Bought and Sold

Helping Young People Escape From Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Prostitution. Pornography. Survival sex. Commercial sexual exploitation is more than just young people being sexually abused by adults. Perpetrators victimize young people by paying, or promising to pay, money, goods or services to a youth—or a pimp—in exchange for sexual acts or entertainment.

The impact of commercial sexual exploitation on young victims is often devastating. Instead of attending school, they face violence, disease and jail. Before they are even old enough to vote, they lose their dignity and their freedom. They suffer emotional trauma that may never go away.

Helping young people escape from exploitation should be a top priority of communities and youth workers everywhere. This short booklet helps youth workers better serve exploited young people.

Haga clíc aquí para leer esta publicación en español.

National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth | 5515 Security Lane, Suite 800 | North Bethesda, MD 20852 | (301) 608-8098 | ncfy@acf.hhs.gov