Sexual exploitation of children (SEC)
is
a broad term referring to the illegal use of minors (under 18 years
of age) for
sexual purposes. It is "an extension of child sexual abuse that
goes beyond the dynamics of an offender, a victim, and an act." (Lanning,
K. Child Sex Rings: A Behavioral Analysis. Washington DC: National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1989).
SEC is a $5 billion international industry that affects both men
and women. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates
that at
least one million children are sexually exploited each year. SEC
takes on many forms:
• Child sexual abuse is the sexual use of minors, either
through direct sexual contact or by exposing children to inappropriate sexual
materials or activities.