#CEA Day 24 - Child Exploitation Awareness Day

The National Child Exploitation Awareness Day wants everyone to be aware of abuse and think carefully about it. This year, it's the 10th anniversary. On March 18th, we focus on the problems of child exploitation. In 2024, we want everyone to recognize, notice, and speak out against abuse and say no to it completely.

Child Exploitation, or CE, means using children and young people negatively. This includes things like Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and other criminal exploitation. It's becoming a bigger issue nationally, especially with things like County Lines and how young people become involved in drug crimes.

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child abuse where someone with power makes a child do sexual things, sometimes in exchange for something they want or need. It can happen even if the child seems to agree. It can happen through technology too.

Even though in the UK, the age of consent is 16, a 16 or 17-year-old can still be sexually exploited. Things like alcohol, drugs, threats, or someone trying to control them can make it hard for them to say no.