Have you ever heard a child say, "When I grow up, I want to be a prostitute?" For children and youth, working the streets is not a choice. Their lack of life experience and naivety about where the road to the street leads precludes their ability to make a conscious, informed choice. In Canada, any person under the age of eighteen cannot consent to sell their body for sexual purposes. While prostitution is legal at the age of majority, sexual exploitation is not. The Criminal Code of Canada, Section 212(4), states, "Every person who, in any place, obtains for consideration, or communicates with anyone for the p urpose of obtaining consideration, the sexual services of a person who is under the age of eighteen years is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years." The term "for consideration" includes the exchange of money, drugs, transportation, accommodation, etc. There is no valid comparison between a legitimate business transaction and the sexual exploitation of youth since in the latter there is no fair exchange. What price can one place on the psychological and physical damage done to the victim (child/youth) in sexual exploitation? It is the responsibility of all of us to protect our children and youth from the offenders and predators inherent in the sexual exploitation of children and youth.

There are several excellent websites that provide information about the sexual exploitation of children and youth. Be sure to read the full "Declaration and Agenda for Action" developed at the 1998 "Out From the Shadows: First International Summit of Sexually Exploited Youth" at http://sen.parl.gc.ca/lpearson/ or www.sccwest.org. An abbreviated version follows, as well as some useful information for youth, parents, teachers, professionals, etc.
Declaration (to read the Declaration click here)
Agenda for Action (to read the Agenda click here)
Who they are (to read the Who they are click here)
Warning Signs (to read the Warning Signs click here)
Identifying Pimps and Recruits (to read the Identifying Pimps and Recruits click here)