Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week March 5 – 11, 2018
Sexual Exploitation Awareness Week
March 5 – 11, 2018 is
Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week.
March 5th to 11th, is the 20th annual Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week in British Columbia. The week recognizes the importance of supporting communities to develop prevention, education, enforcement and intervention strategies to address the sexual exploitation of children and youth.
Activities during the week include the Fuchsia Ribbon Campaign as well as community-based events held throughout the province.
Please see the statement from the Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, as well as further information about the week on our website at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/crime-prevention/community-crime-prevention/exploitation.
Thank you for joining us in raising awareness about this important issue through Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week.
Activities include a fuchsia ribbon campaign (PDF, 414 KB) and community-based events held throughout the province.
Sexual exploitation of children and youth under the age of 18 years is any type of sexual activity with children and youth in exchange for money, drugs, food, shelter or any other considerations. This is the case whether or not children or youth consider themselves to be consenting.
Sexual exploitation of children and youth is never considered prostitution or consensual.
It is sexual exploitation when children and youth:
- Are sexually abused by adults
- Provide sex for a place to sleep, a meal or a ride
- Trade sexual activities in exchange for money, drugs, alcohol, gifts, services, or other items
- Are sexually trafficked
- Are seduced, manipulated or coerced to take sexual pictures/videos of themselves (i.e., child pornography) that can be sent over the internet
Some youth feel they are not being exploited, and that they have chosen to exchange sexual acts for resources. But sexual exploitation is not employment or a chosen occupation; it is a form of sexual abuse.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual exploitation, please contact VictimLinkBC.