Abuse through prostitution a local, national and international issue

1. Abuse through prostitutiona local, national and international issue 6th December, 2006 Presentation by Tink Palmer Director Stop it Now! UK & Ireland Tink Palmer, February 2004

2. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionHistorical Perspective • Criminal Activity • Warrant Disapproval of Society • Scapegoating of young people Tink Palmer, February 2004

3. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionMyths • Deserving of their plight • Choose to be involved in this lifestyle • Could easily escape if they choose Tink Palmer, February 2004

4. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionMyths (cont’d) • Are young criminals • Are experimenting with their sexuality Tink Palmer, February 2004

5. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionDefinition “Any involvement of a child or young person below 18 years in sexual activity for which remuneration of cash or kind is given to the child or young person or a third person or persons. The perpetrator will have power over the child by virtue of one or more of the following: age, emotional maturity, gender, physical strength and intellect.” Tink Palmer, February 2004

6. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution • Changes in public perception • Models to help our understanding of abuse through prostitution • Whose Daughter Next? • No Son of Mine! Tink Palmer, February 2004

7. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution Whose Daughter Next? • This model demonstrates a pattern of control exercised by the abusing adult • engagement • dependency • taking control • total dominance Tink Palmer, February 2004

8. Punter Pimp Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution Whose Daughter Next? The Triangle of Abuse through Prostitution previously perceived as: Young prostitute Tink Palmer, February 2004

9. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution Whose Daughter Next? The Triangle of Abuse through Prostitution reality triangle: Abused Girl Child Sex Offender Abusing Adult Tink Palmer, February 2004

10. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution No Son of Mine! Two scenarios: • Boys escaping from untenable situations • Boys conditioned into the lifestyle Tink Palmer, February 2004

11. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution No Son of Mine! • “Escaping” boys – characteristics • young • lacking in self-esteem • vulnerable • experienced non-nurturing living conditions Tink Palmer, February 2004

12. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution No Son of Mine! • “Escaping” boys – precipitated into • environment where they need to provide for their basic needs (food, shelter, comfort, friendship) • environment where they become prey to coercive adult Tink Palmer, February 2004

13. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution No Son of Mine! • “Conditioned” boys • coerced into this abusive lifestyle by sophisticated paedophiles and sexual abusers Tink Palmer, February 2004

14. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution No Son of Mine! • “Conditioned” boys (cont’d) • Some are targeted due to their vulnerability in the community and some within their own family homes Tink Palmer, February 2004

15. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionKey Issues • Entrapment • Poor attachment • Numbers • Age • Self-harm Tink Palmer, February 2004

16. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionKey Issues • Domestic abuse • Gender • Drugs and alcohol • Cross-cultural issues • Trafficking • Misuse of the internet Tink Palmer, February 2004

17. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionKey Issues • National and international • Inter-relationship between prostitution, trafficking and the internet Tink Palmer, February 2004

18. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Billy: “The Internet is evil ...” Tink Palmer, February 2004

19. Cybersexploitation Grooming children on-line for sexual abuse offline Making abusive images of children Children viewing abusive images of children Viewing abusive images of children Children viewing adult pornographic images (Selling) children on-line for abuse on-line Selling children on-line for abuse offline Normalising abusive images of children Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet as an Instrument of Abuse Tink Palmer, February 2004

20. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Issues regarding disclosure by the child • Why don’t children disclose sexual abuse? • Is it different for children abused via the Internet? Tink Palmer, February 2004

21. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Barriers to disclosing • Being seen to “let” it happen • Looking happy about it • Thinking it is normal • “Letting” it happen to other children by introducing friends Tink Palmer, February 2004

22. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Barriers to disclosing • Not stopping it • Actively engaging in the planning of the process with third party (commissioner) • Group secrecy • The child’s “responsibility” for the abuse is evidenced by the image Tink Palmer, February 2004

23. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Discovery of sexual abuse • Child may tell • Person in whom child has confided may tell – child/adult • Abuse may be witnessed by A.N. Other who tells • Child displays concerning behaviours the aetiology of which is investigated Tink Palmer, February 2004

24. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Discovery of sexual abuse • Child victim may tell – but most unlikely • A.N. Other may be aware of abusive activities and report – little evidence to date • Child may display concerning behaviours • The image of the child is DISCOVERED by child protection agencies – police, SSD, COPINE etc. including carer? Tink Palmer, February 2004

25. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through ProstitutionThe Internet Discovery of sexual abuse What is different for the child victim? • Control of disclosure – how is it different? • Secret between perpetrator & victim becomes a most open secret • Image may be seen worldwide • Victim has no control regarding who knows Tink Palmer, February 2004

26. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet Government Action • Safeguarding children involved in prostitution – Supplementary Guidance to “Working Together to Safeguard Children involved in Prostitution” – May 2000 Tink Palmer, February 2004

27. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet Government Action • National strategy on drug misuse • The National Plan for Safeguarding Children from Sexual Exploitation – Autumn 2001 • Sex Offences Act – 2003 Tink Palmer, February 2004

28. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet The Sex Offences Legislation • Offence of commercial sexual exploitation – this will include: • buying the sexual services of a child • causing or encouraging a child into commercial exploitation Tink Palmer, February 2004

29. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet The Sexual Offences legislation • facilitating the commercial sexual exploitation of a child • controlling the activities of a child involved in prostitution or pornography Tink Palmer, February 2004

30. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet The Sexual Offences Legislation • Offence of trafficking people for commercial sexual exploitation will cover: • recruiting, harbouring and facilitating the movement of another person for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation Tink Palmer, February 2004

31. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet The Sexual Offences Legislation • Offence of trafficking people for commercial sexual exploitation will: • apply to persons trafficked across international borders and within the UK Tink Palmer, February 2004

32. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet National Immigration & Asylum Act 2002 • Section 45, covers the offence to arrange the arrival, travel or departure of a person to be exploited. Tink Palmer, February 2004

33. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet Cara: “I felt exposed and vulnerable ...” Tink Palmer, February 2004

34. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution, Trafficking and the Internet • Multi-dimensional thinking – think on! • Inter-connected strategies • Funding Tink Palmer, February 2004

35. Child Sexual Exploitation:Abuse through Prostitution,Trafficking and the Internet THE END Tink Palmer, February 2004