Safeguarding Children from Child Sexual Exploitation

Safeguarding Children from Child Sexual Exploitation

Power Relations and Child Sexual Exploitation

Child sexual exploitation may occur under the relationship of power where there is a close relationship between the victim and the offender. In most cases, the offender holds positions of authority through a family relationship such as a parent, sibling, or adult family member. It may also include contact with an institution such as a clergy member, sports coach, and a teacher and a psychological relationship where the partner has higher psychological power over their spouse (Hill, P. 2016, 158).  The dynamic relationship between children and adults, such as parents, is based on social power, psychological development, and age differences.

The concept of power relations causes harm stretching beyond emotional, psychological, and physical. The breach of this power dynamic bestows upon it a heavier emotional and psychological force, giving it more gravity. Depending on the relationship between the perpetrator and the child, it mostly results in sexual assault; however, there is a sexual assault level that is not deemed to be sexual abuse.

Power relations occur from a position of inequality. This is where the abused child is usually in a disadvantaged position with regard to the perpetrator. Imbalance occurs through forms like psychological capacity, cognitive, physical, and age. Gender inequality gives certain genders more powers than others. The perpetrator is usually an adult in most cases where there are a clear age difference and levels of cognition. Sexual exploitation can also be committed by children of the same age or younger (Hill, P. 2016, 158). A sibling who abuses their older or younger sibling can be said to occupy a position of power either psychologically or physically.

Child sexual exploitation is usually committed by men. While evidence point that more girls are being abused than boys, reports suggest that there may be many more boys who may have been abused. The sexual exploitation of boys is not because these men are homosexual, similar to sexual exploitation, where it should not be assumed that these men are heterosexual. However, in both cases, it is a case of a family member such as a parent or close relative who has a fixation, sexual attraction to children – pedophilia. Men take advantage of their power and the fear of the child, and they satisfy themselves despite the suffering of their victims. Moreover, the unequal power relationship between men and women is the cause of gender-based violence. Therefore, young girl children and women will not be able to change the norms of the culture that are consistently abusive to them.

The victims of child sexual exploitation are typically harmed in two ways. First, their sexuality may be traumatized. There is a high possibility of the victims suffering from sexual frigidity or to an extreme extent, compulsive sexual behavior or hypersexuality.  The other harm which is usually more devastating is the inherent feeling of powerlessness. These children carry these feelings of powerlessness to adulthood (Mulya, T. 2018, 747). This is why children who have a history of being sexually abused have a high probability of being victimized in their later lives.

When the perpetrator is a religious leader such as a catholic priest, there is an added power type involved. Abuse from a religious leader causes additional trauma to the victims.

In an extreme example, a woman in Canada spoke of how she had been called at 3:00 a.m. by her pastor, who requested her to send her son to the rectory immediately to help the pastor. Dutifully, he was awakened and sent over to be sexually molested by the man. (Aisyah, S. and Parker, L. 2014, 206)

The above example illustrates an example of an inhumane act performed by adults in positions of influence against children. This has made such children traumatic, where some have difficulties going to a Catholic Church (Mulya, T. 2018, 747).

Advocacy and Child Sexual Exploitation

There is a lack of understanding and awareness on child sexual exploitation by young people and children, guardians and parents, wider society and professionals – who have contributed to the failure to keep young people and children from this form of abuse. Necessary preventive care is needed to curtail such behaviours from occurring.

Child exploitation victims have been subjected to several redundant interviews about their abuse by different agencies. They were interviewed with professionals who had no prior knowledge of the limitations of the development of children or lacked experience working with children. The police station is a setting where interviews have been taking place, further stress children. Furthermore, there has been a lack of coordination between the different agencies, and therefore, the services that can be provided to children are sometimes ignored.

There have also been the problem offenders traveling within, and across national borders to prepare and commit child sexual exploitation is a massive concern to public protection, this has been referred to as Transnational Child Sexual Abuse (TCSA). Offenders can engage in internet-enabled sexual offenses using tools such as webcams and live streaming. International offenders also reside abroad either temporarily or permanently for purposes of offending. Offenders can also travel to a different jurisdiction to commit their sexual offense against children. The traveling and networking between offenders within the United Kingdom and Internationally due to the limited reporting of child offenses crimes make it hard to determine the extent of child sexual exploitation.

It is difficult for professionals to identify and respond to issues of child sexual exploitation. There is a need for more enhanced understanding of the response strategies to both offline and online forms of abuse. Very few victims of child sexual exploitation report their experience of abuse. Many will often signify through their behaviors that something is wrong for someone to interpret.

I was throwing hints to people an’ all. I was throwing hints ’cause I didn’t want it comin’ out of my own mouth. I wanted people to work it out… I was getting myself drunk so I could come out with it, ’cause I couldn’t say it when I was like sober. I was like ‘I can’t say it’. (Young person cited in Beckett, 2011)

The reason for this non-verbal disclosure may be due to not knowing where to go for help, not realizing what they are experiencing is abusive, fear of not being believed or being judged, and fear of family or community reaction, which is honor-based violence or the risk of focused marriage. Victims feel trapped or are blackmailed or threatened, and emotional ties and loyalty to the perpetrator. Therefore, it is of importance that constant contact is not misconceived as an indication of the absence of harm or informed choice (Grondin, A. 2011, 247). This is part of the complex power dynamics in play in an exploitative relationship. Victims only open up after the provision of support.

There is a need to work with young people and children to address their lack of knowledge regarding issues dealing with child sexual exploitation (CSE). There is a need to educate these children regarding problems to deal with consent, pornography, unhealthy and healthy relationships, the unacceptability of all forms of violence, particularly sexual. It is the responsibility of (RSE) Relationship and Sex Education and (PSHE) Personal, Social, Health, and Economic to address these issues (Department for Education, 2017). This task can enable workers to identify early, risk exposure to the children, and make early intervention measures.

Parents and guardians need to understand the risks associated with CSE, and workers need to encourage them to have confidence in supporting their children and other young people around such issues. This is an important group, and they play a critical role when it comes to protecting their children from CSE and different types of abuse (Department for Education, 2017). They take part in primary prevention measures by providing children with a safe base, educating their children about sex and abuse, and enhancing resilience. They also identify the concern and seek intervention in case of a looming risk.

There are several laws meant to protect young people and children from sexual exploitation. Protection of Children Act of 1978 prohibits indecent images of children from being taken, distributed, made, and showcased in the United Kingdom. Sexual Offenses Act of 2003 prohibits anyone from possessing indecent photographs of children. Children are persons below the ages of eighteen years. The Children Act of 2004 empowered local authorities and other entities to better regulate intervention in the best interest of children. It was meant to improve coordination between several government bodies, thus make the United Kingdom safe and better for children of all ages. The act had provisions that catered for children with disabilities. The Children and Social Work Act of 2017 were meant to provide regulations for social care workers, promote the welfare and safeguarding of children, and improve the support given to care leavers and looked after children.

Why Child Sexual Exploitation Exists Despite Prohibiting Legislation

There have been several cases of child sex dolls in Wales and England. Child sex dolls are often created to look like children with childlike features with the ability to warm up and vibrate. They are bought through common online platforms such as eBay and Amazon and also imported from China and Hong Kong. According to the National Crime Agency, purchasing child sex dolls is an indication of offenses against children and in a way, normalizes child sexual abuse and can lead to actual abuse.

Currently, such crimes are punished under the Customs Consolidation Act 1876 that prohibits the importation of indecent or obscene items. Other laws, such as the Obscene Publication Act 1959 or any other code that illegalizes exhibiting, selling and publishing of obscene and indecent articles can be used to punish this behavior. There exist a gap in the legislation that touches explicitly on such obscene and indecent sexual objects. Therefore, such a hole allows such actions to slip through the law. Laws need to be updated by the minute to keep track of social and behavioral change.

References

Aisyah, S., and Parker, L., 2014. Problematic conjugations: Women’s agency, marriage, and domestic violence in Indonesia. Asian Studies Review, 38(2), pp.205-223.

Department for Education, 2017. Child Sexual Exploitation. Definition and a Guide for Practitioners, Local Leaders, and Decision Makers Working to Protect Children from Child Sexual Exploitation.

Finkelhor, D., 2019. Child sexual abuse: Challenges facing child protection and mental health professionals. In Childhood and trauma (pp. 101-116). Routledge.

Grondin, A.M., 2011. Thinking outside specious boxes: Constructionist and poststructuralist readings of ‘child sexual abuse.’ Sex Education, 11(3), pp.243-254.

Hill, P., 2016. Multi-agency working to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation. Developing Multidisciplinary Teamwork for Integrated Children’s Services, McGraw Hill, Maidenhead, pp.155-67.

Jabeen, F., Karkara, R., Malmborg, A. and Karlsson, L., 2005. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO.

Mulya, T.W., 2018. Contesting the Dominant Discourse of Child Sexual Abuse: Sexual Subjects, Agency, and Ethics. Sexuality & Culture, 22(3), pp.740-757.