Child Exploitation

Child trafficking is a form of child abuse. It is the exploitation of children for economic or sexual purposes, and includes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of a child for exploitation. Children may be sold, illegally adopted, forced into early marriage, recruited into the armed forces, pushed into prostitution, or trafficked to work in mines, factories, or homes. In such environments they are exposed to extreme forms of abuse and are denied access to basic services and the meeting of their fundamental human rights. Trafficked children often lack basic legal status and support networks, making their condition virtually "invisible."

Children without parental care, living in poverty, and those in high risk environments such as war affected regions, are all highly vulnerable to trafficking. Conflict and post conflict environments pose the greatest risk to children since the breakdown in family and social systems, the increase in poverty, and large numbers of troops present, are all factors which make sexual and economic exploitation of children more common.

Prevention is crucial to reduce the incidence of children affected and includes the registering of all displaced children, and their temporary care until verification and family reunification activities can take place. All children, caretakers, and communities should be educated on the risks to children and protective steps to ensure children do not become separated and exposed to abuse and exploitation. Where possible, unaccompanied children should be placed in regulated and protective family environments such as kinship or foster care.

Governments, the police, border controls, teachers, and all organizations responsible for protection must work together to prevent trafficking, identify those children at risk, advocate for their safety, and prosecute those responsible. This includes awareness raising for communities, institutions, and personnel working with vulnerable groups, such as armed forces, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers.

Support services for children who have been trafficked should include medical, psychosocial, family reunification, and legal elements, to facilitate the reintegration of the child into the community and to enable educational and economic opportunities which are in the child’s best interests.

This section of documents examines the nature of trafficking in more detail, and includes policy and practical information to prevent and respond to child exploitation.

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The Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Children who have been Commercially Sexually Exploited. A Training Guide

ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes, 2005

A resource pack for training caregivers of children who have been commercially sexually exploited. It includes 12 units to develop knowledge and practical skills of caregivers in areas such as child sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, special and psychosocial needs, behavior management, health promotion, life and social skills, education and vocational training, communication and therapeutic skills, and rehabilitation.

Guidelines for the Operation of Care Facilities for Victims of Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Girls

John Frederick for Planete Enfants, 2005

Operational standards and guidance for residential care facilities for girls and women survivors of trafficking and abuse. It covers administration and staff, confidentiality, care planning, responding to immediate and longer term support needs, psychosocial care, life skills and reintegration activities.

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People: An Overview of Key Literature and Data

Elaine Chase and June Statham, 01 Feb 2004

Review of information relevant to the commercial sexual exploitation of children and young people in the UK. Focus on abuse through prostitution; abuse through pornography; and child trafficking.

Child Protection: A Handbook for Parliamentarians

Dan O'Donnell and Dan Seymour, 2004

A handbook that includes examples of the many ways in which Parliaments and their members around the world have responded to the challenges of child protection through laws, policies, advocacy and other means. It also describes how Parliaments and their members can gain a clearer understanding of what their contribution can be, and equips them with the knowledge and tools they require to make that contribution.

Reaching Out to Africa's Orphans: A Framework for Public Action

Kalanidhi Subbarao and Diane Coury, 2004

A detailed book providing evidence-based guidelines for approaches and interventions to best mitigate the various risks confronted by OVC.

Child Protection: Children Without Parental Care

UNICEF, 2004

A brief fact sheet on the multilevel support needs of children without parental care. Includes a brief section on statistical data and examples of UNICEF action in several countries around the world.

Let's Talk: Developing Effective Communications with Child Victims of Abuse and Human Trafficking

Barbara Mitchells, UNICEF, Kosovo Office , 2004

Practice guidance on how to communicate with children and young people who have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse.

Foster Care and Schooling in West Africa: The State of Knowledge

Marc Pilon, 2003

Explores the relationship between fostering and education in West Africa. Identifies special need to focus on protecting and educating young girls.

Rights, Root Causes, and Recruitment: The Youth Factor in Africa's Armed Conflicts

Angela McIntyre, 2003

Documents ways in which youth are mobilized to support political and military agendas, and how the construct of youth has been employed for political change.

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Save the Children's Policy on Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Save the Children Alliance, 2003

A policy paper that presents a holistic view of child sexual abuse and exploitation examining all the situations where children are sexually abused.