It is the act of using a minor for sexual activities, by offering or promising money or any other form of remuneration, payment or benefit, whether such remuneration, payment, promise or benefit is made to the child or to a third party.
In most cases, victims are between 14 and 16 years old, but (potential) victims aged 13 or younger are also often reported. In some cases, the victims may also have just reached their majority at the time of reporting.
Almost all cases involve girls and in 30% of the cases the minor was staying in a youth institution. In addition, a link can often be established with the problems of running away, which makes these young people extremely vulnerable. Indeed, during this period, they use survival techniques, and other people take advantage of this to offer them, with bad intentions, guidance and a so-called 'safety net', such as a shelter.
This is one of the well-known tactics of teenage pimps, real human traffickers, who subjugate teenagers (through physical or psychological coercion) and then sexually exploit them in prostitution. They see vulnerable young people as easy prey and play a role in the vast majority of cases.
Furthermore, the problem of teenage pimps clearly has an international dimension and the perpetrators operate and recruit across borders. The victims are therefore not only from youth institutions, nor do they have a specific nationality.
Any teenager can become a victim, especially if the perpetrators are able to detect, and take advantage of, a certain vulnerability.
If you are not sure that it is a situation of underage sexual exploitation, these questions will help you find out:
Each local care centre has a shelter that provides emergency housing. It is located in a discrete address to ensure the victims' safety. Victims find a safe place here to start their recovery process. After a short stay in the shelter, we can help find housing in a rental accommodation.
We provide social support to each victim based on their needs, to help them regain confidence and start building a new life. Depending on their situation, we will help with housing, medical care, education, employment, social welfare, mental health care, and any other aspect of the person's life.
We provide legal help to support each victim in their path to obtain justice and in their collaboration with the criminal justice system in the country.
We support victims to regularise their administrative status, to get through all the administrative steps needed to be in order in the country.
SECRET SERVICE
