Victims Of Exploitation Research Articles

Development of a Multi-Session Curriculum Addressing Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for High-Risk Male Youth

ABSTRACT Males, in particular adolescents and young adults, have been increasingly recognized as involved in domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). However, there are very sparse resources and organizations that provide prevention, identification, and interventions for boys and young men who are involved in or at-risk for DMST involvement. The objective was to develop and assess an educational curriculum to prevent adolescent male involvement in DMST through a three-pronged educational approach: as victims of sexual exploitation; receiving financial benefit as exploiters; as buyers of sex. Through quality improvement cycles, changes were made to enhance the curriculum by utilizing the outcome measures of participant questionnaires and feedback from a steering committee of clinical experts. Male youth at the state’s juvenile detention center were asked to participate in pilot groups, as they were identified as a high-risk population of adolescents to become involved. The curriculum was modified by adding sessions, including additional community guest speakers, and providing a more holistic educational experience that involves trafficking prevention from both a victimization and perpetration standpoint. Our goal is to expand this educational opportunity to be utilized in multiple settings (e.g., schools, hospitals) across the country.

An Explorative Study of Coping Mechanisms Towards Vulnerability and Victimization Within Commercial Sexual Exploitation in India

Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes more than 59% of the entire trafficking industry. An efficient rehabilitation model reflects the utilization of the victim's coping mechanism to overcome the stress and trauma of past victimization. The main aim of the study is to explore various coping mechanisms utilized by both victims of commercial sexual exploitation and individuals vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation at rehabilitation and protective homes in India. The research utilized the participatory action research with stress coping behavior scale to understand the various employed coping mechanism by the beneficiaries of rehabilitation and protective (R&P) homes. In total, 30 victims of commercial sexual exploitation and 30 individuals vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation, aged 18-50 years, participated in the study. The statistical analysis identified pursual of specific coping by participants and measured risk ratio reflected the relative risk of alcohol and drug use over prior exposure to commercial sexual exploitation.

Shifting the Narrative and Ending the Silence: Juvenile Prostitutes or Juvenile Victims?

BackgroundPublic perceptions of juveniles involved in commercial sexual activity are heavily shaped by media and communication frames, and these perceptions influence the direction of public policy priorities.ObjectiveA systematic critical analysis of trends in the literature was conducted to evaluate the framing of this population as either deserving of policy aid or undeserving of policy aid.MethodsThe language of professionals in medical, legal, and social science peer-reviewed journals was assessed, encompassing the years 1985–2015.FindingsFindings suggest that the framing of these juveniles is slowly shifting away from a perspective of juvenile culpability and toward a perspective of juvenile exploitation.ConclusionsCurrent research efforts are imperative and should be focused on the reconceptualization of these juveniles as victims of abuse and exploitation.

Vicarious Traumatization and Burnout among Service Providers for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

ABSTRACT Victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) are in need of multiple community services to aid in their recovery. Service providers are critical to ensuring these victims receive needed treatment. Given the complex trauma of these victims and the necessity of long-term treatment, these service professionals may experience vicarious trauma (VT) and burnout. This qualitative study interviewed 12 professionals who have provided direct services to victims of CSE about their experiences. They had on average about 8 years of experience and three were survivors of CSE. Almost all reported instances of burnout and VT but also had strategies for the prevention of such experiences. Most participants reported experiences of VT and burnout are inevitable when working with this population, but self-care strategies and peer support are essential to combatting these negative experiences. These results can inform agencies that provide services to victims of CSE so as to ensure their staff stay healthy and avoid burnout.

Substance Use and Childhood Sexual Abuse among Girls Who Are Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Background: Girls who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC) have high rates of substance use and childhood sexual abuse. We compared girls who are victims of CSEC and matched controls on childhood sexual abuse and substance use, and examined if substance use is associated with increased CSEC odds. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from assessments completed by 80 girls who were referred by the Department of Child Services (Mage=15.38, SD=1.3, 51.9%White). Results: CSEC girls reported higher substance use (t=-2.76, p=.007), and were more likely report childhood sexual abuse (χ2=6.85, p=.009). The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and substance use outcomes did not differ across the groups (b’s 0.12-1.38, p’s .22-.85). Substance use disorder diagnosis was associated with greater odds of being in the CSEC group (ORs 2.95-6.72, p’s<.05). Conclusions: Substance use and childhood sexual abuse are important risk indicators for exploitation, but should not be used to reduce criminality of CSEC perpetrators.

Experiences of surviviors of commercial sexual explotation availing rehabilitation at R and P homes in India.

Sex trafficking constitutes the primary form of human trafficking and involves predominantly young girls and women. Rehabilitation of victims rescued from commercial sexual exploitation is critical for efficient reintegration into society. To explore the narratives of survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, analysing various factors associated with eventual rehabilitation in Rehabilitation and Protection (R and P) homes in India. The study involves mixed method qualitative study at R and P Homes in India. In total, 30 victims of commercial sexual exploitation, aged 29-50 years, participated in the study. Conversational interviews guided the data collection through a dedicated interview protocol. Thematic analysis explored factors promoting or inhibiting rehabilitation in R and P Homes. The results reflected positive change in respondents' individual and social behaviour and identified facilitators for rehabilitation through R and P Homes. The result highlighted various barriers to rehabilitation, including lack of dedicated focus on psychological assistance, financial stability, and sense of safety and security within society. The analysis also reflected various internal and external factors contributing to effective rehabilitation. The results provide insight into creating an inclusive model of rehabilitation for victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

An exploration of how gender stereotypes influence how practitioners identify and respond to victims (or those at risk) of child sexual exploitation

AbstractChild sexual exploitation (CSE) has been found to have a detrimental and long‐lasting impact upon a victim's physical and emotional well‐being. A large body of research has raised concerns about how practitioners identify and respond to CSE. In particular, research has indicated that male victims of CSE are commonly being overlooked by practitioners. It has been suggested that this may occur as a result of gender stereotypes. However, this has not been specifically explored by existing research. Therefore, this research project explored how gender stereotypes may influence how practitioners identify and respond to children and young people who are victims (or at risk) of CSE. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight practitioners from one Youth Offending Service in the South West of England. Three key themes emerged from the interviews. These themes highlight that as a result of gender stereotypes, practitioners may be less likely and/or slower to identify males as victims and may be less likely to provide males with supportive multi‐agency responses. This paper makes recommendations about how this issue can be addressed to ensure that all victims of CSE are adequately safeguarded.

Perlindungan Hukum terhadap Anak Sebagai Korban Eksploitasi Seksual Komersial di Media Sosial

Indonesian citizens as a part of the elements of the world community who have a big responsibility to protect children's rights especially in human rights, which play a major role in maintaining children's welfare in social life. However, currently the exploitation of children is a problem that often occurs on social media, every child has the right to obtain a form of protection from all criminal acts of sexual exploitation. The government plays a role in protecting all forms of children's rights and providing education about the dangers of sexual exploitation on social media. This research uses the method of writing normative law which refers to the principles, norms, rules of statutory regulations, court decisions, agreements and doctrines of the technique of collecting of data carried out by the literature, legislation which is associated with the type of normative legal research by analyzing each books to select the appropriate topic of the research that is analyzed systematically and link it with other materials. The results of the research revealed that sexual exploitation of children on social media is mentioned as a violation of what is contained in dealing with the form of protection given to a child as a victim of commercial sexual exploitation on social media. The criminal offense for child exploitation is to pay one hundred million rupiahs with five years in prison.&#x0D;

Correlates of Susceptibility to Scams in Community-Dwelling Older Black Adults

Introduction: Evidence suggests that older Black adults are frequent victims of financial fraud and exploitation. This study aims to identify the factors associated with scam susceptibility in older Black adults. Methods: Participants were 383 older Black adults living in the Chicago metropolitan area (mean age = 78 years and 82% female). A scam susceptibility measure assessed perceptions and behaviors that predispose older adults to fraud and scams. Categories of age-associated factors, including cognition, physical health, psychosocial factors, personality, and behavioral economics, were measured using uniform systematic assessments. For each category separately, measures associated with scam susceptibility were identified via stepwise variable selection. Results: Older age was associated with greater scam susceptibility. Further, the analysis revealed a robust association of cognitive health with scam susceptibility, particularly the domains of semantic and working memory. Psychological well-being was associated with susceptibility, as was neuroticism. Behavioral economic measures including financial and health literacy and financial and health decision-making ability were also implicated. In a final model that included all the measures initially retained by variable selection, semantic memory, psychological well-being, and financial and health literacy were independently associated with scam susceptibility. Moreover, the association of age was attenuated and no longer significant after adjusting for these correlates. Discussion: Age-associated vulnerabilities, rather than age itself, predispose older Black adults to financial fraud and scams. The correlates of scam susceptibility in community-living older Black adults primarily involve cognitive health, psychological, and behavioral economic factors.

‘Hot, Young, Buff’: An Indigenous Australian Gay Male View of Sex Work

Research has historically constructed youths who are involved in sex work as victims of trafficking, exploitation, poverty, and substance abuse. These perceptions often cast the sex worker as deviant and in need of ‘care’ and ‘protection.’ Rarely seen are accounts that provide different perspectives and positioning of youth engaged in sex work. This article explores the lived experiences of Jack, a young gay cis-male who identifies as Indigenous Australian. Despite being a highly successful sex worker, his involvement in such a stigmatised occupation means that he must navigate the social and cultural perceptions of ‘deviant’ and ‘dirty’ work. This qualitative study explores the ways in which Jack negotiates his work, his communities, and the capitalisation of his sexuality. Drawing on Indigenous Standpoint Theory and wellbeing theory, Jack’s choice of sex work is explored through the intersections of sexuality and culture, with the consequences of Jack’s social and emotional wellbeing emerging as his narrative unfolds.

Fat women, performance and subversive commodification on Ghanaian reality television

Critics of weight loss reality shows often present the contestants as victims of commodification and exploitation without any form of agency. This paper seeks to contest this one-sided view of such shows. It draws on interviews with the producers and 19 contestants in the first season of a dance reality show in Ghana, the Di Asa show, as well as recorded video performances online. We argue that indeed the show was organised in a manner that commodified the contestants for purposes of improving the ratings of the private television station that hosted the show. However, to read these contestants purely as commodified objects misses half the story. We demonstrate that these contestants participated in the show with parallel motives to that for which the producers created the show, and were successful in their endeavours. They thus engaged in what we call subversive commodification, a situation where the object of commodification actively takes part in the commodification process to gain benefits that accrue solely to them and not the subject of commodification.

Perlindungan Hukum terhadap Korban dalam Tindak Pidana Eksploitasi Seksual Anak (Studi Kasus Putusan Nomor 535/Pid.Sus/2019/PN Dps)

We must be aware of cases of crimes of sexual exploitation, especially in children, it is not enough if parents only but the government, society and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission must take a role in maintaining the continuity and protection of children. This new research aims to determine the legal protection of victims in criminal acts of sexual exploitation of children. This research type is normative research with a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. Legal materials consist of primary and secondary, then analyzed systematically. The results showed that legal protection for children from victims of sexual exploitation was given to legal subjects that had preventive or repressive characteristics. Furthermore, legal safeguards are essential to provide justice, order, certainty, benefit. The criminal sanctions given to the perpetrators of a criminal offense, namely for imprisonment for 7 (seven) years, reduced while the defendant is in detention and the penalty will be subject to a fine of IDR. 100,000,000 (one hundred million rupiah).

Research Ethics Systems: Lessons from a Comparison between NGO Ethics Guidelines and University Ethics Procedures

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) researching vulnerable groups have tended to receive limited ethics guidance or oversight, while academia is expected to follow stringent and sometimes seemingly restrictive and bureaucratic processes. The research ethics principles of NGOs and academia are quite similar. However, the frameworks and review processes can differ markedly, creating either strengths, weaknesses, or gaps for both sectors. This divergence is an even greater imperative for sensitive subject matters such as research involving child victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation. Building upon an extensive literature review, this paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the guidelines for ethical research developed by ECPAT International, a global network of non-governmental organizations working to combat the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, and the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, Thailand. Through interviewing 14 research ethics experts and NGO researchers, the analysis identifies the added benefit of the two quite different ethics frameworks when applying them in the different institutional contexts. The paper concludes by discussing the merits of an overall more comprehensive research ethics system as an alternative, comprehensive research ethics agenda for NGOs.

Exploring Human Trafficking Victimization Experiences in Portugal

ABSTRACT This study aims to access the experience of the victims of human trafficking, during recruitment, exploitation, and identification phases. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview, resulting in a clinical-forensic sample of nine adult victims of both sexes – two females and seven males, aged between 42 and 67 years (M = 56.67; SD = 8.411). Data analysis was done using thematic analysis and allowed to reinforce the dynamics of trafficking in human beings, concerning victims and traffickers (e.g., the deception in the recruitment phase) and dynamics of exploitation (e.g., entrapment strategies). This study was able to provide novelty concerning the hetero identification of the victims by community members. Despite the control strategies employed by the traffickers, some victims were identified and reported by neighbors to competent authorities. This should be considered as it may be indicative that educational campaigns are having an effect by enhancing the victims’ identification.

Physical, Psychological and Sexual Abuse of the Minor in the Families from the Northwestern Region of Romania- Social and Medical Forensics.

Background:In Romania, the abuse within the family of the minor child is a widespread phenomenon, its extent is insufficiently known because of ignorance/not reporting all the existing cases.Methods:The participants of the research are represented by two independent groups from the NW Romania 2007–2011, one for sociological study (1544 parents and 1283 children) and another for forensic statistical study (2761 cases of abused children). The sociological study was carried out by analyzing questionnaires applied in schools located in Bihor County, both to children and parents. The statistical analysis was carried out by studying the cases of the physically, sexually, and psychologically abused minors, recorded at Bihor County Forensic Service.Results:Physical neglect and physical abuse are the most common forms of child abuse. The forensic analysis highlight that most of the victims are male from urban areas. Physical abuse is more common in the 16–18 age group, psychological abuse in children aged between 6–10 yr, and sexual abuse in children under the age of 14 years. Girls were subject to sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse, more frequently in rural areas; boys were most often victims of exploitation, physical, and emotional abuse in both urban and rural areas.Conclusion:The results of the study led to the formulation of general guidelines on this phenomenon and highlight the need for proposals to improve the current situation of child abuse within the family.

Stakeholder perspectives on the implementation of shared decision making to empower youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation

ObjectiveShared decision making (SDM) has been proposed as a method to improve treatment adherence, placement stability, and other youth-centric outcomes for children who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC). This project seeks to characterize service providers’ perspectives on the adoption and implementation of SDM into treatment and placement planning decisions. MethodSixteen key stakeholders who provide services for youth who have experienced CSEC in a Southern city, as well as adults who survived exploitation as children, were individually interviewed. These interviews focused on stakeholders’ perspective on the appropriateness and contextual considerations regarding implementing this model to engage youth in decision-making conversations. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analyzed using group-based inductive content analysis. ResultWhile all participants acknowledged the philosophical importance of including youth in decision-making, perspectives varied on how this philosophy could be operationalized. Trauma-bonds to offenders, distrust in service systems, and policy and time constraints were discussed as potential barriers to implementation. Perceived benefits to applying this model included encouraging youth empowerment, helping youth develop decision-making skills, and strengthening relationships between youth and providers. Implementation considerations mirrored those seen in other medical and behavioral health settings, including extensive training, fidelity monitoring, enforcement through policy and legislation, and ultimately resetting the culture of services to be maximally youth inclusive. ConclusionParticipants supported the use of SDM to standardize the inclusion of youth in treatment and placement planning decisions. However, there exist challenges in defining exactly how to adopt this approach, and how to implement broad-scale cultural change within the service-providing community.

Detection of pimping by the criminal police

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions, which continues to destroy destinies of many people. It is revealed that sexual exploitation is an attractive sphere of activity of organized groups, because they bring high incomes at relatively insignificant capital investment in this unlawful business. It is proved that hundreds of facts of pimping and the involvement of a person in prostitution are discovered and investigated annually. We have developed of recommendations for the detection by the units of the criminal police of the facts of making pimping, with the subsequent bringing the perpetrators to responsibility, as well as providing assistance to victims of sexual exploitation, especially if they are children.

Mental Health Consequences and Service Use of Older Adults at Risk of Financial Exploitation

Abstract This study examines whether the experience of financial exploitation is associated with increased likelihood of mental health consequences and subsequent use of mental health services. Interviews were conducted with 99 participants, age 60 and older, at risk for elder abuse. The authors and research team administered standardized measures of elder mistreatment, depression, trauma, social support, and service use. Older adults who experienced financial exploitation reported worse trauma symptoms and depression than those who did not experience financial exploitation. Those with increased functional impairment were least likely to rely on mental health services. The findings highlight the importance of interventions to address and enhance response to depression, trauma, and social support in older adults who are victims of financial exploitation.

Feminist Perspective in the Novel of Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy

Men and women are the two best creation of nature. She has provided both equal rights but it is man who is too clever and has full control over woman. From a very long time he has limited her freedom and rights. That is why, they have been victims of inequality and exploitation for a very long time. The society which is of traditional mindset believes that a woman should live in boundary wall, give birth to children and to look after them. Most of the religions of the world emphasize that women should be subordinate to and dependent on men. In childhood they should be in take care of father, in youth by her husband and in old age by her sons. The Hindu philosophy, the religious books of Hindu as the Vedas, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Muslims the Christians and others also have same views about the position of women in the society. All of them impose on women strict rules of discipline and prohibit them from the rights equal to men. The women’s position in the family has been that of a servile creature, a playing thing an object of lust and pleasures. Commenting on the position of females in the society Shantha Krishnaswany Writes :

Effects of Household Size and Partner Status on Financial Well-Being and Financial Exploitation

Social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for older adults (adults over the age of 50) for a multitude of reasons. This study explored the connections between social isolation, vulnerability to financial exploitation, and financial wellbeing in a sample of older adults. Using the concept of precarity as a guiding framework, this study assessed behaviors that expose individuals to financial exploitation as well as indicators of financial wellbeing in individuals with varying degrees of social isolation. One-hundred-eight community-dwelling older adults completed a pen-and-paper survey containing measures of risk to financial exploitation and financial wellbeing. Participants were predominantly female (75.9%), White (90.7%), and highly educated. Fifty-eight participants were unpartnered (53.7%) and 67 participants (62%) lived with at least one other person. Chi-square analyses resulted in a significant association between partner status and being a victim of financial exploitation (χ2(1) = 10.842, p≤.001). Furthermore, there was an association between social isolation and engaging in certain behaviors that put someone at risk for financial exploitation (such as reading junk mail). As for measures of financial wellbeing, partner status was significantly associated with feelings of financial freedom (χ2(3) =8.608, p =.035). These findings indicate that socially isolated individuals may be at greater risk of financial exploitation and have lower levels of financial wellbeing, such as feeling unprepared for retirement (χ2(2) =7.358, p =.025). The results of this study highlight the risks involved with social isolation and indicate further research is needed into ways to mitigate these negative effects.