ABSTRACT Prevention of trafficking is legislated and funded through federal law, with victim services for child sex trafficking assigned to local departments of social services. Among child welfare workers, research has documented mislabeling, misidentification, misunderstanding of policy, and improper care for youth involved in sex trafficking, and pointed to a need for training of professionals. A survey of five years of classes of child welfare workers (n = 1,061) in departments of social services was conducted, measuring changes in the pre-training knowledge and self-efficacy workers arrived with regarding engaging with survivors of child sex trafficking. Correlations and regression analysis (controlling for gender, race, and years working in the field) showed that the passage of time was associated with markedly higher levels of pre-training knowledge by successive cohorts of workers arriving for training but not with higher self-efficacy in these areas. Professional development training for child welfare workers about child trafficking should deliver more advanced content, while expanding experiential training components that build self-efficacy.

To describe the demographic characteristics and prevalence of individual, relational, and community-level risk factors among adolescents in a therapeutic program for survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children in Georgia, United States (U.S.). A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted on youth admitted to a transitional housing and rehabilitation program from 2020 to 2021. Study was guided by the Institute of Medicine/National Research Council Guide, which integrates Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. Intake data, including demographics, medical records, physical examinations, laboratories, and sexual assault nurse examiner examinations, were analyzed to identify risk factors across ecological levels. Among 108 adolescents (average age 15), 60% identified as Non-Hispanic Black, and 68% were in state custody. Participants had high adverse childhood experiences scores (mean: 4.8), with significant rates of self-harm (49%) and substance use (39%). Findings highlight the complex vulnerabilities of trafficked youth and emphasize the need for trauma-informed care models to guide targeted prevention, identification, and intervention strategies for at-risk adolescents.

The development of information technology has facilitated the rise of online child prostitution cases in Indonesia; however, the application of criminal sanctions against perpetrators has yet to fully reflect the principle of justice. This study aims to analyze the application of criminal sanctions for users of child prostitution services based on the theory of justice, through a case study of Decision Number 1172/Pid.Sus/2024/PN Sby. The research employs a normative legal approach with normative juridical techniques. The research population includes all legal materials related to criminal sanctions for child prostitution, with the sample consisting of court decisions, statutory regulations, and legal literature selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments include a document analysis guide, with data analyzed using normative descriptive-analytical qualitative techniques. The findings show that the judge imposed a prison sentence of 4 years and a fine of IDR 120,000,000 under the Human Trafficking Law, rather than the Child Protection Law as demanded by the prosecutor. The judge's considerations emphasized mitigating factors more than the protection of the child victim. The study concludes that the application of criminal sanctions has not been optimal in providing a deterrent effect and delivering justice to victims, thus highlighting the need for policy reform with stricter sanctions and sentencing guidelines that prioritize the best interests of the child.

ABSTRACT Child sex trafficking (CST) is a worldwide public health and social justice issue. Evaluations of prevention program effectiveness have been limited by the lack of validated measures to assess CST-related constructs. We drew from theory to adapt measures of adult sex trafficking and intimate partner violence precursors or risk factors to develop measures assessing CST constructs including CST myths, self-confidence to address CST, and comfort in asking and reporting students among middle school staff. The two measures that were validated (CST myths and self-confidence) can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of CST prevention programs. Reducing the prevalence of CST is an essential component of promoting gender equality.

ABSTRACT Patricia McCormick’s Sold and Tracey Hoffman’s Valley of Chaya offer harrowing representations of child sex trafficking, where trauma is conveyed through silence, fragmentation, and the struggle for self-articulation. Drawing upon literary trauma theory, this study explores the notion of unspeakability – the inability of survivors to fully express their pain and the ways in which language, memory, and bodily expression mediate trauma. In Sold, McCormick portrays the fractured consciousness of a trafficked child through poetic vignettes that mirror psychological disintegration, exposing both the devastation and the limitation of linguistic representation. Valley of Chaya, whereas reimagines unspeakability as a shared emotional and affective experience, where gestures and collective endurance replace verbal testimony. The study argues that while McCormick individualizes trauma through silence and isolation, Hoffman transforms it into a collective and relational phenomenon, emphasizing empathy and resilience. Through the lens of trauma theory, this paper examines how both narratives navigate the challenges of articulating sexual violence and how silence itself becomes medium of resistance and recovery in the representation of child trafficking narratives. In summation, the study highlights the complexities of representing child sex trafficking and culturally nuanced portrayals of the trauma of violence at brothels in Young Adult (YA) literature.

The evolution of Canada's first pediatric hospital program specializing in child sex trafficking

The factors that cause a person to commit a crime of prostitution, mostly lies in economic factors and social factors, economic factors are influenced by one's income or needs, while social factors are influenced by environmental conditions, the environment and one's education. Law enforcement on child prostitution cases through online media networks that occurred recently in the Kepolisisan jurisdiction of the Surabaya Big City Resort only uses Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection, Article 15, Article 59 paragraphs (1) (2), article 76F, and article 83 to ensnare child prostitutes through the media in online networks. This type of research is empirical research that discusses the problem of interview results based on the current legal regulations and then relates to the facts available for further discussion regarding law enforcement against child prostitution through online media using Law Enforcement Theory in terms of legal substance. Legal structure and legal culture, also uses criminal policy theory.

This study offers a critical analysis of the legal framework and policy measures aimed at protecting children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Despite the ratification of international agreement and the enactment of domestic laws, such as Law No. 35 of 2014, the enforcement of these laws is inconsistent. This inconsistency is attributed to legal ambiguities, limited institutional capacities, and cultural attitudes that normalize exploitation. Employing a socio-legal approach, this research integrates legal analyses with field interviews to investigate the causes, manifestations, and legal management of CSEC. The findings reveal systemic shortcomings, such as the absence of specific criminalization for child prostitution and trafficking in the Criminal Code, ineffective implementation of regional regulations, and poor collaboration among law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and government entities. CSEC continues to be a pervasive issue, with victims often misidentified as offenders. The study advocates for legal harmonization with international standards, enhanced institutional collaboration, heightened public awareness, and community-based monitoring initiatives. It stresses the urgent need for child-rights-centric legal reforms to tackle the socio-cultural factors driving exploitation and to strengthen the protective role of both the state and society.

The increasing number of child prostitutes in Lewoleba City illustrates the still very low level of welfare of the population, which is very concerning, and the lack of attention given by parents and the social environment. This study aims to determine what factors influence children to prostitute themselves, the impacts experienced, and the efforts and obstacles experienced in overcoming the problem of children who prostitute themselves in Lewoleba City. This study uses an empirical approach, namely an approach based on the type of data and data analysis. The research findings show that: (1) Children who prostitute themselves are influenced by family factors, economy, social environment, low levels of education and low self-control. (2) The impacts experienced by children due to prostitution are contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, physical damage due to violence, trauma, and being isolated or ostracized by society. (3) Efforts that have been made to overcome this problem include conducting outreach related to women and children in several schools, sub-districts/villages with the Cross-Sector National Commission such as PLAN, KPAD, Health Service and Women and Children Protection Team from each sub-district, issuing coaching programs such as social rehabilitation programs, counselling services, counselling and education related to the dangers of exposure to HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, cooperation between the police and law enforcement by conducting raids. Meanwhile, the obstacles experienced are the limitations of the Law or the absence of special rules or regional regulations that regulate in detail children who prostitute themselves, lack of human resources and facilities, difficulties in identifying and approaching victims and the limited role of local government.

Ensuring that cities are more sustainable, inclusive, and livable is a fundamental principle of urban governance. This is an internationally reorganized principle as provided for under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Precisely, SDG 11 calls for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Unfortunately, actualizing this principle in most cities of developing countries is becoming more of a myth than a reality. A situation that is attributed to various challenges, including child streetism. Tanzanian cities like those of developing countries are among those cities struggling with overcoming this challenge. Due to the escalating nature of the challenge, it has become a growing concern which needs pro-active measures to be undertaken. This study therefore sought to explore this subject matter with specific focus on exploring the implication of child streetism on urban governance within Dodoma City in Tanzania. Methodically, Descriptive survey research design was chosen for the present study. The design was selected because it is appropriate to explore facts as they are, without over exaggeration and/or simplification. In addition, the design allows to gather data from a large number of participants with a short period of time. Besides this, to find out the essential information, both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed. Data was collected through key informant interviews and semi-structured interviews. A total of 150 Urban Dodoma dwellers and 7 key informants were involved in the study. Findings of the study revealed that child streetism possesses significant implications to effective urban governance within the City. Precisely, study participants identified implications such as increase in crime wave, increase in security concern, and increase in environmental management challenge as well as increase in child prostitution among others as major implications of child streetism on urban governance in Dodoma city. Based on the study finds, possible identified policy remedies that ought to be taken on board include strengthening social welfare systems, strengthen child protection systems, community engagement and fostering public-private partnerships.

Trafficking in human beings has become a universal problem in our world today which has led to the heightened expression of concerns by governments, institutions and individuals. Despite the increasing body of research on the coverage of human trafficking by the media, there is dearth of study on how human trafficking stories are framed by the newspapers in covering the issue. The aim, therefore, is to ascertain the frames used by the selected newspapers in reporting human trafficking. This study is significant because it will assist policymakers and legislators in adopting helpful anti-trafficking responses on human trafficking that will have implications for social, economic, political and national development. Using specific frames this study examined the framing of human trafficking in four prominent Nigerian newspapers (The Guardian, The Punch, ThisDay, and Vanguard) published between January 1st, 2016, and December 31st, 2018. Using a content analysis approach, the study analyzed 354 editions of four select newspapers. The study found that the newspapers primarily used straight news as the dominant genre for reporting human trafficking; with child trafficking and sex trafficking being the most commonly reported forms. The enforcement frame was the most prevalent, suggesting that the newspapers focused on highlighting the efforts of law enforcement and government agencies in tackling human trafficking. However, the study also reveals some limitations in the newspapers’ coverage, including a lack of exploration of the underlying socioeconomic and political factors contributing to human trafficking, and missed opportunities to personalize the stories and elicit empathy from readers. The study concludes that while the Nigerian newspapers provided factual and informative reporting on human trafficking, their framing of the issue was somewhat narrow in scope, and recommends that the media should explore more news genres/frames in reporting human trafficking to induce behavioral and attitudinal change among members of the society.

Understanding Child Sex Trafficking by Use of Victim-Level Data

In 1984, the campaign against child abuse in Africa was commenced vigorously by Africa Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN). The organization held conferences, considered the dimensions of child abuse and came up with Protocols and Treaties, protecting African children from all forms of abuse Thirty-Four years after, child abuse is still prevalent in our society. The aim of this work is to examine the effectiveness of child protection legislation in Nigeria. The dimensions of child abuse in Nigeria and the provisions of some International Child protection instruments such as African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification & Enforcement) Act, International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, International Labour Organization Convention No 138 On The Minimum Age For Employment, Optional Protocol to the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) 2000, Optional Protocol on the Sales of Children. Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. The Convention on the Consent to Marriage, and Minimum Age for Marriage and registration of Marriage, were also examined. To achieve this, the researcher adopted the doctrinal research method. The researcher used primary source materials such as the Constitution, Statutes and Treaties. Secondary source materials such as textbooks, journals, dictionaries and indexes to law reports were also used. This work is canvassing the fact that enactment of new laws is not needed to curb child abuse in Nigeria but few amendments to refine the already existing laws. This work is also canvassing for a spirited enforcement mechanism and practical implementation of existing laws especially the Child’s Right Act. This work recommended the amendment of the Abortion Law (section 230 criminal Code), section 5, section 31(2), and section 17 of the Child’s Right Act. It also recommended the enforcement of Chapter Two of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, and the adoption of the Violence Against Person (Prohibition) Act 2015 in other Nigerian States other than the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in order to provide solace for male victims of rape while eradicating the ancient belief that a male cannot be raped.

The situation of human trafficking crime is becoming increasingly complicated, evidenced by an increasing trend in severity, number of cases, and the use of sophisticated methods and tricks. Human trafficking is identified by the United Nations as one of the four most dangerous crimes in the world, as outlined in the Global Crime Prevention Program 2013. It is conducted by organized, transnational criminal groups. Therefore, international cooperation in addressing it is an indispensable and objective requirement. Vietnam has been actively participating in international commitments to combat human trafficking prevention, such as International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the Optional Protocol to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Trafficking in Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (2000), United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000), the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP Convention), among others. By analyzing both international and Vietnamese laws on human trafficking prevention, combined with the practice of anti-trafficking efforts in Vietnam, this paper highlights that while current Vietnamese law has been promoting its positive effects, some limitations and shortcomings need to be addressed in order to comply with international law and meet practical requirements of anti-trafficking efforts. Thereby, the paper proposes some recommendations for improving Vietnamese law on human trafficking prevention to align with the requirements of international legal standards and the actual needs of human trafficking prevention in Vietnam.

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a global public health crisis. CSEC is defined as the use of a child under the age of 18 years in a range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of the child for the financial benefit of any person or in exchange for anything of value given or received by any person. CSEC is a problem of epidemic proportions throughout the world including the United States. It is difficult to determine the true number of CSEC victims in the United States. However, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children states that, in 2021, more than 17,200 reports of child sex trafficking were received from all 50 U.S. states and estimates that of the 25,000 children reported missing, one in six were likely victims of sex trafficking. CSEC can result in significant physical and mental health consequences for victims, even death. Studies indicate that CSEC victims are consumers of healthcare. Up to this point, the focus of healthcare related to CSEC has primarily been upon recognizing red flags that should raise CSEC concerns and the identification of victims. Although victim identification is critical, it is time for forensic nurses to understand their role in the prevention of CSEC. This narrative review will discuss the prevention of CSEC using a multitiered healthcare approach.

This case report describes a model for identification and response to adolescents at risk for human trafficking/sexual exploitation in an emergency department setting. The Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking is used, and then identified high-risk individuals are provided a forensic nurse examiner (FNE) assessment. The patient presented to an emergency department three times for mental health care and was screened using the Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking, which showed significant human trafficking/sexual exploitation risk. This triggered FNE interventions that led to disclosure of exploitation, connection to resources, and progress in the patient's understanding and ability to seek support. While the patient's substance dependency and mental health concerns persisted, highlighting gaps, systematic screening paired with trauma-informed, patient-directed FNE response facilitated meaningful intervention without requiring self-identification or relying on provider recognition. This is a replicable model for health care settings seeking to improve identification and support of at-risk youth.

This study examines the shared trauma and memories of children and women involved in prostitution by viewing them as a community through analysing Tracey Hoffmann’s Valley of Chaya. The novel explores the collective identity of prostitutes (trafficked victims), shaped by the trauma they collectively experience, their mutual support, and resilience, while also highlighting internal conflicts and external pressures that reinforce their trauma. Collective trauma emerges when individuals believe they have been subject to identical horrific events. This study offers a nuanced understanding of how shared traumatic experiences foster a community among marginalised individuals, especially those who are trafficked and end up in brothels. Collective trauma, which affects a group with definable membership, is necessarily associated with that group’s shared identity. Trauma brings people together through shared experiences, creating a sense of belonging and a common identity. This paper analyses if children and women working as prostitutes could be seen as having a collective identity, as they share a similar kind of space and atrocity. The paper consults theorists to establish the arguments and to analyse the discussions around collective identity, trauma, and the stigmatised community of sex workers. Through decoding the language of trauma and Hoffmann’s depiction of child and young adult prostitutes, it takes a step further to the aspects of cultural trauma.

The spate of child sexual abuse has raised awareness of the need and urgency to protect children from sexual abuse. In international law, sexuality is increasingly linked to human rights and is increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights the perspective of sexual human rights. We have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. But let's face it, there are still many children in the world who are being sexually abused. To this end, we should sum up our experience, improve relevant laws in light of national conditions, and build a comprehensive and multi-level system for the protection of children's sexual rights, so as to provide a safe and harmless environment for children's growth.

Over the past decade, efforts have been made to reform the way in which law enforcement responds to child sex trafficking (CST). Law enforcement agencies are being urged or required to use victim-centered approaches that provide exploited youth with support and services. However, researchers have yet to empirically examine law enforcement’s recognition of CST at the agency-level, their arrest practices, or the services that are being offered to CST victims. We have little information about the utilization and effectiveness of various law enforcement agency policies, practices and training programs related to CST. The National Law Enforcement Agency Child Sex Trafficking (LEA-CST) Study aimed to address these gaps through a national survey of law enforcement agencies around the U.S. The current study reports on mail survey data collected from a sample of 1,306 agencies that provided feedback on the use of up to nine victim-centered approaches to CST at their agency. Data were analyzed along with information about whether their agency investigated at least one case of CST in the year 2021. Almost all agencies (97.5%) said they used or had access to at least one victim-centered approach to CST investigations, with larger agencies reporting a greater number of approaches. Two policies were significantly related to a greater likelihood of investigating at least one case of CST in 2021: Access to a CST-specific task force and access to a CST-specific victim service agency. Findings document a growing orientation to these cases by law enforcement that recognizes youth victimization, with innovative approaches to identification and support. Community collaboration appears to be critical to helping to identify, support and provide justice to CST victims.Research Summary This study examined law enforcement’s recognition of CST at the agency-level, their arrest practices, and the services that are being offered to CST victims. Among 1,306 agencies across the United States, almost all (97.5%) said they used or had access to at least one victim-centered approach to CST investigations, with larger agencies reporting a greater number of approaches. Two policies were significantly related to a greater likelihood of investigating at least one CST case in 2021: Access to a CST-specific task force and access to a CST-specific victim service agency.Policy Implications Findings from the current study underscore the importance of victim-centered approaches to CST that feature connections and collaborations across communities. These collaborations champion the wellness of youth who have experienced this unique and egregious form of sexual victimization while simultaneously allowing for criminal investigations to proceed, ideally with minimal re-traumatization of the victim.

Child sex trafficking: A model of survivor inclusion and survivor-informed practice