Sexual exploitation can take many different forms, and you may be surprised to find out that it doesn’t always involve the exchange of sex for money. When we think of sexual exploitation we often think of things like prostitution and pornography, which are one part of sexual exploitation. It can also involve more understated things like the exchange of sexual favours for drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, food, a place to stay, or acceptance into a peer group. All of these practices can be demeaning, degrading, and often life-threatening to the youth who is involved.

Sexual exploitation of youth is against the law! In Canada, anyone under the age of 18 cannot consent to sell their body for sexual purposes. Sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse, and is never the fault of the young person involved.