Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children - Research Paper Example

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Problem ment Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) entails the illegal forms of enticement, coercion, and violence perpetrated against children to indoctrinate the innocent minors into pornography, prostitution, and sexual slavery (“Trafficking in Children” 7). Children who are commercially exploited sexually are mostly juveniles aged roughly 18 years and below, and this group normally trades sex in exchange for material gains such as money, food, drugs or shelter. Commercially sexually exploited children encompass runaway or homeless children who are forced into sex trade as a source of livelihood and all those children who have been abused by adults at some point, be it emotional, sexual or physical abuse (Rekart 2124). The other groups of children that make up the CSEC are semi-illiterate juveniles who cannot secure stable honest jobs and naïve children whose ignorance render them vulnerable to adult exploitation and control. CSEC has been on an upwards trend and in the recent past, the numbers of children who are commercially exploited sexually has soared to alarming heights. CSEC has now been recognized as a worst form of child abuse and human rights violation, and it is one of the leading global challenges of this century; in worst case scenarios, CSEC results to severe, long term and even life threatening effects that undermine the psychological, emotional, social and physical development of children (Jeffrey 317). This paper aims, among other things, to provide a detailed evaluation of previous research on the issue of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children so as to: extract policy solutions that have been tried and tested in various case scenarios such as the New York City, India, Sweden and Thailand. This knowledge is not merely an end in itself but rather a means to an end; the information will be synthesized on the basis of ‘what works’ and ‘what does not’, and thereafter, alternative solutions for addressing the global concerns over CSEC will be formulated. Historical Perspective With the rise of global economies, globalization and free trade, there has been an inevitable outbreak of a myriad social ills/ problems, and commercial sexual exploitation of children tops the list (Richard and Weiner 23). In the commercialized global economic systems, runaway and homeless children are easily forced into prostitution to fend for their needs; the presence of pre-existing markets for adult prostitution in communities is also a predisposing factor that encourages commercial exploitation of children for sex (Estes 1). Today, more and more youth are lured into this syndicate due to poverty, naivety, unemployment, and influence from parents or older siblings (Hughes 625). Organized crime gangs recruit children globally for prostitution and some are illegally trafficked from third world countries especially from Asia, Africa, in addition to, Central and Southern America/ Europe (Vance 934). The increasing demand for child prostitution has been the main drive for the growth and transformation of the global sex sector; this situation has worsened due to insufficient government interventions and law informants to protect children rights (Munir and Mohd 147). Both boys and girls are victims of CSEC, but a majority of the victims are girls as young as 10 years up to 18 years; the perpetrators of this vice include even the high and mighty in society (Philippines: Exploited Women Slam Government 6). Concerns for the rapid increase in the outrageous incidences of child abuse through juvenile prostitution, child pornography and child trafficking have taken root at national, regional and global levels. CSEC undermines global public health especially because it leads to profound health issues such as TB, respiratory disorders, infections/wounds, STIs and many other illnesses (Willis and Barry 1417). The victims of CSEC are targeted, tricked and traumatized by the pimps, who often enslave their victims by use of two main barriers, psychology of victimization and trauma bonding (CSEC 1-2). Some national states have come up with policy solutions or organizational programs that are designed specifically to address the global challenge of CSEC; some of these policy solutions or organizational programs have been effective and successful in dealing with the CSEC while others have failed miserably. Actions taken to address the Problem The exact estimates of children who have fallen victims to the CSEC syndicate cannot be ascertained due to the dynamics involved such as unwillingness of minors to open up about abuse; however, the figure can be estimated to anything between 100, 000 and 3M (Curtis et.al, 1). New York City alone is estimated to account for over 5000 children who engage in prostitution- this figure indicates that the number of children prostitutes has doubled up between 1997 and 2002 (Chandler 3). Currently, there are some measurable efforts from responsible quarters to address the challenge of CSEC globally; for instance, following a formulated framework, there is evidence of developing and innovative practices that aim to protect and offer support services to children and their families; these programs also help the victim’s families to pursue and prosecute the abusers. Perhaps the most remarkable accomplishment at the moment is the success in raising increase public, political and professional awareness of the problem of CSEC all over the world, and redefining the problem as a form of child abuse instead of juvenile prostitution (Mukasey et al 8). New York City is currently implementing initiatives and working together with programs such as National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) that aims to create increased communication and collaboration among stakeholders and to mobilize increased resources to identify and prosecute children exploiters. These initiatives aims to improve housing and other support services for the CSEC population, in addition to, providing prevention services aimed at curbing vulnerability of youths who are at risk of CSEC. The various stakeholders upon New York City’s CSEC case include the criminal justice, child welfare and community based treatment systems; all these stakeholders are coordinated and are jointly involved with CSEC (Fanshel 604). Prosecution of CSEC exploiters was streamlined through the hiring of an assistant District’s an attorney for the sole purpose of prosecuting children exploiters, and through technology enhancement to ease the burden of collecting evidence against CSEC exploiters (Curtis et al 2). Programs that facilitate access to alternative housing plans and counseling for the traumatized CSEC victims have been instituted; CSEC- specific housing plans aim to not only deter the children by eliminating the housing need, but also by isolating the children and deterring them from temptations of slumping back. CSEC-specific counseling, on the other hand, assists the children to recover from their posttraumatic experiences and to participate in the cases (Guernina 101). Prevention is the final intervention strategy in New York City case study and it encompasses prevention curricular especially in group homes and schools and public service announcements in potential recruitment areas such as bus terminals and subways. The other influential and fascinating program that works in New York City is referred to as Girls Education and Mentoring Service (GEMS), and its primary focus is young women aged between 12-21 years of age. GEMS empower the young women victims of sexual exploitation to abandon the violence ridden, unsafe and abusive relationships, and guide them towards achieving their full potential. GEMS provides a host of services to its female victims including but not limited to peer counseling and crisis counseling; besides that, GEMS also offers individual counseling, long term mentoring and short term family therapy (“Attorney General Eric…”). In addition to these curative services, GEMS also conducts educational, therapeutic and recreational groups, and offers a host of preventive services to vulnerable young females. GEMS approach to the fight against CSEC is through raising awareness and formulation of appropriate legislation, thus, GEMS is very vocal on the CSEC issue from the local to national and international fronts. The Indian Approach CSEC, due to its myriad complexities and variations, has prompted the government of India together with other partners to adopt a pro-active role in combating all forms of the issue; this is done through a complex laws, schemes, and policies. In addition to that, the government of India fosters development of protective environments within communities to promote preventive interventions, rescue operations, rehabilitation, and re-instatement of CSEC into society (Michelle 236). India has become a target strategic point in the CSEC syndicate, as a source, destination, and transit country for clandestine trafficking; it is estimated that out of over 3M prostitutes in the country, 40% are children. However, through a number of strategies and best practices, the government of India has been able to combat the CSEC menace that has forcefully and threatened human rights of children in the country (Gooptu and Nandinee 252). The government has established strong collaborations with various stakeholders including but not limited to the civil society, NGOs, private sector, and international bodies; the government of India has also designated a whole ministry, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), to the fight against CSEC and trafficking of women. The Indian government’s intervention strategy can be summarized in terms of Legislation, Law enforcement and Special trafficking preventive measures (rescue, rehabilitation, and re-integration in addition to repatriation of cross-boundary trafficking victims). The legislative approach is expressed through the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956 that has been designed to prevent trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation (“India Country Report” 7). The ITPA has also undergone various amendments to cover traffickers and perpetrators of crime, in addition to, preventing re-victimization of victims. Other legislative policies are expressed in the Indian Penal Code that outlines a number of provisions in relation to trafficking, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2000 that addresses juvenile cases, and the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act that forbids employment for children below 14 years. The government of India is a signatory to a number of international bodies like the UN Protocol and has ratified international agreements like CEDAW and CRC to prevent, suppress and punish Trafficking in Persons (“India Country Report” 8); this is a reiteration of the Indian government’s commitment to prevent and combat trafficking. Institutional mechanisms available in the Indian case include the National Commission for Women (NCW), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Central Advisory Committee (CAC) for Preventing and Combating Trafficking of Women and Children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation. Apart from the constitutional instruments, the government of India has formulated a host of policies and protocols that address CSEC such as the Integrated Plan of Action to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking with special focus on Children and Women (“India Country Report” 9). Other policies include the National Plan of Action for Children of 2005, Protocol for Pre-rescue, Rescue and Post-rescue Operations of Child Victims of Trafficking for the Purpose of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and the protocol on Prevention, Rescue, Repatriation and Rehabilitation of Trafficking and Migrant Child Labor (Deb and Aparna 223). Finally, schemes and programs such as “Ujjawala”, “Swadhar and short stay homes, Child line Services and Integrated Child Protection Scheme have been established with the sole focus on combating CSEC (“Sex trafficking children …” 3). The Thailand Approach Thailand has adopted several strategies to safeguard children from exploitation and abuse, among them, implementation of extended compulsory education, introduction of low-cost Medicare and poverty reduction (“Alternative Report” 4). However, despite these strategies, Thai youth are still vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse due to disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Among the many measure taken by the Thai government in combating CSEC include implementation of legislation that guarantees children basic rights to freedom and protection by the state. Apart from that, the Thai government has also implemented the Optional Protocol and enforced a new Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2008; the Measures in Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Women and Children Act has also been enforced (Chuang 1683). Thailand has established strong agencies at from the national level, to the regional level and international level that have strongly bolstered the implementation of the Optional Protocol in the country; these agencies include the National Child Protection Committee, the National Youth Commission, and the National Human Rights Committee (“Alternative Report” 6). Thailand has taken proactive measures to train individuals and agencies at all levels (National, International and local) on children rights sensitization every year; apart from that, the Thai government has set aside funds for implementation of the Optional Protocol in combating CSEC. In partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations, the Thai government has ensured that all youths are trained for various vocational jobs so as to alleviate their vulnerability to commercial sexual exploitation (Burke 17). The strategies adopted by the Thai government are also multifaceted, but perhaps most importantly, the Thai government has increased youth participation in the fight against CSEC and trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. The Swedish Approach Like the India and Thailand, the Swedish government has also adopted a multifaceted strategy of programs aimed at alleviating the problem of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The first world Congress against CSEC in Stockholm prompted formulation of the National Action Plan against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children of 1998 (“Extract from the Swedish…” 1);this act protects Swedish children from sexual abuse and exploitation, in addition to protecting children from other regions from being sexually mistreated and abused by Swedish citizens. The Act also obliges the Swedish state to collaborate with other countries in the fight against CSEC at an international front, in addition to providing support and care services to CSEC victims (James and Atler 80). Sweden’s commitment to protection of children against sexual abuse and exploitation is expressed through its legislation and international treaties; for instance, the Swedish Penal Code has provisions for the Social Services Act. Moreover, there is Care of Young Persons (Special Provisions) Act, Health and Medical Services Act, and on the international front, Sweden is party to the UN modus operandi to avert, stem and castigate trafficking of people in particular Women and Children (Ritter 18). Justification for Interventions in CSEC The issue of CSEC has been listed as one of the worst forms of human right violations in the world, and it should be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency it deserves; CSEC undermines the rights of the child in almost all possible perspectives, ranging from emotional, psychological, and physical perspectives (Joe 276). Children who have been exposed to commercial sexual exploitation and mistreatment are susceptible to psychological difficulties such as hopelessness, low self-esteem and trust issues. In addition to that, such children are exposed to the dangers of infection with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, besides being introduced to drugs and substance abuse; all these factors have negative implications on the development of children and CSEC must be addressed as a matter of urgency (Zimmerman et al 5). All relevant stakeholders should collaborate in the combat against all forms of trafficking for commercial sexual mistreatment, in order to safeguard the welfare of the global child all over the world. In this respect, there should be commitment from all the relevant stakeholders to combat CSEC because it undermines the rights of children specifically, and results into gross violation of human rights (Pais 552). It is also imperative for interventions to be made so as to create protective environments within societies, so as to promote the welfare of the child by preventing trafficking, promoting rescue programs and reinstatement of CSEC victims in society. Alternative Solutions for combating CSEC The fight against CSEC requires a multifaceted approaches and methods; here are a few suggestions that can be considered: firstly, there should be clear coordination and cooperation between all the stakeholders involved in combating CSEC; a lot can be achieved if cooperation between public and private sectors at all levels are strengthened (Johnson 76). Secondly, prevention strategies should be adopted, to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation through relevant legislation (modeled on the motives of the Convention on the Rights of the Child) (Debousingen). Nations should also consider adoption of rehabilitation and re-integration strategies, to foster quick recovery of victims and their families from post-traumatic CSEC. This is also an effective way of preventing re-victimization of victims in the course of legal proceedings aimed at bringing culprits to book (Dean). The youth should be involved in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation of children; in this respect, children should be allowed to voice their own views on issues affecting children (Barnitz 600). Ultimately, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children is a phenomenal problem of global concern today; one of the worst forms of child abuse and mistreatment, and a serious abuse of children’s human privileges. Apart from that, CSEC has potential long-term effects on the emotional, physical, and psychological development of children, in addition to exposing the youth to dangerous infections such as HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). 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