The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children It s not a choice, no one just wakes up and wants to do this. You can t just walk away - CSEC Survivor
Quotes by CSEC It not easy to just stop and quit something that you have been doing for half or your whole life. I get mad every time I go to the teen clinic and they ask me how many partners I have and I say I don t know cause I honestly don t know and they start talking shit to me Some girls will do anything just to get some money, just to get some Jordan s. They don t give you no money in foster care, some of the foster care providers be scandalous. When you been molested your whole life, sometimes when girls be hoes they do it to cover up the pain of what happened to them. MISSSEY 2012
CSE Techniques Recruitment Pimp or recruiter, entice, small investment Get compliments and promises to be taken care of, stories about how good her boyfriend treats her and takes care of her, telling you how her boyfriend can take care of you and make sure that nothing happens to you MISSSEY 2012
CSE Techniques Seduction Pedestal affect, past history, deepest desires Buying you drugs, taking you shopping, getting your hair/nails done, spoiling you, you ride in the front seat all the time MISSSEY 2012
Quotes by CSEC Every time I came in contact with a police officer they just be like you re a whore, you re a hooker, you re a slut.it s not right it won t make it any better it will make us lower then we feel now. You suppose to help, guide in the right direction. The good cops are like 2 out of 10 where they at? All they do is look at your case number and judge you in jail they suppose to be in there to help kids. Love your children, don t be so hard on your kids it pushes them away. MISSSEY 2012
CSE Techniques Isolation School drop-out, missing or runaway, under exploiters constant watch Doesn t want you to leave, doesn t want you to go home to your family or be with any of your friends, starts to act like he/she owns you, wants you to be with him or one of his girls at all times, starts checking your cell phone MISSSEY 2012
CSE Techniques Coercion Threats, emotional blackmail, investment payback Tells you the do s and don ts of prostitution and then convinces you why you should do it, Has sex with you a couple of times and starts telling you how good your sex is and how you should and could get paid a lot for it, if it s known you are already having sex telling you that you are already doing it for free you might as well get paid, making promises to own a house and car together, telling you that he wants to have a baby with you and settle down, telling you that you don t have to do it for long, telling you that you don t have to go on the street you can go on the internet MISSSEY 2012
Quotes by CSEC Parents have to understand that when a child confesses stuff like this it hurts, so just let them speak, listen and pay full attention. Listen to your children! A lot of parents put boyfriends before children that is not good. Check-in with your child about how they feel about your boyfriends or girlfriends. Watch your boyfriend/ girlfriend around your child. MISSSEY 2012
CSE Techniques Violence Beating, torture, rape/ multiple assailant rape Starts cursing at you and telling you don t have nowhere to go, no clothes or no food to eat, telling you that you don t got nothing and calling you a bitch, slapping you, kidnapping you and not letting you go, forcing drugs on you MISSSEY 2012
Impacts of CSEC Spiritual Despair Hopelessness Lack of belief in humanity Lack of faith in spiritual power Spiritual
Impacts of CSEC Psychological Disruption of healthy psychological development - Self-concept, intimacy, beliefs and goals Psychological Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Impulse to revisit traumatic events, - Intrusive emotions & memories, flashbacks, hyper arousal, - Exaggerated startle reaction, panic symptoms Self-injurious and suicidal behavior Dissociative disorders Anxiety Paranoia Spiritual Clinical depression Explosive outbursts Sleep disturbance & nightmares Bond with perpetrators Hyper-sexualization
Impacts of CSEC Psychological Emotional Emotional Anger and rage Deep emotional pain/grieving Feelings of humiliation/shame Stigma of exploitation Self-blame/Self-loathing Loss of sexual desire, feelings, or response Spiritual
Impacts of CSEC Psychological Spiritual Emotional Physical Physical Continuous physical abuse Rape & gang rape STDs & STIs HIV & AIDS Loss of bowel control Pregnancy (wanted and unwanted) Sterility Facial/dental reconstruction Tattoos & branding Brain damage Substance abuse/addiction Self-cutting Suicide/Death
Impacts of CSEC Psychological Emotional Social Isolation from peer group Disconnection from community Isolation from mainstream society Homelessness Incarceration/Criminal record as obstacle Social Disempowerment Lack of life skills Spiritual Physical Trust issues/difficulty maintaining relationships Obstacles to vocation - Lack of access to legal economies, lack of job experience/skills Educational deprivation - Missed school, disconnection with school system
Do s and Don ts
Do s and Don ts DON T react verbally or physically in a way that communicates disgust or disdain. Refrain from diplaying a shocked face or talking about how awful the child s experience was. This may shut the child down.
Do s and Don ts DO be nonjudgmental when listening to a sexually exploited child. How do you do this?
Do s and Don ts DON T use strategies that switch intermittently between treating the child as an offender, then as a victim.
Do s and Don ts DO recognize the various symptoms of trauma exhibited, and coping mechanisms used, by a CSEC victim that may not be those one typically associates with victims. How do you do this?
Do s and Don ts DON T dispute facts or comment on a child s motivation. This is likely to stop the flow of information.
Do s and Don ts DO keep the child talking and make him or her feel comfortable. How do you do this?
Do s and Don ts DON T expect a child to recognize their situation as exploitative, or to present themselves as a victim in need of immediate intervention or rescuing.
Do s and Don ts DO meet a sexually exploited child where they are and on their terms, and try to meet the needs they present. How do you do this?
Do s and Don ts DON T assume sole responsibility for meeting the myriad and complex needs of a CSEC victim.
Do s and Don ts DO improve a systemic response to CSEC by creating inter-agency relationships to comprehensively meet victims needs. How do you do this?
Appropriate Engagement with CSEC Victims Use these Do s and Don ts to Be aware of your actions when working with children Set a nonjudgmental and empathetic tone Treat the child as a victim of trauma and abuse
What Youth Say Works
What Youth Say Works I could talk to my counselor without nobody calling me names. I could tell them how I feel for the day, what my goals are and what I want to achieve, and they ll help me achieve it. The cop told my judge that I needed somewhere to go to be away from him [my pimp] instead of getting locked up. When I was beat up in the hospital, the nurse gave me a hug for a really long time. It was the first time in a long time that someone had been kind to me.
What Youth Say Works He [the judge] acted mad interested in my life. So now, even if I have a good court report I go anyway, just so he can see I m doing good. My counselor is like my second best friend. Without her, I don t think I d be doing what I m doing right now going to school, getting ready to get a job, and trying to work it out with my family, which is not easy right now. He [my lawyer] helped me clear up my record from my charges. Now I can get into the housing program I want to live in with my daughter.
What Youth Say Works She [a cop] treated me like I was a real person. She even used to call me on weekends just to check on me and make sure I was doing good. They [the youth program] have showed me what my talents are. My favorite is poetry. I feel good that when I come in I could get a hug, something that I can get from my counselor that I can t get from my own mother.