Sexual exploitation of children for prostitution is frequently referred to as “child prostitution”, both in legal instruments adopted in the 21st century and in the mass media. This form of exploitation consists of a child performing a sexual act in exchange for (a promise of) something of value (money, objects, shelter, food, drugs, etc). It is not necessarily the child who receives the object of exchange, but often a third person. Moreover, it is not necessary that an object of exchange is actually given; the mere promise of an exchange suffices, even if it is never fulfilled.
Published in Chapter:
Socio-Religious and Cultural Discourse on Gender and Human Trafficking: Perspectives on Globalization in Nigeria
Nancy Alaribe (University of Uyo, Nigeria)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 16
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9282-3.ch013
Abstract
In recent years, scholars have noted that there are gender-specific vulnerabilities and risks faced by women throughout their livelihood trajectory, making them more susceptible to trafficking. A number of axioms have emerged that provide a generally accepted framework that women and girls are more disadvantaged because of their gender and social class. Due to gender discrimination and the undervaluation of low-skilled occupations, women are commonly concentrated in low-skilled and lowly paid jobs such as domestic work that are unregulated and informal with little or no legal protection. These conditions make women particularly vulnerable to gendered-specific exploitation, forced labor, extortion, debt bondage, and violence. This study examines the socio-religious and cultural discourse surrounding gender and human trafficking in Nigeria. The study reveals that even when human trafficking is not a new phenomenon, it has acquired a new dimension in the context of globalization and has been facilitated by increased mobility and the development of the internet and new technologies.