CHILD EXPLOITATION:
the abuse and manipulation of children by taking advantage of a child's vulnerability to exploit them in harmful ways.
CHILD EXPLOITATION CAN TAKE SEVERAL FORMS
Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking
The abuse of children for sexual purposes, such as creating or distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), prostitution, or trafficking. This includes recruiting or transporting children for forced labor, illegal adoption, or other forms of exploitation.
Labor and Economic Exploitation
Forcing children to work in hazardous conditions, for long hours, or for little to no pay in industries like agriculture, mining, or domestic work. It also includes exploiting children for financial gain, such as using them for begging or labor without proper compensation or safety.
Online Exploitation
Using digital platforms to manipulate or abuse children, including grooming, cyberbullying, extortion, and distributing explicit material.
Criminal Exploitation
Coercing children into illegal activities, such as drug
trafficking, theft, or begging rings, often by exploiting their
vulnerability and lack of resources.
DO YOU SUSPECT CHILD EXPLOITATION MIGHT BE TAKING PLACE?
STATS
As of 2021, approximately 160 million children worldwide are engaged in child labor, with 79 million involved in hazardous work. (1)
NCMEC's CyberTipline received 36.2 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation online in 2023, reflecting a substantial increase over the past decade. (2)
CSAM content from 2021 to 2022 jumped 64% and is rising each year. (4)
The younger the victim in CSAM, the more severe the abuse. (5)
More than 60% of unidentified victims in CSAM were prepubescent, including infants and toddlers. (5)
Child labor remains prevalent in various industries, including agriculture and mining. (3)
JOIN US AND STRIKE BACK AT CHILD EXPLOITATION
Give NowCITATIONS
(1) Child labour rises to 160 million – first increase in two decades https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/childlabour-rises-160-million-first-increase-two-decades
(2) CyberTipline Data https://www.missingkids.org/cybertiplinedata
(3) In Nigeria’s lithium boom, many mines are illegal and children do much of the work | AP News https://apnews.com/article/22155590dddf7ecc0b9fd55b221c6d9f
(4) Total number of CSAM reports | IWF Annual Report 2021 https://annualreport2021.iwf.org.uk/trends/total
(5) International Child Sexual Exploitation database https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Crimes-againstchildren/International-Child-Sexual-Exploitation-database