Why does child exploitation happen

Every day I have to sit in front of the computer and talk to men. Just like tens of thousands of other kids. A hidden and largely unknown form of child exploitation is spreading like a plague: webcam child sex tourism.

Men from wealthy countries pay children in poor countries to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam. Sweetie has become world news — the campaign has reached around one billion people worldwide.

Webcam Child Sex Tourism is now on the political agenda. Several governments have implemented or are preparing more effective measures to prohibit and punish online child abuse. Thousands of child domestic workers are hidden within households , working hard and long hours often over 16 hours a day , for little or no pay , living in abusive situations , without regular contact with their family.

They no longer attend school , missing the opportunity to improve their future prospects through education. Children felt that at The Lighthouse :. The majority of p arents and guardians that fedback to us felt the services they received were good, and felt supported by T he Lighthouse. Truly amazing. We believe every child should have the support they need after facing sexual abuse. Being a partner in The Lighthouse has shown us the difference a Child House can make for young people who've experienced abuse and we're pleased that funding for The Lighthouse in London has been extended to March Should have more around the UK" Parent in London.

Donate now. Finding out your child has been sexually exploited can be frightening and distressing. But there's help for you and your family. PACE works with parents and carers of children who are, or at risk of, being sexually exploitated.

You can call them for confidential help and advice on or fill in their online form. Barnardo's can support parents through their services across the UK. We run therapeutic services for children who have experienced, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation and abuse:. Find out more about all our services for children , including how to get in touch with ones in your area. Other organisations that can help include Barnardo's and The Children's Society.

They run services for children and young people across the UK. We understand how difficult it is for children to talk about sexual exploitation and abuse. Calls to are free and confidential. Children can also contact Childline online. Teaching children and young people about healthy relationships and how to stay safe online can help prevent sexual exploitation. These foundations can be laid from a young age. And we've got tips and advice on how to have difficult conversations.

It's also important to make sure children and young people know there are trusted adults they can speak to about their worries, including Childline. You can ask your child's school to book a free Speak out Stay safe assembly for primary school children. Our specially trained staff and volunteers hold assemblies and workshops, covering topics like bullying and abuse, but without using any scary words or adult language.

If you're worried about gangs , it can be difficult to know what to do to help protect young people. Whether they're thinking about joining a gang, are already involved or want to leave, they need help and support. You can contact our helpline for details of organisations near you that can give you support and advice.

Encourage transparency in what your children are doing online. You can keep gaming devices and computers and laptops with webcams in the living room or family spaces. Use parental controls and keep up-to-date on the apps and games children and young people are using.

NetAware is regularly updated and has age ratings, information and advice. Some children and young people may not be aware of the dangers of abuse.

Or aren't able to let someone know they're not safe because it may be harder for them to show or tell someone. We have a range of guides you can download to help children learn the PANTS rules without using any scary words. We've also got tips and advice to help you answer some of the common questions children and young people ask. Our video on contacting Childline using SignVideo is a useful tool to help you explain different types of abuse and give children and young people the knowledge of who they can contact if they're worried.

If you are, or think you might, sexually exploit or abuse a child or young person, contact Stop it now! You can also call us for information and advice on , email help nspcc.

Whatever you do, you'll help us make the world safer for children. Get involved. Goddard, A. Khadr, S. Mental and sexual health outcomes following sexual assault in adolescents: a prospective cohort study. Baseline interviews T0 were done less than 6 weeks after an assault to collect data on sociodemographic and assault. Harewood, E. The data relates to all referrals and initial assessments and onward support of children and young people living in the North Central London area who accessed the service between October and September This means the Lighthouse continues to receive referrals for approximately 1 in 2 children and young people in NCL who report sexual offences.

What is child abuse? Types of abuse. Spotting the signs of child abuse. Effects of child abuse. Children's stories. Reporting abuse. Our services. Coronavirus advice. Away from home. Children's mental health. In the home. Online safety. Sex and relationships. Support for parents.

Talking about drugs and alcohol. Ways to give. Events and fundraising. Runs, cycles and challenges. Do your own fundraising. Violence against children cuts across countries, cultures, traditions and levels of income. Some of the root causes include social acceptance, discrimination and power struggles based on gender or age. It is impossible to measure the true magnitude of violence against children worldwide, because often violence happens behind closed doors and is not reported.

However it is estimated that between million and 1. Violence is often transmitted from one generation to another — creating a vicious cycle with harmful impacts on the physical, psychological, emotional and social development of children.

Save the Children works on ways and programmes to make sure that all children, including those on the move and in emergencies, have appropriate care either from their own families or community-based alternatives. Febi misses her family and friends. Amad, 15 Febi's older brother. Febi misses Amad, her older brother and the rest of her family. In Indonesia, up to half a million children grow up in orphanages — the highest proportion of any country in the world.

Yet nine out of 10 children growing up in care homes have at least one parent still living. Poverty is one of the main drivers for this. There is no equivalent to the welfare state, and government financial support systems are difficult to access. Care homes in Indonesia are largely unregulated, operating as money-making ventures.

Our research has found appalling treatment and neglect in some institutions. Save the Children is supporting family-based care in Indonesia, by working with the Government to transform the role of orphanages, improving the quality and quantity of social workers supporting families, and developing a parenting programme to help create a more protective environment for children at home.

Approximately eight million children live in poor quality institutional care worldwide. Spending a childhood separated from family and often in appalling and neglectful environments is one of the biggest threats to early brain development.

In Indonesia, more than , children live in institutional care, despite many of the children having at least one parent still alive. We are working with eight districts in West Java province to roll out our Family First programme. The programme, which has focused on working with the government to shift the model of care from residential to family and community based care, will reach more than , adults and children from , including nearly 10, children who are currently in institutional care.

Her best friend, Shanti misses her. She says they don't get to play together like they used to, because Shanti is soon to be married too. Sitting in her new mother-in-law's house, Kali is quiet and seems distant from the other village children who are playing in the yard outside. While child marriage is outlawed in many countries and international agreements forbid the practice, every year, millions of young girls around the world are forced into marriage.

Many of these arrangements are with much older men, some in their 60s, who the new bride meets for the first time at her wedding. Child marriage happens for many reasons: poverty, tradition, fears about girls' safety, a perceived lack of other options. But, ultimately, it happens to girls because they are girls. Sequins throw light onto the wall of a mud hut in Pakistan, where Soni, only 16 years old , prepares for her wedding.

In remote villages in southern Pakistan, child marriages are commonplace, and although most girls are teenagers by the time they become engaged, it is not uncommon for 10 or 11 year old girls to be married-off to much older men.

She was forced to marry her year-old husband when she was 12 due to financial difficulties and fear of sexual assault. She is now one month pregnant. Due to her young age, her pregnancy is very weak. We heard about a lot of rape and kidnapping cases in Jordan. But no, I didn't want to get married. I am still young, and I wanted to finish my studies. Mulu, 16, is nine months pregnant in Ethiopia. Her marriage was arranged by her parents and she was not consulted.

In Ethiopia the average age of marriage for girls is between 13 and 16 years and usually to a man 10 or more years older.