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Juvenile delinquents or victims of child exploitation?

Posted by Beyond The Streets on 02/07/2010 at 11:08 AM


For many people there are plenty of assumptions and misunderstandings as to why people are involved in prostitution. The reality is that things are complex and it is easier to convey a simple story.

This is perhaps why there are so many groups engaging with the issue of human trafficking - the issue is often easily explained as force and akin to slavery.

But what about the women on the streets in many cities across the UK? Is it an issue of choice, or one where decisions have been made in the absence of the types of choice many take for granted?

What we cannot ignore is the shocking fact that the majority of women involved in street prostitution are bought initially as children. For others there is a history sexual abuse. What is clear is that there isn’t informed choice. There is no way we can really believe a child makes a choice to sell sex. After all a 15 year old cannot choose to marry so how can they choose prostitution?

After a start to life that involves child exploitation do we really expect someone at 18 to make different choices now they have become an adult? These women however are labelled and society tells us they have chosen this route.

Perhaps the trafficking issue is compulsive and simple but the complicated truth behind child sexual abuse and the consequences of it must be heard and our attitudes and understanding must reflect the reality rather than our assumptions.

For an interesting article on the issue check out the following link: http://thecrimereport.org/2010/06/30/escaping-the-life/

To help people understand the needs of commercially exploited children there has been a campaign to redefine the victims as “domestic minor sex trafficking victims”. This has helped people to understand the links between trafficking and prostitution. At last children are not being seen as delinquents but let’s hope the dialogue continues and those “domestic minor sex trafficking victims” who are now adults are no longer seen as women who are living with the consequence of their choices.


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