What is the commercial sexual exploitation of children?
Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) takes place when a minor performs sexual acts in exchange for payment or anything of value (e.g. food, shelter, drugs, money) to the child or a third party.
3.3 million children are in forced labour and over half of these children are in commercial sexual exploitation. Four out of five of those in forced commercial sexual exploitation are women and girls.
Children can not legally or developmentally choose to engage in CSEC. Rather, their participation results from manipulation, coercion or desperation. CSEC includes various forms of transactional sex, including exploitation in brothels, hotels, private residences and on the streets; child sex tourism; and commercial production of child pornography, including online sharing of videos of children engaging in sexual activity.
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