Global human trafficking and child victimization

Pediatrics
Volume 140, Issue 6, 2017

Global human trafficking and child victimization (Article) (Open Access)

Greenbaum J.* , Bodrick N. , Flaherty E.G. , Idzerda S.M. , Laskey A.T. , Legano L.A. , Leventhal J.M. , Gavril A.R. , Fortson B. , MacMillan H. , Stedt E. , Hurley T.P. , Suchdev P.S. , Chan K.J. , Howard C.R. , McGann P.T. , St Clair N.E. , Yun K. , Antala S. , Kurbasic M.P. , COMMITTEE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT , SECTION ON INTERNATIONAL CHILD HEALTH

^a Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States, International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Alexandria, VA, United States
^b Unity Health Care, Inc, Washington, DC, United States
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^u SECTION ON INTERNATIONAL CHILD HEALTH
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Abstract

Trafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation violates basic human rights and constitutes a major global public health problem. Pediatricians and other health care professionals may encounter victims who present with infections, injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidality, or a variety of other physical or behavioral health conditions. Preventing child trafficking, recognizing victimization, and intervening appropriately require a public health approach that incorporates rigorous research on the risk factors, health impact, and effective treatment options for child exploitation as well as implementation and evaluation of primary prevention programs. Health care professionals need training to recognize possible signs of exploitation and to intervene appropriately. They need to adopt a multidisciplinary, outward-focused approach to service provision, working with nonmedical professionals in the community to assist victims. Pediatricians also need to advocate for legislation and policies that promote child rights and victim services as well as those that address the social determinants of health, which influence the vulnerability to human trafficking. This policy statement outlines major issues regarding public policy, medical education, research, and collaboration in the area of child labor and sex trafficking and provides recommendations for future work. © Copyright 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

child neglect human immigration suicide attempt statistics and numerical data social determinants of health priority journal child protection sexually transmitted disease sex trafficking human rights Humans problem behavior primary prevention sexual exploitation child labor medical education human trafficking Article legislation and jurisprudence Child Abuse public health problem crime victim public policy gender based violence public health Crime Victims Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85037675378&doi=10.1542%2fpeds.2017-3138&partnerID=40&md5=a257a2d6dad2c98d42d44981e71cdc38

DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-3138

ISSN: 00314005

Cited by: 13

Original Language: English