Social environment can improve investigations into child sexual exploitation
The prevention, detection and investigation of child sexual exploitation can be improved by involving neighbours, classmates and other people within the victim’s social circle. This is the conclusion of research conducted by Dr Ieke de Vries in collaboration with the Dutch Centre against Child and Human Trafficking (CKM).
Child victims of sexual exploitation often find themselves in permanently unsafe or unstable home environments, says Dr Ieke de Vries following the publication of the report ‘Contextuele kwetsbaarheid – Een onderzoek naar de rol van de sociale leefomgeving in de seksuele uitbuiting van minderjarigen’ (Vulnerability in context – A study of the role of the social environment in child sexual exploitation). The research involved thorough analysis of anonymous conversations between 240 likely victims of sexual exploitation and helpline workers at Chat met Fier, part of a national expertise centre to help child victims of sexual exploitation. Child sexual exploitation is a form of human trafficking where young people are exploited in the sex industry by, for example, family members, friends, neighbours or partners.
Recommendations
Based on the research findings, Dr de Vries recommends explaining to non-specialist persons such as neighbours, classmates and teachers, how they can recognise and report sexual exploitation. These people can help stop the exploitation and can play a key role in preventing victims from becoming socially isolated.
Another recommendation is to further strengthen the investigation and prosecution of sexual exploitation. If perpetrators have abused the vulnerable position of their victim, this fact should be added to the burden of proof and count as an aggravating circumstance.
Investigations more focused on young person's situation
Dr De Vries continues: ‘However, more victims benefit from the fact that the current focus on individual vulnerability is being expanded to social vulnerability.’
The background to this is that children and young people who are subjected to sexual exploitation often live in permanently unsafe or unstable home environments as well. These situations are characterised by violence, abuse and neglect. If these young people have little support at school and few contacts outside of their own families, it’s difficult for them to get out of that environment. They are also exposed to crime at school, in their local area, in institutions and online. Combined, these factors result in social vulnerability to exploitation.
A different approach
The current approach to sexual exploitation primarily focuses on individual vulnerability, says Dr De Vries. There is an emphasis on the characteristics of individual victims, which may include negative experiences, underlying childhood trauma, mild intellectual disabilities, running away from home and institutions or drug addiction.
Knowledge gap bridged
The study adds to existing knowledge, and the findings show that child sexual exploitation can be permanently prevented through increased engagement from the social environment. This research has also bridged a knowledge gap in terms of preventing, investigating and providing support in the event of child sexual exploitation.
The research project was funded by a grant from the Leiden University Fund/Gratama Foundation and involved collaboration with the CKM.
The research summary is available here (in Dutch).
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