AN INFORMATION & RESOURCE PACK FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
“A friend asked me to go to meet a guy he'd met on the Internet. Before I knew it I
was being introduced to lots of men who wanted sex. If I tried to say “no” I got
physically hurt. I had to get a friend to help me out to cover my injuries so my
parents wouldn't find out. I thought that guys giving you money, fags and alcohol
was a normal thing. I had such a low opinion of myself that I couldn't think of
anything else except not living.” ‘Puppet on a String', Barnardo's.
http://www.vawpreventionscotland.org.uk/sites/default/files/ctf_puppetonastring_
report_final.pdf
“They gave us wine and cigarettes and cannabis. We felt really cool hanging out
with older guys with flash cars. Before long they were my only friends. We did
whatever they asked. They made it clear if they couldn't get their way there would
be consequences. I felt dead inside. They said I didn't have sex with them, they
would rape my mum.” Scottish Sun Newspaper– ‘One Teen's Ordeal’.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/3201452/One-teensordeal-at-hands-of-sex-traffickers.htmlFactual
/ information
Discussion questions:
What do you now think sexual exploitation is?
What makes sexual exploitation different from child abuse or are they the same?
Who is at risk?
..
What makes someone vulnerable?
What ways do predators groom young people?
How does it happen – what types and forms are there?
What should be done? By whom?
.
What impact might easy access to new technology / Internet have on grooming?
What contribution does our culture have?
What needs to be done?
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