Social Behavior Description
Background: Child Sex Trade and Its Victims
Human trafficking remains an unresolved problem on a global scale. Also known as the sex trade, the subject matter affects the lives of numerous people that have been forced into the sex industry (Greenbaum & Crawford-Jakubiak, 2015). However, by far, the most vulnerable population in the human trafficking business is children (Schwarz et al., 2016). Despite the efforts of numerous organizations aimed at protecting human rights and reducing the threat of child abuse, the specified demographic is still highly threatened by the child trafficking industry (Kiss, Yun, Pocock, & Zimmerman, 2015). Because of the lack of concern for the issues that the vulnerable demographic faces, as well as the necessity to adjust the management framer to the needs of specific patients, the efficacy of current approaches is rather low.
Core Behaviors: Description
Victims’ behaviors: what makes them vulnerable
The issue of victimization is a rather debatable concept (Beck et al., 2015). However, the tendency to assume the behaviors that expose children to danger needs to be taken into consideration. The lack of awareness is, therefore, correlated directly with the threat of being forced into sex labor.
Behaviors of the state bodies: lack of care
The absence of concern among the representatives of the government can also be seen as the behavior that requires correction. It is crucial to elicit a response from state authorities (Lederer & Wetzel, 2014). Thus, the active promotion of change will be possible.
Suggested changes: building awareness and encouraging care
At present, it is imperative to raise levels of awareness. Thus, people will be able to address the situation (Varma, Gillespie, McCracken, & Greenbaum, 2015). Furthermore, a powerful emphasis must be placed on family support as the core of the successful management of victims’ needs.
Problem Evaluation: Human Trafficking of Children
Assessment: Current State of Preventing Child Trafficking
The current situation regarding the management of the issue leaves much to be desired. Because of the controversy surrounding the dilemma, it is rarely discussed (Greenbaum & Bodrick, 2017). Consequently, the current tools for preventing human trafficking and meeting the needs of its victims are underdeveloped.
Determining the Core Problem: Lack of Awareness and Resources
The absence of services that would provide legitimate psychological help to children that have suffered sexual trafficking is the main cause of the issue. Being deprived of access to resources, children suffer significantly. As a result, the trauma that they have experienced defines their further development.
Theoretical Framework: Demand Theory and Constitutive Criminology
Demand Theory
The use of the Demand Theory (DT) will shed light on why sex trafficking remains an issue. Thus, DT will provide a platform for a detailed discussion of the subject matter. In addition, DT will show why child sex labor persists in the modern environment.
Constitutive Criminology
Constitutive criminology allows viewing crime as a product of society (Brayley & Cockbain, 2014). Therefore, the issue of child trafficking will be viewed through the lens of community issues. Thus, a tool for managing victims’ needs can be created.
Intervention Strategies: Building Awareness
Encouraging the consistent growth of awareness levels is currently the first and most important step toward addressing the problem. Because of the tabooed nature of the subject matter, it is rarely discussed in the social environment (Harvey, Hornsby, & Sattar, 2015; Muraya & Fry, 2016). Therefore, attracting the attention of as many people as possible should be deemed as the first step toward improving the current state of affairs.
Annotated Bibliography
Beck, M. E., Lineer, M. M., Melzer-Lange, M., Simpson, P., Nugent, M., & Rabbitt, A. (2015). Medical providers’ understanding of sex trafficking and their experience with at-risk patients. Pediatrics, 135(4), e895-e902.
The process of meeting the needs of children who have suffered sexual abuse and have been involved in sex trafficking requires the assistance of numerous experts. The research delves into the problem of building a multidisciplinary team for handling the problems of the vulnerable population. According to the study outcomes, it is critical to develop a better understanding of the suicidal ideation, which is very typical for young victims of sex trade. Therefore, the research can serve as the foundation for the further detailed analysis of the approaches that can be used to encourage successful management of the victims’ needs. In addition, the article encourages the development of a multidisciplinary approach toward meeting the needs of children that have been subjected to sex trade. Consequently, chances for the improvement of patient outcomes and the further socialization of victims increase exponentially.
Brayley, H., & Cockbain, E. (2014). British children can be trafficked too: Towards an inclusive definition of internal child sex trafficking. Child Abuse Review, 23(3), 171-184. doi:10.1002/car.2307
In order to define the strategies that will help reduce the levels of child sex trafficking, one must explore the nature of the phenomenon, which is what the authors of the study do. According to the results of the research, the management of the child sexual labor problem is hindered by the fact that standards for handling the issue vary across the states. Therefore, the absence of a uniform strategy along with the lack of understanding of the victims’ needs reduces the efficacy of the tools created to help the target demographic. The paper must be credited for its analysis of state-specific issues in handling the needs of sex trade victims and can be used to improve the current management approach.
Greenbaum, J., & Bodrick, N. (2017). Global human trafficking and child victimization. Pediatrics, 140(6), 1-12. Web.
The authors shed light on the issue of child sex labor. The problem has reached the global scale and, thus, requires a comprehensive framework for managing it. The program that could allow nonmedical experts help victims of child sex labor is viewed as a step in the right direction. Particularly, opportunities for reducing victimization and helping children that have suffered from the identified form of abuse to recover can be created. The paper can be deemed as rather strong, with an in-depth study of the issue. The review that the study offers sheds light on the role that pediatric health experts play in addressing psychological health concerns faced by the victims. The articled can be used for a general analysis of the problem.
Greenbaum, J., & Crawford-Jakubiak, J. E. (2015). Child sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation: Health care needs of victims. Pediatrics, 135(3), 566-574.
Children that have been subjected to sex trade and have experienced sexual and emotional abuse need the assistance of experts from a variety of fields. Herein the significance of a multidisciplinary approach for handling the concern lies. By using the results of the study in question, one will provide the target population with chance for a faster recovery. Therefore, the research will have to be used as the basis for designing an intervention.
Harvey, J. H., Hornsby, R. A., & Sattar, Z. (2015). Disjointed service: An English case study of multi-agency provision in tackling child trafficking. British Journal of Criminology, 55(3), 494-513. Web.
A detailed study of the factors that lead to the enhancement of child trafficking may allow designing the awareness raising platform that will lead to a massive drop in the number of victims. The identified research serves as the foundation for creating the framework that will address most of the threats to which children are exposed regarding the issue of sex trade.
Kiss, L., Yun, K., Pocock, N., & Zimmerman, C. (2015). Exploitation, violence, and suicide risk among child and adolescent survivors of human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion. JAMA Pediatrics, 169(9). Web.
To be able to assist young victims of sexual abuse, one must have a deep understanding of the implications thereof on the specified demographics’ physical and especially mental health. After facing situations in which they are exposed to sexual abuse, children may develop complex mental health problems that range from depression to overt violence and suicidal tendencies. Therefore, the results of this study will inform the further development of the program aimed at assisting the children that have been subjected to sex trade. Particularly, the approaches to preventing the instances of suicide can be designed.
Lederer, L. J., & Wetzel, C. A. (2014). The health consequences of sex trafficking and their implications for identifying victims in healthcare facilities. Annals of Health Law, 23(1), 61-91.
The problem of child sex trafficking has been in existence for quite long, yet numerous programs aimed at eradicating the specified phenomenon have been unsuccessful so far. The current policies lack a proper grasp on the needs of victims, as well as a proper understanding of the concept of victimization. Because of the numerous misconceptions that revolve around the specified term, the existing regulations not only fail to protect children efficiently but also create the grounds for a vast range of prejudices that ultimately lead to mismanagement of victims’ needs and even victim-blaming. Therefore, a reconsideration of the existing legal framework in addition to a massive change in the social justice system will be required. The resulting shift in social values and the provision of support are likely to lead to a faster recovery and reintegration of victims of child sex trafficking into the society.
Muraya, D. N., & Fry, D. (2016). Aftercare services for child victims of sex trafficking: A systematic review of policy and practice. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 17(2), 204-220.
Creating the environment in which the victims of child sex trade can recover from physical and psychological abuse is crucial to the further management of their trauma. In the research, the tools for a multidisciplinary therapy are provided. To ensure a successful treatment process, one should facilitate the setting in which the processes of rescuing, recovery, and reintegration become a possibility. As a result, children will be capable of handling their trauma. However, the significance of social involvement is not to be underestimated. The support of family and community members is critical to the positive outcome. Therefore, the study can be utilized for designing a model for managing the victims’ needs by focusing on social support.
Schwarz, C., Unruh, E., Cronin, K., Evans-Simpson, S., Britton, H., & Ramaswamy, M. (2016). Human trafficking identification and service provision in the medical and social service sectors. Health and Human Rights, 18(1), 181-192.
Apart from preventing scenarios that involve child sex labor and addressing the aftermath thereof, one should consider the approaches to identifying the specified phenomenon. The research under analysis provides a description of key characteristics that can serve as the warning signs. For instance, the situations in which people infringe upon children’s rights and agency need to be scrutinized for the possible presence of sex labor and other relevant crimes. The research can be used to build the tools helping to identify young victims of sex trade and provide them with the required assistance.
Varma, S., Gillespie, S., McCracken, C., & Greenbaum, V. J. (2015). Characteristics of child commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking victims presenting for medical care in the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect, 44, 98-105. Web.
Delving into the effects that child sex trade and other types of sexual exploitation has on vulnerable populations is crucial for further identification of treatment approaches and interventions. According to the study results, pediatricians must focus on the study of health issues that victims of child sex labor have in order to design the tools for preventing other vulnerable populations from being subjected to similar negative experiences. The research shows that the current legal standards for handling the situation could also use a significant change. For instance, the misidentification of sex trade victims as criminals, particularly, charging them for prostitution, is likely to lead to significant problems in addressing child sex labor. The research can be used to study the existing impediments to efficient interventions.