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"Child Prostitutes" are sexually-abused and commercially
exploited children. The language we choose and use reflects
our understanding and, often, underlying biases about an issue
or situation. By using the term "child prostitute,"
we distance ourselves from the fact that these are children
who are sexually abused and exploited for commercial gain
by an adult or adults in their lives. As a result, we create
a system in which it is acceptable to sexually abuse and prostitute
minors, and "look the other way" regarding abusers
and purchasers.
Because the average age of entry into prostitution is approximately
13 years of age, with many of the youth having already been
physically and sexually abused prior to their entry into prostitution,
the issue is not only one of violence against women, but also
the systematized and accepted sexual abuse and trafficking
of children.
As we see it for what it is—the statutory
rape, abuse, and commercial sexual exploitation of minors—we can more effectively, compassionately, and humanely
see our way to appropriate responses and services needed for
assisting abused and exploited youth, and prosecuting those
who keep the system of CSEC in place through abuse, trafficking,
pimping, or purchasing services that sexually abuse and exploit
children.
Criminalize and prosecute the criminals, not the victims.
Traditionally, the approach in law enforcement—which reflects
the predominant understanding of our society—has been to
more rigorously pursue, criminalize, and prosecute youth and
adults as prostitutes (or other commercial sex trades), and
be less stringent in pursuing and prosecuting pimps, traffickers,
and the purchasers of the commercial sex trade.
This is slowly changing, with an emphasis on support for services
for those abused and exploited in the sex trades; increased
pursuit of pimps, traffickers and purchasers; anti-trafficking
laws; increased awareness about the systems that perpetuate
commercial sexual exploitation and abuse; and the establishment
of restorative-justice programs such as the First Offender
Prostitution Program and the EIPP and STAR Center programs
at The SAGE Project, Inc.
However, we're just at the beginning, and there is much work
to do to establish these important steps forward as mainstream
norms. Collaborative efforts between survivor-centered groups
like The SAGE Project, and other law-enforcement and community
groups, is proving both essential and effective.
In addition to continuing the trend towards legislation that
supports some of the approaches listed above, it's also important
to reinforce existing laws for offenses such as statutory
rape, trafficking, pimping, purchasing sex, physically abusing
another human being, etc.
Effective legislation and policy are only half of the battle
to eliminate Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of adults
and children. For those who have been victimized, stigmatized,
physically and mentally abused, and otherwise traumatized,
effective outreach and services are critical to assisting
survivors towards whole, healthy lives.
The SAGE Project, Inc. is one model of collaboration with
law enforcement and community agencies, and providing effective
survivor-centered and survivor-sensitive outreach and services
that include health and wellness, mental health, vocational
and other approaches.
SAGE is a dynamic departure from the traditional "revolving
door" arrests without restorative-justice and service
options. The traditional "punitive" approach resulted
in extremely high recidivism rates (80-percent of women arrested
are repeat offenders), which only helps to reinforce and strengthen
continuing cycles of sexual exploitation, violence, and enormous
costs to the criminal justice and public health systems.
Grants and governmental appropriations are crucial to such
efforts, and help to alleviate the far-reaching costs of current
systems of CSE/CSEC on individuals and communities.
For more information about FOPP, EIPP, the
STAR Center, or other SAGE programs and services, use the
links above, or contact us at SAGE.
For more information about CSE and CSEC, please visit our
Information Center, and for a survivor-specific perspective,
visit our Survivor Center.
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