Child sexual exploitation is a grave violation of children’s rights, affecting millions worldwide. Factors such as poverty, lack of education, gender discrimination, impunity, migration, cultural norms, and even religious rituals contribute to this crime. The UN estimates that 1.7 million children are being sexually exploited globally.
Sexual exploitation is a multi-billion-dollar industry where children are abducted, deceived, or sold into illegal brothels, enduring daily abuse. It happens in hotels, private residences, and increasingly online—where over 100 million images of child sexual abuse were shared in 2023.
A child is sexually exploited when they are coerced, deceived, or forced into sexual acts in exchange for something, money, food, shelter, protection, or false promises. This crime shatters lives, stripping children of safety, health, and a future. The trauma can be lifelong, and can lead to depression, PTSD, isolation, and stigma.
Child sexual exploitation takes many forms:
These crimes rise sharply in times of war, climate crisis, and food scarcity, disproportionately affecting girls in poverty. In 2023, over 100 million reports of child sexual abuse material were shared online. UNICEF estimates 120 million girls have experienced sexual violence globally. Boys are also victims—often in silence.
This is a global emergency. Ending it requires systemic change, accountability, and survivor-centered action.
Perpetrators prey on children’s vulnerabilities, with the internet making access and abuse easier. Shockingly, less than 2% of the reported reports lead to a conviction, due to weak laws, corruption, limited resources, stigma and taboo.
The challenges are immense: online platforms often fail to detect and remove abuse in time, legal systems are slow or outdated, and survivors are frequently blamed instead of protected. Meanwhile, traffickers operate with impunity across borders.
Ending child sexual exploitation requires a united global and local effort—from governments, NGOs, businesses, and individuals—to raise awareness, enforce justice, and protect children.
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