Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 83 Young people are vulnerable because they lack power – socially and economically – and must rely on adults to provide the necessities of life, as well as mature guidance. If they are without strong support at home or in their community, they are vulnerable to those who want to exploit them. Also, adolescents want to leave childhood behind and be seen as adults.This can be manipulated by those wishing to exploit them. Some factors make certain young individuals even more vulnerable: • history of abuse or neglect • low self esteem; poor peer relations • high levels of conflict with parents/caregivers • drug or alcohol use/addiction • being away from home and away from a familiar environment • poverty, few economic options • lack of education or job skills • meeting the wrong person, in person or online, and growing to trust them • a lack of awareness about sexual abuse/exploitation Those who have been transported into Canada, often from poor or unstable areas, are unable to seek support and help for fear of being punished, either by their captors or by the authorities. Sometimes they don’t speak the language, so they cannot seek help; they have no papers. They are very much at the mercy of those who traffic them. But even children who live in Canada and have supportive families, schools and communities are increasingly at risk, especially through the Internet. WHAT MAKES YOUNG PEOPLE VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION? Adolescents are curious, and it’s normal for them to push boundaries and to experiment; and because they are young they don’t often make the best choices.The Internet opens them up to contact with predators. It’s very easy for them to get in too deep, before they realize that they’re in danger, and then they are at risk of being exploited because they don’t want to be caught doing whatever it was they were doing. Parents need to be talking about these issues with their children, and monitoring Internet use and watching for danger signs. Whatever factors lead to sexual exploitation, once involved it is very difficult for a young person to escape. It’s crucial that there are supports available, and that sexually exploited youth are not judged, devalued or written off as lost causes.
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