A survey on children and teenagers apprehended by police for engaging in sexual transactions shows that online networks have become a major channel of sexual exploitation targeting minors.
The Garden of Hope Foundation’s survey shows that among the total of 69 respondents — all victims of sexual exploitation, — 26.1 percent said they were tricked or threatened into engaging in sexual transactions.
Asked how they became involved in the sex industry, 43.5 percent said through instant messaging software, 24.6 percent through dating Web sites or applications and 11.6 percent through pornographic Web sites, the survey released yesterday showed.
The data show that the Internet has become a major conduit through which minors are lured into sexual transactions, Garden of Hope Foundation director Wang Shu-fen (王淑芬) said.
As online sex is growing into a trend, it has become more difficult for law enforcement departments to crack down on the sexual exploitation of children and teenagers, she said.
The survey showed that 67.2 percent of respondents had been sexually harassed or abused by clients during sexual transactions; 59.4 percent had been threatened or physically harmed by clients; and 48.4 percent had been deprived of personal liberty.
It also said that 33.8 percent of respondents said they had been addicted to drugs; 13.8 percent said they had attempted suicide; and 70.3 percent said they had never seen themselves as someone of value.
The survey, which was conducted from June to this month, also found that the most common type of sexual exploitation was through “compensated dating” services (42 percent), followed by working as bar girls or boys (39.1 percent).
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