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assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
Involvement in porn: what it is and how to understand that a child has become a victim of human trafficking
26.06.2024
What is the involvement of minors in porn?
This term refers to coercion (and/or encouragement) for minors to take photos and videos in which they commit sexual acts and demonstrate their genitals. A criminal can either distribute these photos and videos for money or for free, or keep them at home. It's considered a crime anyway. According to statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, 381 victims of human trafficking were identified in 2023, including 269 minors. There are 210 victims of human trafficking in 2022. The increase in their number is due to the establishment of a significant number of children used for the production of pornography.
How do criminals act?
Unfortunately, a criminal can be a person of any age or social status, that is, an adult man with a socially acceptable job, as well as a schoolboy who has not even reached the age of criminal responsibility.
Therefore, it is very difficult to identify any external signs by which a criminal can be identified. Absolutely anyone can be dangerous, so you need to pay attention to behavioral patterns: we will tell you about them.
The easiest and most accessible way to involve children in porn is through grooming. The attacker, who is often much older than the victim (but not necessarily), woos and falls in love with the child in every possible way, behaves “on equal terms” with him, allowing him to feel like an adult. After all, children, especially those who lack love in the family, are very greedy for those who are ready to give it to them.
Next, the perpetrator suggests that the child take a photo or video of himself without clothes. Before that, he can send his own nude photos: to corrupt the child, to create the appearance that this is normal, or to use them later as pressure on the victim (“I sent you my photos, now it's your turn").
A child with whom parents have not had conversations about sexual education (about bodily boundaries, about the anatomical names of the genitals, that one should not be afraid to say “no” and share experiences with parents) and Internet security, may agree to the “offer” of the attacker immediately, because they simply do not know that this is wrong. But children who somehow know that such crimes are being committed are more difficult to break. Therefore, criminals can begin to manipulate, pressure, and coerce the victim.: “Well, you're like a little girl, we're in a relationship, I really like you, I love you.”
If the child can still be forced to send his intimate photos or videos, the perpetrator can instantly change, because the victim is already on his hook. He no longer needs to court the child, he can start blackmailing him, just one photo is enough. Attackers can extort money from children or threaten that everyone will see the photo if the child does not send it yet. Regardless of whether the child succumbs to blackmail, his psyche has already been damaged. Therefore, it is very important to talk to children about safe behavior on the Internet, that such criminals exist and talk about physical boundaries (of course, in an age-appropriate form).
By what signs can one understand that a child has been a victim of sexualized violence?
1. Unusual closeness and closeness for a child. Sudden changes in behavior, the feeling that he has become “not the same as before.”
2. Irritability, aggression/auto-aggression (self-harm).
3. Tearfulness, anxiety.
4. Physical manifestations: lack of hunger, involuntary urination at night, pain when urinating and defecating, nightmares.
5. Depression.
6. Playing games with sexual overtones, searching for sexual content on the Internet, showing it to peers, or showing off their genitals. Age-atypical interest in sex and age-abnormal sexual behavior.
7. Unexplained fear, reluctance to separate from parents and be alone, or conversely a desire to be alone, breaking of usual social ties (no longer wants to communicate with friends, talk to parents).
8. Mutism is a condition in neurology and psychiatry when a person is physically able to speak and understand speech, but for various reasons (for example, due to trauma) can no longer do so in situations where it is expected of them. That is, the person does not answer questions, does not talk to others, and does not react to being addressed.
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If you have questions about children's safety on the internet, employment abroad, safe and legal migration, providing assistance to victims of human trafficking and their relatives, use the information posted on our website!
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