Don't Use the Term, Child Prostitute

A human-rights attorney, Malika Saada Saar’s, is working to put an end to the term “child prostitute”.  She would rather use an alternative phrase like human-trafficking victim” or “commercial rape victim”.

Saar, insists there is a need to change our  attitudes about children being arrested for prostitution. A child simply can NOT consent to sex. Because of inappropriate terms, children are sometimes arrested instead of being freed and offered assistance. For example, if a 15 year old girl is arrested for prostitution, and she goes to jail, sometimes her pimp, the trafficker, is released.  She explains, “What’s different here is (the girl) is named and regarded and treated as a child prostitute, not as a victim and survivor of violence. The use of the term prostitute suggests she is there by consent.”

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