The Rise of Child Exploitation During this Global Pandemic
- Navya Mangla
- Oct 30, 2021
- 2 min read
TW: Child Abuse, Grooming, Sexual Violence
Child sexual exploitation is the forceful participation of a minor in sexual acts initiated by an adult. Examples of this include child pornography, sex trafficking, etc.
Unfortunately, the sexual exploitation of children is something that happens too often.
The damage after being exploited is irreversible, as it robs them of their childhood, innocence, trust, and even the joyous spark in their eyes.
During this global pandemic, the number of reported online sexual exploitations has been increasing drastically. Offenders have been abusing the fact that children are spending more time online. They have been asking children for sexual images, sexual interactions, and even to converse with them online or in person.
"It seems to be an epidemic right now online," says Stephen Sauer, director of Cybertip.ca.
He also said there has been an 81% increase in reports from sexually exploited youth over the three months of April, May and June in 2020.
With children spending more time at home during the pandemic, adults are taking advantage of this by abusing youth in their homes. This leaves children to deal with trauma surfacing from the abusive tragedies such as exploitation that is happening at home.
According to Canadian Red Cross, 85% of child sexual abuse survivors know the person who sexually abused them on a personal level. This is a concern because if a predator knows that the child trusts and is stuck with them, it allows them to exploit the child multiple times.
Unfortunately, this makes the pandemic a motive for child predators to groom, abuse, and sadly, get away with exploitation.
Grooming is a deliberate attempt by an individual to gain access and control of an underaged person. Grooming allows the predator to trick youth into thinking the activities they are engaging in are a part of a typical, loving relationship.
Even if a minor feels they are giving consent, they are not. Sexual interactions between a minor and adult are never tolerable as a minor’s brain is still developing.
Many possible factors lead to an adult taking advantage of a child. They may act irrationally on their desires and take advantage of the innocence of a child. As well, the need to control someone or feel close to them, especially during the pandemic since they may feel lonely or frustrated.
Having said that, none of the reasons above are justified for assaulting a minor. The adult is 100% responsible for their actions and must recognize that their behaviour is harmful.
I have experienced self-blame after being exploited as a child, but I hope survivors realize that just because you were a child, does not make it okay for someone to take advantage of you and violate your body.
To those of you in pain, I am so sorry. It is not your fault and in no way did you deserve any of it. If you or someone you know is a survivor of child exploitation, take the time to remind yourself (or them) that you are so much more than what happened to you and that you are loved. I wish you all the best on your beautiful journey of healing, whichever path you are on.
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