Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) General Information

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Information to share at the event:

• CSEC General Information
• Recent Cases In The News

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Globally:

• A study published out of Lancet in 2002 estimated that between 1 and 10 million children across the world are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).
• UNICEF estimates that between 1-2 million children worldwide are subjected each year to commercial sexual exploitation.

U.S. Statistics:

• A University of Pennsylvania Study estimated that 325,000 children in the U.S. are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation.
  · National study of 13,294 American adolescents found that 3.5% or 421, 000 had exchanged sex for drugs or money.
  · The National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART) estimated 1,682,900 youth had a runaway or throwaway episode during 1999.
  · 77% of all runaways return home within a week.
  · It is estimated that 10-15% of children living on the street have been sexually exploited
  · Average age of entry into prostitution- 12
  · 75% of minors engaged in prostitution have a pimp

Ohio:

• FBI calls Toledo one of the top recruiting locations for underage prostitutes
• Ohio cities are prime locations for teen prostitution
• The national incidence for runaway episodes is 5.28/1000 children. For Ohio, this translates into 5180 children/ year runaway from home. It is estimated that 10-15% of children living on the street have been sexually exploited, which for Ohio means that as many as 500-750 children/year are being sexually exploited.

Columbus:

• In Columbus, there is almost no awareness that prostitution involving a minor <18 is a form of sex trafficking which has led to a lack of identification of victims

• National Runaway Switchboard
  • 77% of crisis callers are female
  • In 2007 they had 781 calls from 614 area code
    • 77% =600 from girls in Columbus region
  • Estimate is that 10-15% of girls on the street become involved in commercial sexual exploitation
    • 60-90 girls involved in prostitution

• Huck House FY 2007
  • Served 1,409 youth in 2007
    • Approximately 600 girls
    • 1/3 will be approached within 48 hours by a pimp
    • 200 girls <18 approached by a pimp
    • 60-90 involved in prostitution

Shelter beds:

• A recent report by HHS found that there were only 45 beds available in the country at shelters that specialize in providing for the needs of teenagers exposed to CSEC
  • Since the reports release, 6 beds have been shut down, leaving only 39

Gracehaven:

• Established in 2008 as a Ohio non-profit organization
• Mission statement: Gracehaven seeks through Christian love to provide shelter and rehabilitation to girls under the age of 18 who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and to raise awareness among young women about the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in order to educate and equip them so that they can avoid becoming victims themselves.
• Obtained 501(c) 3 tax exempt status with the IRS in December of 2008

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