Sexual exploitation of children: Barriers for boys in accessing social supports for victimization

Background: The global evidence regarding sexual exploitation of children (SEC) is expanding, however, the majority of research continues to focus on girls. ECPAT International's Global Boys Initiative is a major contribution to broadening knowledge by exploring how sexual exploitation impacts boys specifically.Objective: This discussion paper explores data from the initiative to better understand how boys and children of all genders may be impacted by sexual exploitation. Participants and setting: During 2019-21, research was undertaken by ECPAT member organizations into the sexual exploitation of boys in 10 primarily low-and-middle income countries globally. The initiative also supported a global systematic scoping review of published and gray literature published in this issue (Moss et al., in press).Methods: Gender norms analysis of Initiative data identifies critical thematic issues impairing access to support services for victimized boys.Results: Most disconcerting is gender-based stigmatization from services that can compound children's trauma. Justice-based, rather than trauma-informed models of support predominate in responses for boys. Legal frameworks create barriers when binary gendered terminology defines sexual violence, thereby excluding anyone other than women and girls from protection.Conclusions: Three solutions emerged to improve access to support for more children affected by sexual exploitation: (1) challenge problematic gender norms and consequent practices, such as gendered terminology in legislation, that create barriers for boys and gender-diverse children; (2) create psychologically, emotionally, and physically safe circumstances (i.e. trauma-informed care) for all children to know help-seeking is possible; and (3) undertake proactive support that specifically connects boys and gender-diverse children to therapeutic services like drop-in centers, night-time counseling, and emergency shelter.