Manitoba Family Services and Labour
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Manitoba Strategy Responding to Children and Youth at Risk of, or Survivors of, Sexual Exploitation
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Children and youth who have been sexually exploited are victims of child sexual abuse. The sexual exploitation of children and youth is a serious concern in Manitoba, Canada and around the globe.
Without intervention, these children and youth are at far greater risk of:
- violence, including abusive relationships, sexual assault and homicide;
- sexually transmitted diseases;
- gang involvement;
- early pregnancy;
- mental health difficulties;
- academic difficulties;
- involvement with the child welfare and criminal justice systems;
- long term dependence on social services and government assistance; and
- raising children who are much more likely to repeat the same cycle.
| For the purposes of the Manitoba strategy, child sexual exploitation is the act of coercing, luring or engaging a child, under the age of 18, into a sexual act, and involvement in the sex trade or pornography, with or without the child's consent, in exchange for money, drugs, shelter, food, protection or other necessities. |
How common is sexual exploitation?
It is estimated that hundreds of children and youth are victimized in the visible sex trade on Winnipeg streets each year. It is also estimated that thousands of children and youth are victimized in the invisible sex trade that takes place in hidden venues such as private homes and drug houses located throughout the province.
Most adults involved in the sex trade report that their victimization began at a very young age, sometimes as young as nine, and at an average age of 14.
Who is involved?
The majority of children and youth who are victimized by sexual exploitation are female, however there is a growing awareness of the sexual exploitation of boys and transgender youth. Aboriginal children and youth are over represented.
Most of these children and youth have experienced family conflicts, addictions or childhood abuses such as neglect and physical and/or sexual abuse and are involved in the child welfare system.
The majority have also experienced homelessness for short or extended periods of time. Most homelessness is a result of youth on the run from home, child welfare placements or the justice system. It is during this time of homelessness that youth are most at risk of becoming sexually exploited, at times exchanging sexual favours for the basic necessities of life such as food and shelter.
What do we know about the causes?
Sexual exploitation is an outcome of larger underlying problems. Addressing the underlying problems is as important as addressing the outcome and is the key to long-term solutions.
Poverty, class, racism, social isolation, marginalization, peer pressure, past abuse and trauma, sex-based discrimination, mental health, neurological and developmental disorders, system gaps, inaccessible services and other social and financial inequalities contribute to children and youth's vulnerability to sexual exploitation.
What can be done?
The focus of the Manitoba strategy is on prevention. This includes increasing the general awareness of the issue across all segments of the Manitoba population and providing preventative programming for at risk youth.
Intervention initiatives are also part of the Manitoba strategy. Research shows that at risk or sexually exploited children and youth respond most favourably to programs that are age, developmentally and culturally appropriate, non-judgmental, child and youth-centered, creative, responsive to individual needs, non-coercive and staffed by individuals who are personally committed and who may have experienced similar life situations.
The Manitoba Strategy
As directed by the Manitoba Government's Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, the Manitoba Strategy was launched in December 2002. An implementation committee, led by the department of Family Services and Consumer Affairs has been established. Partner departments and agencies are taking the lead on specific initiatives of the strategy.
The partner departments are:
- Justice;
- Family Services and Consumer Affairs;
- Health;
- Education, Citizenship and Youth;
- Women's Directorate;
- Aboriginal and Northern Affairs; and
- Healthy Child Manitoba,
The partner agencies are:
- New Direction's TERF Program;
- Child Find Manitoba
- Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre; and
- RESOLVE from the University of Manitoba.
Overview of current initiatives
Please visit our Current Initiatives page for details of programs and services that support the Manitoba strategy.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Child Protection Branch
Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs
201 - 114 Garry Street
Winnipeg MB R3C 4V5
Phone: (204) 945-6964 or
945-5055
Email: cfsd@gov.mb.ca
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