Calling Attention to Child Exploitation During a Crisis (Part One)

In this two-part blog, we’ll discuss the protection of children during natural disasters. Children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation due to the chaos and destabilization of these events. Abusers and traffickers can exploit interruptions in infrastructure. After Hurricane Katrina, one Baton Rouge shelter reported that 57 percent of youth qualified as domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) survivors*. Understanding the risks and taking preventative measures can significantly reduce these threats.

Calling attention to Child Exploitation During a Crisis (Part One)

Below, we've listed areas to consider for keeping vulnerable populations safe during times of deep crisis.

1.         Breakdown in Supervision and Childcare 

   - The Gap: With parents focused on survival, children may be left unsupervised or entrusted to unfamiliar caregivers. This lack of oversight makes them vulnerable to predators.

   - Stay Alert:  Hurricane Katrina brought about many cases of exploitation and abuse, especially with vulnerable and displaced children.

2.         Unvetted Volunteers:

   - The Gap: Many people volunteer to assist with disaster relief efforts. Unfortunately, some predators use these opportunities to gain access to children by posing as volunteers or aid workers.

   - Stay Alert: Predators use volunteer positions to exploit vulnerable children in shelters or evacuation camps during natural disasters.67t

3.         Family Separation:

   - The Gap: Natural disasters force families to flee their homes, and children can become separated from their caregivers. Traffickers or opportunistic predators exploit this vulnerability, luring children into dangerous situations under the guise of help.

   - Stay Alert: Following significant hurricanes, there have been reports of children missing from evacuation centers or temporary shelters.

4.         Online Exploitation and Grooming:

   - The Gap: During crises, children may turn to the internet for entertainment or social connection while staying in temporary accommodations. Predators exploit these increased online activities by initiating grooming tactics through social media, gaming platforms, or other online forums.

   - Stay Alert: Traffickers use gaming chats and social media to make contact with children in distress, offering false promises of safety or resources.

5.         Human Trafficking:

   - The Gap: Vulnerable children, especially those who become separated from their families, are targets for traffickers. Predators offer false hope only to exploit children for labor or sexual abuse purposes.

   - Stay Alert: Traffickers prey on the vulnerabilities of displaced children in disaster-affected areas by offering food, water, money, and housing in exchange for forced labor or sexual favors.

Conclusion:

Children are particularly at risk of exploitation during times of crisis, like hurricanes, due to displacement, loss of supervision, and increased online activity. To protect children, relief organizations, families, and communities must implement a combination of prevention strategies. The strategies include teaching and practicing awareness, commitment to keep children safe, leveraging enhanced monitoring technology, reunification, and online safety measures. Background checks for volunteers and creating secure, child-friendly spaces are also critical. Ensuring children's safety takes awareness and proactive measures.  

* National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center