Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and the Role of the Child Psychiatrist

Abstract

The term commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is increasingly used by law enforcement, social service, and health care providers to describe diverse forms of childhood sexual exploitation, which include child prostitution and domestic sex trafficking of minors. The term CSEC reflects an important paradigmatic shift in the nomenclature and philosophy of how these youth are perceived: first, the importance of using de-stigmatizing language to describe these youth and second, the emerging legislative trend toward decriminalizing their behavior by reclassification as victims of exploitation rather than as delinquents. We use the term CSEC to apply to all acts in which exploiters benefit at the expense of the child, encompassing all avenues through which children can be exploited in a sexual nature, including prostitution, erotic dancing, pornography, and sex tourism. Although there are no reliable estimates of the number of commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY) nationally, given the secretive nature of CSEC and under-reporting by law enforcement, it has been estimated that more than 200,000 youth in the United States are at risk for sexual exploitation. 1 Estes RJ, Weiner NA. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Full Report of the U.S. National Study. http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/restes/CSEC_Files/Complete_CSEC_020220.pdf. Published September 18 2001. Revised February 20, 2002. Accessed January 16, 2014. Google Scholar The goal of this article is to heighten the awareness of CSEC in child psychiatrists and allied mental health professionals in practice, particularly because CSEY have high rates of mental health symptoms and disorders and often present in the juvenile delinquency and foster care systems. 2 WestCoast Children's Clinic. WestCoast Children's Clinic research to action: sexually exploited minors (SEM): needs and strengths. http://www.westcoastcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WCC_SEM_Needs-and-Strengths_FINAL1.pdf. Published 2012. Accessed December 16, 2013. Google Scholar Furthermore, we hope to increase the sensitivity of detection and treatment of sexually exploited youth.