Child prostitution, also known as child sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation of children, refers to the practice in which children, typically under the legal age of consent, are coerced, manipulated, or forced into engaging in sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits. This deplorable exploitation involves the selling, purchasing, or trading of children for sexual purposes, making it a grave violation of their fundamental rights and human dignity.
Child prostitution is recognized as a severe form of child abuse and a violation of international human rights law, as it subjects vulnerable and innocent children to extreme physical, emotional, and psychological harm. These children are often controlled and manipulated by traffickers, pimps, or others involved in the sex industry, who use various coercive tactics such as deception, threats, violence, and drugs to exploit them.
The victims of child prostitution come from diverse backgrounds and may be lured or forced into prostitution through poverty, family dysfunction, homelessness, neglect, or abduction. They face profound physical and psychological consequences, including sexual violence, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, substance abuse, trauma, and long-lasting emotional scars.
Efforts to combat child prostitution involve a comprehensive approach, encompassing legislative measures, law enforcement, social services, education, and awareness campaigns. Governments, international organizations, and civil society organizations play an essential role in providing protection, rehabilitation, and support to survivors, while also working to prevent the demand for and perpetration of child prostitution through targeted interventions and advocacy.
