Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Abstract

The most salient factor in the business of exploiting children is sexual exploitation. Commercialized sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) can more easily be understood as a form of commercialized child abuse; it is the sexual commodification of children’s bodies for the purposes of monetary or material gain. CSEC is a general categorization that includes more specific forms of commercialized sexual abuse such as child trafficking, prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. In addition to these more commonly researched forms of CSEC, the traveling of child offenders and the subsequent enticement of youth to engage in illegal sexual activity is a form of exploitation underrepresented in research; however, it represents a significant threat to youth.