Working with these children is predictably complex.
First of all, accessing these children is challenging. Social workers and children who were formerly involved in street based sex work conduct outreach to areas where research has shown there is a high concentration of children involved in street based sex work. They are confronted by a network of vested interests which conspire to restrict access to the children.
In the first instance, the pimps, madams and their strongmen resist because it is a threat to their business. In addition, outreach staff and peer supporters face resistance from journalists who are paid not to report, small businessmen who benefit from the high footfall in the area, the police who are paid to turn away, and the politicians who indirectly benefit from these collective vested interests. Often community members speculate that the outreach staff and peer supporters are sex or organ traffickers, though this does not appear to be motivated by a genuine concern for the children’s wellbeing.
Where is it possible to access the children involved in street based sex work, building a rapport and trust takes time. The outreach staff and children often take 6-8 weeks gradually building up a relationship.
Once children start visiting the centre and using the services available - shelter, food, washing facilities, education, healthcare, vocational training - it takes time for them to adjust. Attendance patterns are often erratic in the early weeks and months. Children are often aggressive, violent and reluctant to trust adults. Although this reduces over time, they can remain very volatile. It takes understanding and patience on the part of staff to handle this constructively. Pressure is counterproductive - children will rebel if staff give them ultimatums etc. A softly, softly approach is preferred, allowing a child to adjust at their own pace, providing counselling to support them through this process.
It takes time too for the children to release themselves from the grip of those adults who abuse and exploited them. There is a very complicated relationship between the abusers and exploiters and the children. With their self esteem destroyed and no protection from parents and family, the children can grow dependent on or attached to the affection and protection that the abusers and exploiters sometimes provide. The process of breaking these relationships can be very difficult.
Trauma and self harm is prevalent among these children. They also exhibit a lot of attention seeking behaviour, competitiveness and jealously which is understood to be rooted in the self esteem issues. HIV and STIs are prevalent too, which has ramifications for the care provided. For instance, different and more individualised nutrition is needed for these children, and additional precautions have to be taken to prevent transmission through bodily fluids.
Many of the children also have a physical urge for sex after growing habituated to it. This compounds the economic pressures to engage in sex work. It is not realistic or feasible to expect the children to change immediately and to lure them off sexual activity and / or sex work immediately.
First of all, accessing these children is challenging. Social workers and children who were formerly involved in street based sex work conduct outreach to areas where research has shown there is a high concentration of children involved in street based sex work. They are confronted by a network of vested interests which conspire to restrict access to the children.
In the first instance, the pimps, madams and their strongmen resist because it is a threat to their business. In addition, outreach staff and peer supporters face resistance from journalists who are paid not to report, small businessmen who benefit from the high footfall in the area, the police who are paid to turn away, and the politicians who indirectly benefit from these collective vested interests. Often community members speculate that the outreach staff and peer supporters are sex or organ traffickers, though this does not appear to be motivated by a genuine concern for the children’s wellbeing.
Where is it possible to access the children involved in street based sex work, building a rapport and trust takes time. The outreach staff and children often take 6-8 weeks gradually building up a relationship.
Once children start visiting the centre and using the services available - shelter, food, washing facilities, education, healthcare, vocational training - it takes time for them to adjust. Attendance patterns are often erratic in the early weeks and months. Children are often aggressive, violent and reluctant to trust adults. Although this reduces over time, they can remain very volatile. It takes understanding and patience on the part of staff to handle this constructively. Pressure is counterproductive - children will rebel if staff give them ultimatums etc. A softly, softly approach is preferred, allowing a child to adjust at their own pace, providing counselling to support them through this process.
It takes time too for the children to release themselves from the grip of those adults who abuse and exploited them. There is a very complicated relationship between the abusers and exploiters and the children. With their self esteem destroyed and no protection from parents and family, the children can grow dependent on or attached to the affection and protection that the abusers and exploiters sometimes provide. The process of breaking these relationships can be very difficult.
Trauma and self harm is prevalent among these children. They also exhibit a lot of attention seeking behaviour, competitiveness and jealously which is understood to be rooted in the self esteem issues. HIV and STIs are prevalent too, which has ramifications for the care provided. For instance, different and more individualised nutrition is needed for these children, and additional precautions have to be taken to prevent transmission through bodily fluids.
Many of the children also have a physical urge for sex after growing habituated to it. This compounds the economic pressures to engage in sex work. It is not realistic or feasible to expect the children to change immediately and to lure them off sexual activity and / or sex work immediately.
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