Economics, Double Standards & the Innocence of Childhood On

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Economics, Double Standards & the Innocence of Childhood On HISTORY Economics, Double Standards & the Innocence of Childhood living at it. The girl lets men have sex with her for sa On Juvenile Prostitution in Victorian England young girl helps her working parents, who have seve Adrienne Latson own meals. For her, this is an economic necessity all have. Another example of economic necessity leavin Abstract recounted in one of William T. Stead's articles, as pi Stead procures a young virgin and gives her a choice This paper focuses on the reasons why childhood prostitution expanded in the Victorian era, and promised in exchange for sex, or receiving half that . how society and the media treated the problem. Using sources from the Times of London and concern- partly because he realized the background several books about child sexual abuse during the Victorian era, the author claims that three factors for the bigger money."5 The poor girl might have be, were the key in this epidemic; economics, the double standard regarding sexuality and the image of situation were not dismal. As a member of the poore childhood innocence, which was a new construct in the Victorian era. When faced with starvation, the girl had only one op possessed. Occasionally, Stead ran across mother s ~ A working-class girl, age 14, walks along a street in London, 183 7. The young girl is approached The bold-faced reality of being poor with no govern by a pretty and sophisticated 18 year old woman who asks the girl to accompany her on a walk. death for families as a result of no work is a leading They walk to a brothel house, but the young, innocent girl is unaware of what goes on behind those explosion during the Victorian era. The girls need fc doors. She is forced inside and locked in a back room, where a man enters as she begins to scream. prostitutes than as domestic servants or as workers i: Meanwhile, her mother notices she is missing, and a search ensues. An uncle, hearing rumors on prostitution was largely ignored by those who sough the street, visits the brothel and rescues the poor girl, but not before damage has been done. At least Protection of Young Females and the Prevention of she is not doomed to live a life of prostitution and her story can warn other innocent girls of the Walter's experience with the girl who sells herselffi 1 dangers lurking in the streets ofLondon. Prostitution is known as the world's oldest profession. [Walter] was not touched by the poverty she describ The Bible has references to harlots and ancient civilizations included brothels. So the existence of Walter nor Stead nor the Society acknowledged that prostitution in Victorian England is no surprise. What is a surprise is the rise of juvenile stability and the role this reality played in the high n prostitution, where young female virgins were stolen, sold by their parents, or forced onto the Walkowitz writes that Stead "devoted scant attentio streets just to make enough money to eat. Child prostitution did not end after the Victorian era. capitalism that would lead them to take up prostituti Today, there are sex slave rings where many young, working-class girls are promised a good li fe poverty assistance or renovating the capitalist syster and lots of money, only to end up as captives in brothels. What is it that keeps such a deplorable survive would have caused too great a disturbance a business thriving through the centuries? Simple economics plays a large role, as does the double have implicated more than just the girls and their cu standard regarding sexuality that began in the Victorian era, and a new image of the innocence of government and society as a whole and demanded c childhood that emerged during the 19'h century contributes still to the desire for young victims. Victorian society preferred to believe that girls wen Activists formed committees attempting to outlaw juvenile prostitution, but neglected to address thus perpetuating the idea of the virtuous child that the root problem of economics that keeps such businesses alive. The London Society for the London recounts the trial of a woman accused of lw Protection of Young Females and the Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution was formed in 1834 to Mary Ann, is described as "very childish in her wa) assist young victims. The Society opened asylums for girls who were recovering from prostitution, of other children her age."8 In another Times article and to alert the authorities to houses of ill repute so that these businesses may be closed down. In an victims of seduction" and "unsuspecting little girls.' article in The Times of London, the Society praised itself in how it was "wise in adopting the adults, and in Calvinist religions, children were "ev 2 system of prevention instead of cure." The Society may credit itself with prevention, but in reality resist temptation."10 The romantic poets reinforced only gets involved after the young girls have been made prostitutes. innocence and virtue. Wordsworth, Lewis Carroll,< childhood innocence was something so precious th< This method ignores the reason many girls become prostitutes, specifically the economic aspects, which are outlined by Michael Pearson using excerpts of Walter's book. Walter, "the anonymous 4 Victorian author of a million words of sexual experience, about young working-class teenagers"3 Pearson, Virgin, 33. 5 Ibid., 141. writes about one young girl who does not see herself as a pro~titute because she does not make her 6 Pearson, Virgin, 33. 7 Judith R. Walkowitz, Prostitution and Victorian S (Cambridge: Cambridge, 1980), 250. 8 "Police," The Times ofLondon , 15 April 1840, co 1 9 "Juvenile Prostitution," The Times ofLondon, 25 March 1837, col. A. "Prevention," The Times, col. C. 10 2 "Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution," The Times ofLondon, 8 November, 1838, col. C Louise A. Jackson, Child Sexual Abuse in Victor, 11 3 Michael Pearson, The £5 Virgin (New York: Saturday Review Press, 1972), 12. Jackson, Abuse, 6. 10 HISTORY rds & the Innocence of Childhood living at it. The girl lets men have sex with her for sausage rolls, " meat pies and pastries, too." 4 The ution in Victorian England young girl helps her working parents, who have several other children at home, by securing her tenne Latson own meals. For her, this is an economic necessity allowing her family to subsist on what little they have. Another example of economic necessity leaving little or no choice for young girls is \bstract recounted in one of William T. Stead '. s articles, as paraphrased by Pearson. Through his contacts, Stead procures a young virgin and gives her a choice between taking the full amount of money hood prostitution expanded in the Victorian era, and promised in exchange for sex, or receiving half that amount and leaving untouched. But to " Stead's ,em. Using sources from the Times of London and concern- partly because he realized the background of poverty that dictated the decision- she opted the Victorian era, the author claims that three factors for the bigger money."5 The poor girl might have been virtuous, if only her family' s financial double standard regarding sexuality and the image of situation were not dismal. As a member of the poorest class, she had not the luxury of choice. Jct in the Victorian era. When faced with starvation, the girl had only one option, to sell the only thing of value that she possessed. Occasionally, Stead ran across mothers who were trying to sell their virgin daughters. eet in London, 1837. The young girl is approached The bold-faced reality of being poor with no government assistance, then starvation and certain m who asks the girl to accompany her on a walk. death for families as a result of no work is a leading cause behind the juvenile prostitution rnocent girl is unaware of what goes on behind those explosion during the Victorian era. The girls need food and money, and they could make more as k room, where a man enters as she begins to scream. prostitutes than as domestic servants or as workers in factories. But this contributing factor to child and a search ensues. An uncle, hearing rumors on prostitution was lru·gely ignored by those who sought to help, like the London Society for the >r girl, but not before damage has been done. At least Protection of Young Females and the Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution. Pearson surmises of md her story can warn other innocent girls of the Walter's experience with the girl who sells herself for sausage rolls that "being a man of his time, titution is known as the world's oldest profession. [Walter] was not touched by the poverty she described- only by her quick humour.''6 Neither civilizations included brothels. So the existence of Walter nor Stead nor the Society acknowledged that these girls lacked opportunities for economic . What is a surprise is the rise of juvenile stability and the role this reality played in the high number of juvenile prostitutes. Judith R . stolen, sold by their parents, or forced onto the Walkowitz writes that Stead "devoted scant attention to the economic exploitation of women under I prostitution did not end after the Victorian era . capitalism that would lead them to take up prostitution on a voluntary basis." 7 An article about mng, working-class girls are promised a good life poverty assistance or renovating the capitalist system that forces young girls into prostitution to 1 brothels. What is it that keeps such a deplorable survive would have caused too great a disturbance among society because such a stance would : economics plays a large role, as does the double have implicated more than just the girls and their customers: It would have pointed the finger at fictorian era, and a new image of the innocence of government and society as a whole and demanded change.
Recommended publications
  • Child Prostitution in 12 Countries: an Exploratory Study of Predictors
    Child Prostitution in 12 Countries: An Exploratory Study of Predictors Tuyen N. Huynh, McNair Scholar The Pennsylvania State University McNair Faculty Research Advisor: Dr. Laurie Scheuble, Ph.D Senior Lecturer in Sociology College of Liberal Arts The Pennsylvania State University McNair Faculty Research Advisor: Dr. Vanitha Dayananda Senior Lecturer in Sociology College of Liberal Arts The Pennsylvania State University Abstract Few empirical studies have focused on examining the predictors of childhood prostitution across countries. In this exploratory research article, I examine the predictor variables of child prostitution in 12 countries. These variables include literacy rates for women aged 15 to 24, total population literacy, Per Capita Gross Domestic Product, dominant religion, HIV/AIDS infection, life expectancy, and percent of young women who are economically active, total fertility rate, and age population structure. Thailand has the highest rate of child prostitution among the 12 countries included in the analysis. Findings show that as literacy rates for women, life expectancy and percent of women who are economically active increase, rates of child prostitution decrease. Additionally, as fertility rates decline so does child prostitution. Keywords: child prostitution, country, predictors. Introduction Child prostitution has received considerable attention in the academic literature. Very few studies, however, have focused on predictors of child prostitution by country. The current study focuses on predictors of child prostitution by examining macro-level variables including female literacy, abortion, gross domestic product, poverty levels, and laws to protect the women and children as well as the relationship of these predictors to child prostitution rates within a country. Twelve countries chosen for the availability of 135 data estimates of child prostitution are included in the analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation in the San Diego Region: a Community Assessment for the ACTION Network
    bulletin CJ Criminal Justice Research Division, SANDAG Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation in the San Diego Region: A Community Assessment for the ACTION Network May 2007 Cynthia Burke, Ph.D. Debbie Correia Sylvia J. Sievers, Ph.D. Sandy Keaton, M.A. 401 B Street Suite 800 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 699-1900 A SANDAG CJ BULLETIN The information presented here was compiled with funding from The California Endowment. Their support is gratefully acknowledged. Conclusions presented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the funders, SANDAG, or its Board of Directors. CHILD AND YOUTH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION: A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT FOR THE ACTION NETWORK INTRODUCTION conclusions and recommendations based on the information that was compiled. In 2006, the ACTION Network (Against Child FINDING HIGHLIGHTS Trafficking and The Prostitution of Teens In Our Neighborhoods) received funding from The California Endowment to build their capacity, ¾ One in three surveyed youth reported complete a community assessment to determine being sexually exploited and another one which areas are disproportionately impacted by in five had been approached in the past human trafficking and child and youth sexual and asked to engage in acts of exploitation, and develop a five-year community prostitution. 1 action plan . The ACTION Network is a ¾ Sexually exploited youth who reported coordinating body that brings together a primarily trading sex and sexual favors multidisciplinary group of governmental and for basic necessities and alcohol/drugs nongovernmental organizations to address child were less likely to report using condoms trafficking and the commercial sexual than those who traded primarily for exploitation of children and youth in San Diego money.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Prostitution
    History of Prostitution Throughout history/herstory, women have prostituted themselves by choice but especially by force; it was imposed on them. It is believed that prostitution has existed since the beginning of time. As a matter of fact, "acts of prostitution must have occurred when primitive man paid for the sexual favors of woman he wanted – with a special morsel of food or some object – when he was not inclined or not strong enough, to take her by force.” (Benjamin 35) In this text, I will attempt to summarise the history of women‟s prostitution – mostly its major points throughout the world – from 300 B.C. up to now. Ancient Cyrprus Around 300 B.C., prostitution was seen and existed as “temple” or “sacred” prostitution. In Ancient Cyrprus, each respectable woman was required to prostitute herself at least once to a stranger in order to become eligible for marriage. Once this was done, she had to wait, in the temple of Mylitta, for a stranger to come along and ask a favour from her. Some women, who were less pretty, would wait years in the temple. The money earned would be dedicated to the goddess Mylitta. (Benjamin 1964) Ancient Egypt In Ancient Egypt, prostitution “has throughout history been exceedingly prevalent and popular.” (Benjamin 37) One story, the story of Cheops, relates that when Cheops “was short of money, he would send his daughter to a bawdy-house, with instructions of charging a certain sumi” (Benjamin 37). It is also stated in Harry Benjamin‟s book that Egyptian fathers prostituted their daughters.
    [Show full text]
  • Trafficking of Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation in the Americas
    Trafficking of Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation in the Americas Women, Health and Development Program Pan-American Health Organization Women, Health and Development Program Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN THE AMERICAS prepared by Alison Phinney for the Inter-American Commission of Women (Organization of American States) and the Women, Health and Development Program (Pan American Health Organization) CONTENTS INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………........... 1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK…………………………………………………………............ 1 TRAFFICKING IN THE AMERICAS........................................................................................... 3 TRAFFIKCING AND HUMAN RIGHTS............................................................................... 4 TRAFFICKING AND HEALTH.................................................................................................. 4 THE LEGAL CONTEXT........................................................................................................ 6 WHAT IS BEING DONE?..................................................................................................... 7 REFERENCES..................................................................................................................... 9 Women, Health and Development Program Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation “We came to the United States to find a better future, not to be prostitutes. No woman or child would want to be a sex slave and endure the evil that I have
    [Show full text]
  • Rights for Child Victims of Prostitution: a Significant Step in the Right Direction Under the Florida Safe Harbor Act Banesa Arenciba
    Children's Legal Rights Journal Volume 35 Article 3 Issue 1 2015 1-1-2015 Rights for Child Victims of Prostitution: A Significant Step in the Right Direction under the Florida Safe Harbor Act Banesa Arenciba Follow this and additional works at: http://lawecommons.luc.edu/clrj Part of the Criminal Law Commons, and the Juvenile Law Commons Recommended Citation Banesa Arenciba, Rights for Child Victims of Prostitution: A Significant Step in the Right Direction under the Florida Safe Harbor Act, 35 CHILD. LEGAL RTS. J. 1 (2015). Available at: http://lawecommons.luc.edu/clrj/vol35/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by LAW eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Children's Legal Rights Journal by an authorized administrator of LAW eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Arenciba: Rights for Child Victims of Prostitution: A Significant Step in t Rights for Child Victims of Prostitution: A Significant Step in the Right Direction under the Florida Safe Harbor Act By Banesa Arencibia* I. INTRODUCTION Carissa Phelps was only twelve years old when she got involved in prostitution after running away from a dysfunctional home. She describes meeting a man named Icey: He . told me their sad story about how they needed money to get a car out of impound and that his current girlfriend could not make the money because she was pregnant and that I could really help them a lot, he said, if I could go out onto the street. So he tried to make me feel like I was contributing something .
    [Show full text]
  • Child Trafficking
    Child Trafficking By: Jonathan Broder Pub. Date: April 16, 2021 Access Date: April 19, 2021 Source URL: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2021041600 ©2021 CQ Press, An Imprint of SAGE Publishing. All Rights Reserved. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional Quarterly Inc. ©2021 CQ Press, An Imprint of SAGE Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Table of Contents .In .t r. o. d. u. c. t.i o. n. 3. .O . v.e . r.v .i e. w. 3. .B .a . c. k. g. r.o .u .n .d . 1. 1. .C . u. r.r e. n. t. S. .i t.u .a .t i.o . n. 1. 5. .O . u. t.lo . o. k. 1. 7. .P .r .o ./ C. .o .n . 1. 8. .D . i.s .c .u .s .s .i o. n. .Q . u. e. s. t.i o. n. s. 1. 9. .C . h. r.o .n .o .l o. g. .y . 2. 1. .S .h .o . r.t .F .e . a. t.u .r e. s. 2. 2. .B .i b. .li o. .g .r a. p. .h .y . 2. 5. .T .h .e . N. .e .x .t .S . t.e .p . 2. 6. .C . o. n. t.a .c .t s. 2. 6. .F .o .o . t.n .o .t e. s. 2. 7. .A .b . o. u. t. t.h .e . A. .u .t h. o. r. 3. 0. Page 2 of 30 Child Trafficking CQ Researcher ©2021 CQ Press, An Imprint of SAGE Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Introduction The worldwide trafficking of children for commercial sex and forced labor is rising rapidly, despite more than a century of laws, treaties and protocols banning the practice.
    [Show full text]
  • Domestic Minor Human Sex Trafficking (Child Prostitution) Last Updated March 2015
    Domestic Minor Human Sex Trafficking (Child Prostitution) Last Updated March 2015 Summary of Content “If a 45-year-old-man had sex with a 14- year-old-girl and no money changed hands . he was likely to get jail time for statutory rape . [i]f the same man left $80 on the table after having sex with her, she would probably be locked up for prostitution and he would probably go home with a fine as a john.”1 Sgt. Byron A. Fassett Dallas Police Department, Child Exploitation/High Risk Victims Trafficking Unit Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the commercial sexual abuse of children through buying, selling or trading their sexual services.2 Prostitution, pornography, stripping, escort services, and other sexual services are forms of DMST when children are victims. 3 Youth at Risk Children who have a history of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, those in foster care, child protective service systems, those who have run away, or forced from their homes and refused permission to return (defined as throw away children) are among the most at risk for 1 Rami S. Badawy, J.D., Shifting the Paradigm from Prosecution to Protection of Child Victims of Prostitution, Update (Nat’l Cent. For Prosecution of Child Abuse, Alexandria, Va) Vol. 22, No. 8 2010, at 1. 2 Kimberly Kotrla, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the United States, 55 J. Social Work 181, 182 (2010). 3 Id. National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse National District Attorney Association www.ndaa.org 1 commercial sexual exploitation. 4 Predators target children who appear to
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Prostitution Reform in the United States
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Supervised Undergraduate Student Research Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects and Creative Work 5-2004 The History of Prostitution Reform in the United States April Lynn Jackson University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Jackson, April Lynn, "The History of Prostitution Reform in the United States" (2004). Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj/754 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Supervised Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Work at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAlVI SENIOR PROJECT - APPROVAL Name: f\~( l \ l. jo.( K-SC1Y) College: kit; ~ Sc ieV1C(S Department: So C to loC\ U \JI Faculty Mentor: _b'"--"-\''----, _L=-=O,--l=---·~.:.<...-_p_{-"-~--,"SL..;S=-t,,,--,-(' __________ _ PROITCTTITLE:~~~(~1f~~~~~S~~~~~.~C~{~~~~~S~b~*~l~~~'~~~~_ ~e-6Ym \~1 ~-tl~ L~~1d-(c1 Sterk ~ I have reviewed this completed senior honors thesis with this student and certify that it is a project commensurate with honors level underbTfaduate research in this field. Signed: __....--'0'----';:-'--·_---;~· _ .......{2 __ =~::-~~_. _____, Faculty Mentor Date: s - Co - 0 t..\- Comments (Optional): The History of Prostitution Reform in the United States April L. Jackson University Honors Spring 2004 In the American tradition of reform, prostitution has been adopted during every period of American history.
    [Show full text]
  • Defining Child Trafficking & Child Prostitution: the Case of Thailand
    Seattle Journal for Social Justice Volume 9 Issue 2 Spring/Summer 2011 Article 6 May 2011 Defining Child rT afficking & Child ostitution:Pr The Case of Thailand Heather Montgomery Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj Recommended Citation Montgomery, Heather (2011) "Defining Child rT afficking & Child ostitution:Pr The Case of Thailand," Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 9 : Iss. 2 , Article 6. Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/vol9/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications and Programs at Seattle University School of Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Seattle Journal for Social Justice by an authorized editor of Seattle University School of Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 775 Defining Child Trafficking & Child Prostitution: The Case of Thailand Heather Montgomery I. INTRODUCTION Child trafficking is a poorly misunderstood and badly defined phenomenon. Commentators and activists frequently use the phrase “child trafficking” synonymously and interchangeably with child prostitution and sexual exploitation, and even link child trafficking with sex tourism, even though the connection between these two terms is sometimes tenuous.1 Indeed, although children may migrate for a number of reasons and can be exposed to a variety of hazards, child trafficking has come to be seen almost entirely in the context of sexual exploitation, causing prostitution to become the main cause for international concern and advocacy. Given the horror that child trafficking for sexual purposes evokes, this might not be surprising. Yet, debate about the meaning of the term is not simply academic pedantry; instead, it is vitally important to understanding the extent and nature of the problem and how to formulate meaningful policy decisions.
    [Show full text]
  • Prostitution and Colonial Relations
    chapter 28 Prostitution and Colonial Relations Liat Kozma Colonial encounters played a significant role in shaping policies and desires in both Europe’s colonies and in Europe itself, and thus they deserve their own thematic overview. I define colonial relations as ethnic or racial-based hierar- chies and segregations which developed as a consequence of western imperial expansion. These were unequal power relations in which the colonizer had control over, or at least attempted to control, residential choices, mobility in public space and across borders, and who wedded and bedded with whom. I thus follow Ann Stoler’s contention that the very intimate domain of desire was shaped by these colonial interactions.1 Historical research on prostitution and colonialism is relatively recent. The argument historians present is that colonial domination and colonial power relations affected prostitution on multiple levels. First, the migration of wom- en for prostitution to, between, from, and within Europe’s colonies was facili- tated, encouraged, or restricted by colonial authorities. Second, colonial urban planning segregated colonizers from colonized, industrial from residential, and respectability from vice. Such segregations did not mean, of course, that different social groups did not interact or even live together. It means, how- ever, that questions of racial and class interactions were central to the colo- nial vision of the city. These policies, in turn, affected the urban geography of prostitution, its interaction with the city’s inhabitants,
    [Show full text]
  • CHILD RIGHTS Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child
    TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 13095 ________________________________________________________________________ CHILD RIGHTS Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Optional Protocol Between the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and OTHER GOVERNMENTS Done at New York May 25, 2000 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 (80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)— “. .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent evidence . of the treaties, international agreements other than treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the United States, and of the several States, without any further proof or authentication thereof.” MULTILATERAL Child Rights: Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Optional Protocol done at New York May 25, 2000; Transmitted by the President of the United States of America to the Senate July 25, 2000 (Treaty Doc. 106-37, 106th Congress, 2d Session); Reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations May 23, 2002 (Senate Executive Report No. 107-4, 107th Congress, 2d Session); Advice and consent to ratification by the Senate June 18, 2002; Ratified by the President September 14, 2002; Instrument of Ratification deposited December 23, 2002; Entered into force January 23, 2003. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, chi•d prostitution and child po~ography UNITED• NATIONS 2000 Optional Protocol to tlle Convention on the Rights of tile Child on tbe sale ofchildren, child prostitution and child pornography The States Parties to the present Protocol, Considering that, in order further to achieve the purposes ofthe Convention on the Rishts of the Child and the implementation of its provisions, especially articles 1, 11.
    [Show full text]
  • Criminalization of Trafficking Victims
    Criminalization of Trafficking Victims Submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of United States of America Second Cycle Twenty Second Session of the UPR Human Rights Council April - May 2015 Submitted by: International Women’s Human Rights Clinic, City University of New York Law School Trafficking Victims Advocacy Project, Legal Aid Society of New York Contact Name: Cynthia Soohoo Contact Phone/Email: 01.718.340.4329/[email protected] The Trafficking Victims Advocacy Project addresses the comprehensive needs of victims of human trafficking who are arrested and prosecuted for prostitution, and other criminal offenses, across New York City. TVAP provides specialized legal advocacy and representation for victims of trafficking. It also works to create greater access to post- conviction relief for trafficking survivors to mitigate the devastating collateral consequences of prior criminalization. Widely recognized for its expertise and contributions to gender jurisprudence and human rights practice, the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic advocates before international and regional human rights bodies and national and local courts and legal institutions. The Clinic works to combat gender discrimination and sexual violence, advance reproductive and sexual rights and economic and social rights, and promote women's participation and empowerment. I. SUMMARY 1. This Stakeholder Report is submitted by the Trafficking Victims Advocacy Project (TVAP) of the Legal Aid Society of New York and the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic at the City University of New York. It is based on TVAP’s direct legal representation of trafficking victims in criminal proceedings and the IWHR’s report Clearing the Slate: Seeking Effective Remedies for Criminalized Victims of Trafficking,1 which is based on interviews, testimony and statements of trafficking survivors, attorneys and experts.
    [Show full text]