Sexual exploitation of a minor is a form of child sexual abuse in which a person(s), of any age takes advantage of a power imbalance to force or coerce a minor into sexual activity. It is a commercial transaction that involves the sexual exploitation of a minor, or person under the age of consent. Sexual exploitation of a minor can take many forms, including but not limited to:
- Street prostitution
- Survival sex
- Child sex tourism
- Gang-based prostitution
- Intra-familial pimping
- Child pornography (including live streaming abuse)
- Stripping
- Erotic massage
- Phone sex lines
- Internet-based exploitation
- Early forced marriage
Sexual exploitation of a minor is a fundamental violation of childrens rights. It comprises sexual abuse by the adult and remuneration in cash or kind to the child or a third person or persons. The child is treated as a sexual object and as a commercial object. The commercial sexual exploitation of children constitutes a form of coercion and violence against children, and amounts to forced labor and a contemporary form of slavery.
In the United States, sexual exploitation of a minor is a serious crime that has a minimum sentence of 31 – 41 months for a single incident, as well as three years of probation and at least ten years as a registered sex offender. It is a class 2 felony and if the minor is under fifteen years of age, it is punishable pursuant to section 13-705. Sexual exploitation of a minor is also a federal crime, and the punishments are severe.
