What is Nelson Community Services Centre?

Communities Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth

• A group of service providers that are commited to addressing the issue of youth sexual exploitation in our area
• Increasing education, support, intervention and prevention programs for youth at risk of sexual exploitations

Introduction

It may not be evident to the average person living in the Kootenays that we have a problem with youth being sexually exploited in our communities. Often, the youth themselves do not realize they are being exploited. This is because it takes on a different form than the recognized prostitution that is seen in larger urban centers. Here, it occurs behind closed doors, and maybe not for the exchange of money, but for food, clothing, shelter and/or drugs.

Sexual Exploitation ~ Legal Definition:

Every person who is in a position of trust or authority towards a young person (under 18) or is a person with whom the young person is in a relationship of dependency and who for a sexual purpose, touches, directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, any part of the body of the young person, or invites, counsels or incites a young person to touch directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, any part of the body.

Identified Issues in Our Community

Parents of Teens:

Parents who let their teenagers friends stay at their home are often times the first step on the way to youth exploitation. Although they may mean well, they do not realize the consequences of separating the youth from their family, giving them a false sense of independence.

Sex for Survival:

While prostitution is not apparent in our community, there are many youth that are receiving housing, food and drug in exchange for sex. Initially the invitation, usually by an older male, to stay at their place is benign, but as time goes on sexual favors become expected.

Uneducated Youth:

Since sexual exploitation in our area does not follow the conventional image of as a prostitute on the street corner youth do not identify themselves as being exploited. Although they are not receiving money for sexual favors they are receiving shelter, food and/or drugs which is equally wrong.