Child Abuse and Neglect - Child Exploitation

Child Abuse and Neglect: Child Exploitation

        The term child exploitation encompasses several forms of abuse involving a child being used unfairly for one's own advantage. There are shifting degrees of child exploitation as well as damage that such acts can have on both the child and the family. The severity of emotional and physical trauma of the act is often dependent on factors such as the culture, context of the act, violence used, and the purpose of the exploitation. Sadly, the advancements in technology have facilitate the growth and expansion of the child exploitation industry on an international level.

Causes of symbolic patterns of child exploitation that may take place include, but not limited   to:

1. go missing from home, care or education.
2. be involved in abusive relationships, intimidated and fearful of certain people
3. hang out with groups of older people, or antisocial groups, or with other vulnerable peers
4. associate with other young people involved in sexual exploitation
5. get involved in gangs, gang fights, gang membership
6. have older boyfriends or girlfriends
7. spend time at places of concern, such as hotels or known brothels
8. not know where they are, because they have been moved around the     country
9. be involved in petty crime such as shoplifting
10. have unexplained physical injuries
11. have a changed physical appearance, for example lost weight, or not eating as much

Between August 2010 and October 2011, around 2,409 children were confirmed as having been sexually exploited, with a further 16,500 being identified as at risk. There are still many cases not reported of child exploitation. Over 230 children were sexually exploited last year

The signs of child sexual exploitation may be hard to spot, particularly if a child is being threatened. To make sure that children are protected, it’s worth being aware of the signs that might suggest a child is being sexually exploited. A child who is experiencing exploitation may show many types of symptoms and different patterns. They can be withdrawn form society and their friends, may show some unstableness, some mood swings, show signs of using alcohol and or drugs, some signs of unexplained physical ham such as bruising and cigarette burns.

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