Sexual abuse of children has evolved in so many unanticipated ways – digital technology has had a profound impact in terms of child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation. We all share a responsibility to change attitudes, build advocacy and work together on combating these crimes against children.
Combating crimes against children through transdisciplinary, trauma-informed, holistic research
The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a massive and growing problem, with international reach. Digital technology has accelerated these crimes like never before in unanticipated ways — and it’s evolving faster than any one sector alone can contain.
The Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University is leading a new approach to specifically combat child sex trafficking (CST) and online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) — one that brings experts from diverse sectors into a single, coordinated hub for research and education.
The scale of the problem
#2 organized crime in the world behind drug trafficking
815% increase in online sexual luring over the last five years
2/3 of all sex trafficking cases in Canada occur in Ontario
1 in 3 luring attempts in Canada happened on social media apps
13 average age of recruitment into sex trafficking in Ontario
7 in 10 victims of CST and OCSE are girls aged 12 to 17
If you have been affected by child sex trafficking or online child sexual exploitation or abuse and would like support, please contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (external link) .