Who they are

Sexually Exploited Children and Youth from all social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds are targeted and recruited into sexual exploitation.

It’s hard to pinpoint the characteristics of a youth who is at risk. However, there are a number of risks and circumstances that make some youth particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation:

Low self-esteem is the most common and powerful factor for putting youth at risk of being exploited.

Being the victim of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or trauma is also a common factor among high risk youth.

Situations in which a youth questions his/her security or sense of belonging, such as family crisis, problems at school, moving to a new school, can lead to impulsive and/or dangerous behavior.

Drug and alcohol abuse at an early age, as well as parental drug/alcohol abuse, are important risk factors.

Gay youth may be at risk if they are isolated or denied support from their family and community.

Other reasons given by youth for their entry into the sex trade include:

...rejection by the family, or being kicked out of the home

...involvement of one or more members of the family in the sex trade

...a difficult family or other living situation

...a desire for adventure, freedom, and independence

...influence of friends and peers, and attraction to the perceived glamour of the street life