GEMS Training Institute: Learning to Work with Commercially Sexually Exploited (CSE) and Domestically Trafficked Youth September 9, 2014 Jenia Brown Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator

GEMS The nation’s largest organization providing direct services specifically to commercially sexually exploited girls & young women Only organization in NY State specifically designed to serve girls & young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation & domestic trafficking

GEMS Serves girls & young women ages Long-term holistic care model: - Direct services - Court advocacy - ATI Program - Outreach (street & facility) - Trauma-based therapy and clinical supervision - Case management - Transitional housing - Youth development/leadership Provides Training & TA to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and service providers nationwide

GEMS Victim, Survivor, Leader TM There are three primary interconnected components of GEMS Victim, Survivor, Leader TM model: – Direct services – Public awareness and education – Advocacy and systemic reform All components are survivor-led & survivor-informed

GEMS’ movie clip Making of a Girl

Activity: Language & Sensitivity Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children “Teen Prostitution” vs.

Language & Sensitivity Child/Teen Prostitute resistant “easy” drug abuse/addict “making money” choice kid involved in the system(s) “ho” “slut” stilettos/mini-skirts/fishnets Who’s problem? Law enforcement Sexually Exploited Child needs help victim vulnerable needs/wants to be rescued abused neglected controlled by adult trapped Who’s problem? Everyone

Language & Sensitivity Changing language… Reframes the issue as a form of child abuse Expresses the philosophy that sexually exploited children deserve support services instead of jail sentences More accurately represents the scope of the issue and the reality of exploited youths’ experiences Creates a common language to facilitate moving toward facilitating a community response plan

CSEC Is... The commercial sexual exploitation of children is: Sexual activity involving a child in exchange for something of value, or promise thereof, to the child or another person or persons. Child is treated as a commercial & sexual object. CSEC is a form of violence against children.

Child Sexual Abuse Sexual Exploitation of Children Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Sofia’s father begins molesting her at age 6. (CSA) At age 14 Sofia begins having sex with her 20 year old boyfriend. (SEC) Sofia is 15 when she begins dancing in a strip club. (CSEC) Sofia is 16 when the strip club owner threatens her and forces her to exchange sex for money in the VIP lounge. (DMST)

CSEC Includes… street exploitation child pornography stripping erotic/nude massage escort services phone sex lines private parties gang-based exploitation interfamilial pimping forms of Internet-based exploitation

Related Issue: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) consists of all forms of CSEC involving a third party that profits from the sexual activity with a child originating from the country in which the activity occurs.  American youth under pimp control are domestic minor sex trafficking victims.

Trafficking Victims Protection Act TVPA of 2000 defines “severe forms of trafficking in persons” in this two-tiered definition: Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

CSEC in the United States At least 100,000 to 300,000 youth are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation annually in the U.S. (Estes and Wiener, 2001) “At least 100,000 children are used in prostitution every year in the U.S.” (The National Report on DMST: America’s Prostituted Children, 2010, Shared Hope.) The most common age of entry into the commercial sex industry in the U.S. is years old. (US Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section)

Addressing Contributing Factors Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Racism Sexism Classism

Video Clip MTV-U Hotel Room PSA

“It’s not a choice, no one just wakes up and wants to do this. You can’t just walk away.” - CSEC Survivor

Risk Factors What were some of the risk factors that make youth vulnerable for commercial sexual exploitation?

Risk Factors Poverty Racism Homophobia Transphobia Domestic violence Homelessness Abuse Runaway Neglect LGBTQ Mental Health Issues “Throw Away” Substance Abuse Access to technology Adult Sex Industry Transient Male Population Violence Street Involved Culture/Economy Sexism/Misogyny Sexualization of Girls/Young Women Sexualization of Boys Glorification of Pimp Culture Inaccessibility of Legal Economies Acceptance of Violence v. Women & Minority Groups Developmental/Learning Disabilities Unaddressed Trauma

Risk Factors Multiple studies estimate that… 70-90% of sexually exploited children have a history of child sexual abuse 1. Bagley, C. & Young, L. (1987). Juvenile Prostitution and Child Sexual Abuse: A Controlled Study. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health. 2. Annual Report. (1991). Council for Prostitution Alternatives. Portland, Oregon. 3. Murphy, Patricia. (1993). Making Connections: Women, Work, and Abuse. Paul M. Deutsch Press, Florida.

©Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS)

Pathways to Entry Ways recruitment can happen: Parents selling children Violence and force Kidnapping Seduction and coercion False advertising for “modeling,” “acting,” or “dancing” opportunities Peer recruitment Internet enticement through chat rooms or profile-sharing sites

Brainstorming Questions: Who is effected by CSE? What are some of the ways that CSEC impacts our society?

CSEC… Impacts the local economy- Cost tax payers dollars Decreases safety in neighborhoods Links to other types of crime: guns, drugs, organized crime Promotes negative images for children Creates demand, a need for supply, and increased recruitment of children Directly exposes children to CSE locations Creates danger for children Costs resources of social service and healthcare systems Costs resources of law enforcement and court systems Contributes to long-term impacts of prostituted adults and costs to systems

Impact of CSE on Society Early Intervention is Key: Early intervention to avoid sex trading and trafficking of Minnesota’s female youth passes a rigorous benefit-cost test with a return on investment of $34 in benefit for each $1 in cost. Therefore we find that it is in the best interest of Minnesota taxpayers to invest in prevention and early intervention services for runaway and/ or homeless adolescent girls in the state who are at highest risk for sex trading and trafficking. Early Intervention to Avoid Sex Trading and Trafficking of Minnesota’s Female Youth: A Benefit-Cost Analysis Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, 2012

Studies of adult women in the sex industry report that… 62% of respondents had been raped in prostitution 73% had experienced physical assault in prostitution 72% were currently or formerly homeless 92% stated that they wanted to escape prostitution immediately 78% of 55 women who sought help from the Council for Prostitution Alternatives in 1991 reported being raped an average of 16 times a year by pimps, and were raped 33 times a year by johns. Melissa Farley, Isin Baral, Merab Kiremire, Ufuk Sezgin, "Prostitution in Five Countries: Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" (1998) Feminism & Psychology 8 (4): Susan Kay Hunter, Council for Prostitution Alternatives Annual Report, 1991, Portland, Oregon

Reflection Question: What impact does this level of violence and abuse have on an individual?

Psychological/Emotional Impact of CSEC Disruption of healthy psychological development  Self-concept, intimacy, beliefs and goals Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)  Impulse to revisit traumatic events, intrusive emotions & memories, flashbacks, hyper arousal, exaggerated startle reaction, panic symptoms Self-injurious and suicidal behavior Dissociative disorders Anxiety Paranoia Clinical depression Explosive outbursts Sleep disturbance & nightmares Bond with perpetrators Hyper-sexualization Physical Impact of CSEC Continuous physical abuse Rape & gang rape STDs & STIs HIV & AIDS Loss of bowel control Pregnancy (wanted and unwanted) Sterility Facial/dental reconstruction Tattoos & branding Brain damage Substance abuse/addiction Self-cutting Suicide/Death Spiritual Impact of CSEC Despair Hopelessness Lack of belief in humanity Lack of faith in spiritual power Emotional Impact of CSEC Anger and rage Deep emotional pain/grieving Feelings of humiliation/shame Stigma of exploitation Self-blame/Self-loathing Loss of sexual desire, feelings, or response Social Impact of CSEC Isolation from peer group Disconnection from community Isolation from mainstream society Homelessness Incarceration/Criminal record as obstacle Disempowerment Lack of life skills Trust issues/Difficulty maintaining relationships Obstacles to vocation  Lack of access to legal economies, lack of job experience/skills Educational deprivation  Missed school, disconnection with school system Handout 3.3

Working with CSEC Victims

Crisis housing Longterm housing Food Clothing Education Job or income Viable alternatives for employment Transportation Legal representation and/or advocacy Opportunities to develop new skills and strengths Medical and/or dental care Health education Mental healthcare Counseling and/or case management Safety plan Childcare and/or parenting skills Tangible Needs

Intangible Needs Safety Protection Nonjudgmental environment Respect Acceptance Engagement in positive community Healthy adult relationships Mentors and/or positive role models Supportive peers Understanding of the recovery process Affirmation of skills and strengths Recognition of abuse and trauma An opportunity to not be defined solely by abuse and trauma Options A sense of empowerment in one's own healing and restoration process Political education to understand the issue of CSEC Youth leadership opportunities Love & Holistic care

Working with CSE Victims: Key Points Be aware of your actions when working with victims Set a nonjudgmental and empathetic tone Treat the individual as a victim of trauma and abuse

“The Program is a space where I can be myself…Because it’s like they don’t judge me on things that I do or things that I’ve been through in the past.” - CSEC Survivor GEMS Programming

Current Need for VSL Programs are focused on the victim stage “Rescue” mentality prevalent Limits survivors in their recovery and life journeys

VSL Contributing Frameworks Trauma- Informed

VSL Foundational Principles

VSL Core Values

Questions?

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