As the digital world expands, so do the risks for our youth. This Sexual Exploitation Awareness Week, the Abbotsford Community Action Team (ACAT) is once again raising awareness in high schools in Abbotsford and the broader community about sexual exploitation.
The ACAT is made up of service providers and community partners who work together to develop local strategies that address sexual exploitation. The ACAT has representatives from Archway Community Services programs such as the Abbotsford Addictions Centre, Foundry Abbotsford, and the Youth Resource Centre along with representatives from Cyrus Centre and the Abbotsford Youth Commission.
Rising Threats
Sexual exploitation of youth refers to any type of sexual activity with a youth in exchange for money, drugs, food, shelter or any other consideration.
Reports of online child exploitation soared during the COVID-19 pandemic as more of the world turned online. Unfortunately, these instances have not decreased after the pandemic and have been increasing year after year. For example, the BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation or ICE Unit handled over 16,000 cases in 2023 – more than double compared to 2022.
These trends are not only in BC but are seen across Canada. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre saw a 15% increase of reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation offences from April 2023 to March 2024 compared to the previous year.
“Children are online at an increasingly younger age, making it crucial to educate them on online safety.”
Community Efforts and Educational Initiatives
Multiple schools throughout the Abbotsford School District are participating in school-based preventative education on sexual exploitation.
“Children are online at an increasingly younger age, making it crucial to educate them on online safety,” said Mandy Aujla, youth worker in the Archway Stop Exploiting Youth (SEY) program.
Posters, displays, and online resources are being employed to educate students, caregivers, and teachers.
Initiatives also include educating students on their legal rights regarding non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Since 2023, the Intimate Images Protection Act has made it illegal in BC to share or threaten to share such images. Resources and support to make a claim and have images taken down are available online.
Students and caregivers can also visit cybertip.ca to report incidents of online sexual exploitation.
“Online predators can easily reach out to young people through the social media platforms they use daily. This means that even the most attentive and caring parents might not realize what’s going on,” explained Bev Olfert, Executive Director of the Abbotsford Youth Commission. “Sexual exploitation can affect anyone regardless of gender, socio-economic background, or demographic.”
How to Help
The Abbotsford campaign aligns with the provincially recognized Stop the Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week, held from March 3 to 7. Now in its 27th year, this week emphasizes the need for communities to develop strategies for prevention, education, enforcement, and intervention to combat the sexual exploitation of children and youth.
Parents, teachers, and friends are urged to watch for signs such as unexplained money, cellphones, or gifts in young people. They should also be alert to indicators like bruises, withdrawal, moodiness, or protectiveness about relationships.
The Archway Youth Resource Centre continues to see a surge in referrals related to online exploitation.
“Youth that have been sexually exploited feel so much shame when they come forward for help. We want them to know that it’s not their fault and that it can happen to anyone. There are trusted adults that they can come to when they find themselves in an unsafe situation,” said Wanda Phillips, supervisor at the Archway Youth Resource Centre.
Anyone who suspects someone is being sexually exploited is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police.
The Archway Youth Resource Centre can also provide support and resources.
Visit Archway’s Stop Exploiting Youth program page for more information.
“Youth that have been sexually exploited feel so much shame when they come forward for help. We want them to know that it’s not their fault and that it can happen to anyone. There are trusted adults that they can come to when they find themselves in an unsafe situation.”