What is Exploitation?

The word exploitation means to make use of something or someone in a way which is not fair. It can be used in lots of different scenarios, but when we use it, we are talking about somebody treating a child or young person in a way that is unfair and dishonest, for their own gain. It is about somebody taking advantage of somebody else to get something they want.

When we talk about exploitation in a safeguarding context, we are talking about a type of abuse that can include one or more of:

Sexual Exploitation

Where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to manipulate or deceive somebody into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Criminal Exploitation

Radicalisation

Modern Slavery

when an individual or group violates the human rights of somebody by using force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, or deception, to keep that person in a position of slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour. People can be trapped working for no money, or to pay off debt, and they cannot voluntarily leave this work or choose to work somewhere else. This can happen in businesses, such as farms, car washes, nail bars, restaurants or hotels, or in private homes working as cleaners, gardeners or providing childcare.

If somebody is under 18 when they are exploited it is a form of child abuse. The terms Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) are used when people under 18 are exploited in these ways.

When somebody is exploited, it is never their fault.

Perpetrators of sexual exploitation might be:

An adult or another young person
Any gender or sex
Any ethnicity, religion, or nationality
Any sexuality
In a position of trust or power (such as a youth worker, sports coach, religious leader, teacher, police officer, a celebrity)
Involved in other criminal activities (such as drug dealing, violence, organised crime)
Friendly, believable and attractive
Somebody the victim has known a long time, or somebody they have just met
A friend of a friend
Somebody online or on social media

Victims of sexual exploitation might be:

Any gender or sex; male, female, nonbinary, agender or something else
Any ethnicity, religion, or nationality
Be attracted to males, females, both, or nobody
Live with family, be in Care, live in supported accommodation or live alone
Have physical health problems, disabilities, mental health problems, or learning difficulties
Rich, poor, or something in between
Have had sex before, or have never had sex before
Top of their class, or excluded from school
Have a child of their own
Unaware that what is happening to them is exploitation