We are victims, too: Supporting Parents of Children Who Have been Sex Trafficked

• In Event: Victimization of minors

Abstract

Child sex trafficking (CST) is a global public health issue with widespread, lasting impacts on children, families, and communities. In Canada, the average age of a child being lured into sex trafficking is 13 years, with victims becoming increasingly younger and the abuse and violence perpetrated against them becoming more severe. CST is a severe crime of sexual abuse, yet parents of children who have been sex trafficked are generally overlooked in the literature and in service provision as victims of crime. More often, parents are assumed to be responsible and blamed for the victimization and exploitation of their children. Very little has been examined in terms of what trauma-informed responses are necessary and required for parents and what programs and support services are available, or accessible, to them. It is imperative that non-offending parents of sex trafficked children are acknowledged as victims of crime, have access to services that help them support their child, and are provided support that recognizes and addresses the ongoing trauma, blame, and isolation that they may experience as a result of their child’s victimization. ​​ In this study, qualitative interviews were conducted between February and April 2024 with key stakeholders who provide support services to victims of CST and their families in Ontario, Canada. All interviews were conducted virtually, recorded, transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings revealed that parents struggle with severe emotional strain, limited access to services, and a lack of guidance in navigating the justice system. Many feel invisible in legal proceedings, unsupported by law enforcement, and disconnected from much-needed family/peer networks. This research highlights the necessity of expanding the ecology of victimization to include the non-offending parents and also recognizes that extended family, siblings and communities are impacted by CST.

Authors

• Shannon Brown, University of Toronto

• Jennifer Martin, Toronto Metropolitan University