Prioritizing Healthy Child Development Could Prevent Child Prostitution

Abstract

The CHILDREN AT RISK documentaries 'Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking' and 'International Human Trafficking' draw attention to the dire consequences of our failure as a society to ensure that all children are raised with healthy experiences in safe and loving environments. It is our collective responsibility to put policies and services into place to prevent child prostitution from happening in the first place, while also providing treatment and care for the victims of prostitution. We must embed the prevention of child prostitution into a broader vision for healthy child development and encourage our national, state, and local policymakers to prioritize the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for children.