NEWS RELEASE – JANUARY 8th, 2010
Youth workers in the Comox Valley have noticed an increase in activities associated with sexual exploitation of youth. “We have been expecting this as the Olympics get closer,” said Community Against Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CASEY) member, Alison Fox. “Any time there is an event that draws tourists, there are people working to supply some of those tourists with sex. This doesn’t just happen in the big cities. Even in remote communities, young people are targets for sexual exploitation. And it doesn’t just happen to girls. Young people of any gender can be victims of sexual exploitation.
“If you are under 18 and trading any sexual service for food, a place to stay, money, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, clothes or rides, you are being exploited. This is child abuse and the person giving you stuff can be charged. Stuff for sex is not a fair trade, and it’s not love. Caring adults do not look for sex from teens.”
Warning signs that a person may be recruiting youth to be sexually exploited are: age difference between the youth and the recruiter, isolating a youth physically or emotionally, gifts which will later have to be paid back, gut feeling or bad vibe about a person, and the person having a reputation for being involved with crime or using or selling drugs, according to Childrenofthestreetsociety.com. Recruiters also send other teens into schools to connect with youth, invite them to parties and introduce them to pimps.
Comox Valley’s CASEY formed about three years ago, after a presentation by Diane Sowden of Coquitlam’s Children of the Street Society. Sowden, an advocate for sexually exploited youth since her own daughter was recruited into the sex trade at age 13, says that sexual exploitation can happen to anyone. “Young people who do not have strong support networks, GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer or questioning) youth, youth who have previously been abused, youth who use drugs, and youth who have low self-esteem or feel alone are among those especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation,” adds Fox.
“CASEY wants the whole community to be aware that sex trade recruitment happens here, and to watch out for each other. Youth heading for sexual exploitation may think that they will have control over their lives, and they can leave when they want to, but that’s not how it really is.”
For more information on sexual exploitation and on safe and healthy relationships, visit Children of the Street, The Safe OnLine Outreach Society, Project Respect, or try the Sex for Stuff Jeopardy. To talk to someone local, call the Child and Youth Sexuality Clinic at the Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) at 338-7575 (extension 222 or 223), Community-Based Victim Services at 338-7575 (extension 224), or the John Howard youth outreach worker at 218-0483.
