Millions of children around the world have been robbed of their childhood. Learn about the different types of child exploitation, how to spot the signs and what we’re doing to help.
Child exploitation is when someone uses a child under the age of 18 for financial gain, sexual gratification or labour.
Perpetrators tend to target young people who are lonely or isolated, taking advantage of the power imbalance between them and the child.
Perpetrators use a range of tactics to befriend, recruit and manipulate vulnerable young people, including…
Intimidation, threats of violence, psychological manipulation blackmail and sextortion are used to get victims to do things they don’t want to do.
Perpetrators often make false promises of status or money to manipulate young people into risky or illegal activities.
Building an emotional connection allows perpetrators to create trust and control the victim.
In the UK, India and Tanzania, we reach and support children who are living on the street or spend a lot of time away from home.
We know that vulnerable children are prime targets for perpetrators, who will offer them the thing they want most – security, food, money, community – in exchange for a service.
We focus on reaching them at transport networks (railway and bus networks), because it’s common for these children to pass through a train station or bus terminal after running away from home. But alone at transport networks, they’re at risk of becoming a target of exploitation.
If we can step in early on and give them the support they need to stay off the streets, we can get to them before a perpetrator does.
Over 138 million children around the world are made to work for very little or no pay in hazardous fields like agriculture, manufacturing, or as domestic servants*. Others are forced into sex work as child prostitutes, which is a type of sexual exploitation. Child labourers in India and Tanzania suffer severe physical, psychological and harms and since they’re unlikely to regularly attend school, they often end up trapped in poverty.
Child trafficking involves forcibly transporting a child to a new location for the purpose of exploiting them. Victims of child trafficking are often taken away and made to work as child labourers in poor conditions as domestic servants, child beggars or on construction sites. This is a form of modern slavery and an abuse of young people’s human rights.
It's common for criminals to use young people and vulnerable adults to carry out dangerous illegal activities. County Lines gangs in the UK recruit children to deal drugs, often using bribery, violence and threats to coerce them into taking part. Because of this manipulation, young people often don’t perceive themselves as being exploited, which can lead to them feeling trapped and afraid of seeking help.
Child financial exploitation is when a parent, guardian or criminal misuses or steals a child's income or financial identity. This could be fraudulently claiming government benefits intended for the child, or even using the child's good credit to secure loans. A growing issue in the UK is criminals reaching out to young people online through gaming and social media with offers of quick cash to control their bank accounts for fraud or money laundering.
This type of sexual abuse happens when an adult coerces a child into sexual activity, often in exchange for something like gifts, money, or affection. This can happen in person or online and often involves violence and blackmail. Perpetrators use their position of power to groom or manipulate victims. Some gangs use sexual exploitation to exert power over young people, as a threat or a weapon.
UNICEF estimates that 1.5 million girls get married in India every year. Child marriage includes both formal marriages of children under the age of 18 and informal unions of children with a partner. Because it interferes or ends a child’s education, it usually keeps them from opportunities that could give them a better life. Children who get married can suffer severe physical and mental health consequences, and are at a higher risk of domestic violence and abuse.
Ten-year-old Kaafi* thought he was on his way to a new school when boarded a train in Bihar with a contact of the family.
But when he arrived in Delhi, he was forced to work long hours in a shop for no pay.
After 10 months, terrified and exhausted, Kaafi ran away and tried find his way back home. But he got lost and only got as far as Delhi’s busy railway station.
Thankfully, we were able to step in and give him the help he needed.
Certain forms of exploitation, like child labour and child marriage, are deeply rooted in social norms. This means parents don’t always realise how much these practices can negatively impact their children.
So we work with families in at-risk communities to help them understand the harm these practices can have on their children’s wellbeing and future chances.
Through family counselling and activity sessions, our support workers in India and Tanzania teach families about how education can be a ticket out of poverty and encourage parents to keep their kids in school.
Read more about our family engagement work
These drug-trafficking networks use children to deal and transport illegal cargo across the country, often using the rail network to travel unnoticed.
County lines target and groom vulnerable young people with threats or false promises of riches and security, manipulating them into dangerous, illegal activities.
We also train rail professionals to recognise vulnerable children and give them the tools to intervene effectively.
We all have a part to play in stopping exploitation.
Keep an eye out for the common signs: have they been missing from home or school? Are they suddenly showing up with new clothes or possessions they can’t afford?
Trust your instincts, and don’t look the other way. If your child goes missing or you suspect a young person might be at risk, report it to the police.
*The world pledged to end child labour by 2025, United Nations, June 2025
**Names have been changed and models used to protect identities.
