Poverty is one of the most important cause of sexual exploitation of children. Due to bad economic circumstances children can find themselves in a hopeless situation. Prostitution is than a strategy to survive. Often these children feel responsibly for their family and grasp every opportunity to earn money. Children who are homeless, suffer from substance abuse, are victim of abuse, or neglected by their family are especially vulnerable to exploitation. Children also get into prostitution under false pretences. Sexual exploitation of children takes place in both developing countries and developed countries. Beside poverty there are therefore other factors involved that influence the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation.

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