What is sexual exploitation?
Sexual exploitation is the sexual abuse of children and youth through the exchange of sex or sexual acts for drugs, food, shelter, protection, other basics of life, and/or money. Sexual exploitation includes involving children and youth in creating pornography and sexually explicit websites. While the Criminal Code of Canada defines sexually exploited youth as under 18 years of age, the Child, Family and Community Service Act is applicable to youth under age 19. Therefore, youth who are under 19 years old are able to access services through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Other terms that are used to talk about sexual exploitation are “child
prostitution” and “youth sex trade”. We use the terms “sexual
exploitation” or “commercial sexual exploitation” to acknowledge that the
use of children and youth for sexual acts is abuse and is inherently
While youth may not use the term “sexual exploitation” to talk about
involvement in the sex trade, this is the way that it is framed under the
law. Many sexually exploited youth face realities of drug use,
homelessness, past trauma, and other factors which have lead them in to
the survival sex trade. Other youth may have no such history and may
have been lured, tricked or forced in to being sexually exploited.
Regardless of their personal history and life experience, it is important
to respect the identities of these youth while also recognizing that any
sex act between youth and adults is abuse.
Internationally, some sexually exploited children and youth are victims
of human trafficking, that is they have been moved across borders through
force or coercion for the purposes of sexual exploitation. For more
information on human trafficking, see the Department of Justice Canada
Sexual exploitation is defined by various legal documents that define
who qualifies as a “youth”, and how youth are treated differently than
adults when involved in the sex trade. For more information on the
legal and governmental distinctions between sexually exploited youth and
adult sex work, please see the following sites.
Criminal Code of Canada defines the age of a youth as under the
age of 18 years.
age to give consent to engage in sexual activity is 14
years. The age of consent for anal sex is 18.
However, when a youth is under 18 years of age, it is a crime for an individual to exchange money or anything else of consideration for sexual acts with that youth, as outlined in Section 212(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Several provincial governments have put forth legislation to protect exploited youth through voluntary services, and in Alberta through the use of involuntary services. In BC, the Child, Family and Community Service Act outlines measures for protecting and supporting sexually exploited youth through services funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
C-2: is an Act for the protection of children and other
vulnerable witnesses. This new law will significantly increase
penalties for those who abuse children and encourages the use of special
accommodations for children and other vulnerable witnesses in giving their
testimony. For more information on Bill C-2 visit the website for
of Justice Canada
For general information on the legal system, see the following
The Law Courts Education
The People’s Law
Convention on the Rights of the Child
This international human rights convention is one of the most important
documents upon which children’s rights are founded internationally and in
Child Rights Information
View the sexual exploitation section for more information on the UN
Convention and related children’s rights issues.
Dealing with Issues
of Sexual Exploitation: A Guide for Parents (PDF english)
The sexual exploitation of young girls and boys for profit is a complex
social issue, and is particularly distressing for the parents of these
youth. This guidebook from the McCreary Youth Foundation is intended to
provide support, hope and helpful advice for parents who are trying to
cope with this crisis in their families, as well as caregivers, such as
guardians and foster parents. (PDF translations available in Punjabi, Simple Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese )
CASEY Online website
This website provides basic information about sexual exploitation in
BC, in addition to their other projects.
Child Rights Information
Visit this website for up to date information on international
conventions outlining the rights of children and youth. They provide
links to relevant United Nations documents and reports from international
the Street Society
Visit Children of the Street Society’s website to learn more about
sexual exploitation, including information about recruitment, realities
of being in the sex trade, barriers to exiting, and what
to do if your child goes missing or is involved in sexual exploitation. Resources are available in many languages.