Child exploitation refers to situations where a child or young person is taken advantage of, abused, or harmed by another person for economic, sexual, or personal gain. It involves an abusive use of power or trust to manipulate and control the child

. There are several forms of child exploitation:

• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE): This is a form of child sexual abuse where an individual or group coerces, manipulates, or deceives a child under 18 into sexual activity in exchange for something the child needs or wants, or for the perpetrator’s financial or status gain. It can involve physical contact or occur through technology, such as grooming or sextortion. Children may be tricked into believing the relationship is consensual or loving, making it hard to recognize the abuse

• Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE): This involves using a child to commit crimes, such as drug trafficking or forced labor on cannabis farms. It often includes coercion, intimidation, or violence. Children may be exploited via social media or online platforms and might not see themselves as victims

• Child Labour: This form of exploitation involves forcing children to work in hazardous conditions that deprive them of their rights, education, and well-being. It includes unpaid or underpaid work under threats or lack of alternatives

• Other forms: Child trafficking, forced marriage, online exploitation, and the creation or distribution of child sexual abuse material are also forms of exploitation

The common feature across all types is an imbalance of power where the child receives something (gifts, status, shelter) in exchange for acts or favors, often manipulative or harmful. Consent is not genuine because of this power imbalance

. Child exploitation causes severe physical, emotional, and social harm, affecting the child’s health, education, and development. It often involves multiple abuses simultaneously

. In summary, child exploitation is the abusive use of children for someone else’s gain, encompassing sexual abuse, criminal activities, forced labor, and other harmful practices, all rooted in manipulation and power imbalance