Sexual exploitation can happen to any young person- whatever their background, age, gender, race or sexuality or wherever they live. Risk factors include; A history of abuse, particularly sexual abuse, recent bereavement or loss, homelessness, low self-esteem or lacking friends from the same age group. Who sexually exploits children and young people? People who sexually exploit children are often described as highly manipulative individuals. They exert power over young people through physical violence, emotional blackmail or Finacial pressure Gender, age and ethnicity of perpetrators. The Children’s Commissioner;s study found that: 72% of abusers were male and 10% of abusers were female. The evidence indicated that the age range of abusers was from 12 to 75 years old What children are at risk.? Disabled children are over three times more likely to be abused or neglected than non-disabled children. Children in care, there are a number of risk factors related to being in care make children more vulnerable. Children who have experienced other forms of abuse and children from black and mixed ethnic backgrounds. Sexual exploitation is the sexual abuse of children through the exchange of sex or sexual acts for drugs, food, shelter, protection, other basics of life, and/or money. Other terms that are used to talk about sexual exploitation are “child prostitution” and “youth sex trade” The terms “sexual exploitation” and “commercial sexual exploitation” are used to acknowledge that the use of children for sexual acts is abuse and is inherently exploitative. Sexual exploitation is defined by various legal documents that define who qualifies as a “youth” and how children are treated differently than adults when involved in the sex trade. A former North Polk Teacher has been charged with 4 counts of sexual exploitation Kevin Muelenthaler, 29, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a student from 2013-2016. Court records show Muehlenthaler and the 16-year-old girl would communicate and meet up outside school hours. Police said they had sexual contact at several locations, including a friend’s house in Ames and at Muehlenthaler’s own home in Ames. The North Polk School District released a statement saying Muehlenthaler worked there from 2013 to 2016 but they did not find out about the allegations until he was no longer an employee. What is Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children? The commercial sexual exploitation of children is a global problem happening. Commercial Sexual exploitation of children occurs when individuals buy, trade, or sell sexual acts with a child. Sex trafficking is “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purposes.
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