Who is at risk of being targetted for sexual exploitation?
IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE .
Teens from all types of families and backgrounds are targetted every year
The following offers guidelines that may be helpful.
Youth from a range of social, economic and cultural backgrounds are targeted and recruited into the sex trade. Police have reported a marked increase in children and youth being forced into prostitution. They have seen more and more kids from middle class families recruited in their own neighborhoods. However, runaways and troubled teens are the most vulnerable. Here are some factors that are common among youth at risk:
• Low self-esteem is a powerful factor in putting a child at risk.
• Being the victim of abuse - sexual, physical or emotional abuse is a highly common factor
• Situations in which a youth questions his or her security and sense of belonging, or
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effect, or learning disorders such as Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can affect a young person's level of risk.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS BEING RECRUITED BY A PIMP?
How to recognize a pimp
• While they can be either male or female, the majority are male.
• Any age ( although most are between the ages of 16 - 45 years.)
• May appear to have material success beyond their age group but are actually unemployed with limited education and are in a poor economic situation. Have few material possessions and are often associated with other criminal activity.
• May claim to be in the "entertainment industry
• Fills a need; makes the girls feel good, feel like an "adult".
• Usually poses as a boyfriend or friend that is "too" nice to family: "smooth talkers".
• Can easily target females for this life-style. They know what to look for, can find a youth's weaknesses.
• Strongly desires money and personal status among their peer group (money, cars, jewelry); carry cell phones, pagers.
• May display lots of bravado, flash, glitter and attitude.
• They are manipulative.
• May carry weapons and have violent backgrounds (e.g. assault charges, abusive histories).
• May be involved with drugs.
• Have one or more "girlfriends" they exploit in the sex trade.
• Total control, possessive behavior to exclude all other friends.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS BEING TARGETED BY A PIMP?
Sudden or extreme changes that parents should look for:
ATTITUDE
• Withdraws physically and emotionallyfrom home andfamily. Acts cold and unconnected to the family.
• Extreme mood swings, i.e. depressed, suicidal or "high/happy "followed by angry outbursts. Mood swings may also be drug-related.
• Secretive and reserved.
• Withdrawn; won't talk to you; will act like you're not in the room.
• Lying (q.g.: says she's staying at a girfriends or baby-sitting, but when youfollow-up, she's not there.)
• Confrontational, aggressive, abusive behavior or language.
Clues around the house:
Along with changes in behavior, youth leaves physical clues which may indicate that they are being targeted for sexual exploitation. Some of these clues are:
• Unexplained money, e.g. frequently going out to expensive restaurants.
• Bringing home new and expensive clothing or trinkets with explanations that do not add up, e.g. "it s my boyfriends.
• Packing change of clothes when they go out.
• Drug-associated objects; finding cans with holes, burnt knives or twisted spoons, rolling papers.
• Acquiring a pager or cell phone.
• Long-distance phone billsfor cell numbers(phone numbers that do not reveal on a call display unit).,
• Matchbook covers with hidden cellularlpager numbers inside.
• Business cards and receipts for places unusual (e.g. nightclubs)for a young teen to frequent.
• Phone calls from strangers at odd hours of the day or night, "hang ups" when anyone other than'the youth answers.
• Many condom packages.
• Weapons.
WHERE DO PIMPS AND RECRUITERS OPERATE?
A pimp will do everything to try to replace the family, so be loving and non-judgemental in your communication. Create a safe atmosphere for your child to come to, no matter how bad it gets.
The recruitment of youth for the sex trade can happen in any public place where teenagers gather. Some common locations include:
• School Grounds
• Stores next to schools
• Shopping Malls
• Coffee Shops
• Bus loops & transportation stations
• Teen social Gathering places ( Community Centers)
• On the "Stroll" (streets) where sex trade workers operate
for more information contact START , (604) 543-0001
