSEC VICTIMS

      Refusal to consider themselves victims Fear or distrust of health/social service providers, police, and government officials Loyalties, positive feelings towards pimp as coping mechanism Desire to protect pimp from authorities Fear for safety of family Violated personhood* – (voice, relationship, power) *Langberg, D. (2003). Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse. USA: Xulon

Press

KEY RISK FACTORS

  Abusive Home (physical, mental, or sexual) Runaways – lured within 48 hours   Learning Disabilities / Academic Underachievers Isolated / Socially Challenged Children   Drug Abuse in the Home Early Drug Usage

Gant, B. & Lopez Hudlin, C. (2007). Hands that Heal: International Curriculum to Train Caregiver of Trafficking Survivors (FAAST). Springfield, MO, Life Publishers

DEMAND

o

PRIMARY DEMAND:

Opportunistic exploiters, pervasiveness of adult sex markets, sex offenders, the “victimless crime” myth (perception of helping the victim), gender inequality, sex tourists or prostitution tourists o

SECONDARY DEMAND:

Traffickers, pimps, brothel owners/madams, corrupt public officials, criminals or various criminal organizations o

TERTIARY DEMAND:

Media promotion of a culture of prostitution, cultural flattery of men’s sexual promiscuity, religious attitudes and values, rape stigma, lack of laws, and new technology.

Gant, B. & Lopez Hudlin, C. (2007). Hands that Heal: International Curriculum to Train Caregiver of Trafficking Survivors (FAAST). Springfield, MO, Life Publishers

CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES IN GEORGIA

 Fulton County Juvenile Court and law enforcement have adopted a practice not to prosecute children for prostitution   Exploited children are viewed as victims rather than offenders Despite this policy children are still sometimes arrested and detained on prostitution charges, and the charge is later knocked down to a lesser charge  Children are still sometimes prosecuted for prostitution in other Georgia counties

CHILD ABUSE REPORTING STATUTE

 Professionals who are required to report child abuse do so based on the statute’s definition of child abuse  O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5’s definition of child abuse includes two different sub-parts that encompass CSEC victims:   The sex acts involved in prostitution usually fit into the definition of “sexual abuse” “Sexual exploitation” now, as a result of a recent change in the law, includes sexual exploitation that is perpetrated by either parent/caretaker or someone unrelated to the victim (i.e. a pimp)

IDENTIFYING CSEC VICTIMS

 Key Questions for Identifying CSEC Victims  How did you get here?

 Where do you live, eat and sleep?

 Do you owe someone money?

 Were you threatened if you tried to leave?

 Has your family been threatened?

 Were you ever physically abused?

 Were you ever forced to stay in one place?

 Who are you afraid of?

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR: SCHOOL PERSONNEL

• • • • • • • • • • Isolation Frequent absences Inappropriate clothing/dressing over-age Little to no eye contact Avoiding girls and spending a majority of time with boys Not eating Crying/outbursts of anger without a cause Secretive about her things or writing notes to herself Art work that is disturbing Unexplained bruises or other injuries

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR: COUNSELORS / THERAPISTS

     History of one or more of the following:  Physical or sexual abuse   Running away Truancy Unexplained – or inadequately explained – absences from home Existence of an adult male “boyfriend” Presence of “gifts” whose origin is unknown Ongoing – or increasing – incidents at school  Falling grades  School suspensions

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR: SOCIAL WORKERS

•     History of one or more of the following:   DFCS involvement in the family, particularly if stemmed from allegation of sexual or physical abuse Running away  Truancy Older friends and/or “boyfriend” Gang signs / affiliation More than one cell phone • • • Physical signs such as: Unexplained bruises Cigarette burns Tattoos of someone’s name or nickname

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR: MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

A young patient who:  Is accompanied by an adult other than his or her parent (often male) who seems controlling, insists on speaking for the patient        Has visible signs of physical abuse Has a tattoo of a man’s name or nickname Shows signs of psychological abuse; acts unusually fearful or submissive Appears underage and engaged in prostitution Has multiple sexually transmitted infections Reports multiple pregnancies, abortions or miscarriages Uses illegal drugs

HELPFUL INFORMATION TO GATHER

The more information that can be provided to DFCS, the more likely the child will get help. If possible, try to provide:       Name and location of the victim Name and location of the victim’s parents Basis for your belief that the child is exploited Name, physical description, and/or location of suspected exploiter Whether alleged perpetrator is in the area/armed Location where exploitation occurred

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

 Safe  If victim feels safe she is more likely to disclose  Private  Victim may fear the pimp more than the state  Child-friendly location  No distractions  Minor’s physical/mental state  i.e. sleepy, hungry, on drugs, etc

PREVENTING EXPLOITATION

   Engage the child in learning and school   Identify barriers to learning such as learning disabilities and distractions, and develop a plan to address these Engage the child in extracurricular activities and after-school programs Develop relationships with trustworthy adults  Help identify / create availability of trustworthy adults  Find a safe person with whom the child can discuss sexual issues and other problems Teach about good relationships  Model respect for appropriate boundaries   Talk with the child about respect and why it matters Encourage the child to examine the pros and cons of his or her relationships

PREVENTING EXPLOITATION

(Cont’d)

  Help children become more media literate  Encourage children to question images they see in the media  Talk with children about things that are normalized on tv and in movies and music and about why those things might not be the same in real life Build children’s understanding of legal consequences  Children need to know that even though they are young, their actions can carry serious penalties for them    Criminal activity and/or arrests could impact public housing for the whole family Sex with older “boyfriend” could get him arrested on a range of charges with long sentences Acts other than intercourse (e.g. oral sex) can sometimes carry even greater penalties than “normal” sex  Minor’s physical/mental state

REPORTING PROCESS

 When DFCS receives a report of CSEC by a person who is not the parent, the family will get a referral to a service provider, and law enforcement will be notified  If a parent or caretaker is involved or has failed to protect the child from the exploitation, a DFCS case will be opened  If there is not enough information for DFCS to take either of these steps, they may provide referral information to you

SERVICES CURRENTLY OFFERED

• • • • • Georgia has some of the only residential treatment facilities in the U.S. specifically tailored for the needs of girls who have been commercially sexually exploited. These include: Angela’s House Wellspring Living Inc.

Regional Assessment Center Living Waters Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation (CEASE)

Q&A / RESOURCES

• • • • • • •

Georgia Care Connection: 404-602-0068 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Helpline: 1-800-CHILDREN National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST www.afuturenotapast.org

www.WeUrgeYou.com

www.wellspringliving.org

www.notforsalecampaign.org