Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation
Until recently, child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation were treated as distinct crimes against children, leading to siloed responses from victim services, legal and policy frameworks, and law enforcement. Technology has blurred this distinction, and a cross-sectoral and multi-dis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1625975/full |
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| author | Jennifer Martin Kiaras Gharabaghi Meghan Donevan Meghan Donevan |
| author_facet | Jennifer Martin Kiaras Gharabaghi Meghan Donevan Meghan Donevan |
| author_sort | Jennifer Martin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Until recently, child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation were treated as distinct crimes against children, leading to siloed responses from victim services, legal and policy frameworks, and law enforcement. Technology has blurred this distinction, and a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary response is needed as a first step to protect and respond effectively to victims. This paper presents the findings from a symposium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in June 2024. Children’s mental health and child welfare practitioners, researchers, policymakers, child advocates, law enforcement professionals, and community members with lived experience came together to explore the current state of knowledge, policy, and practice related to technologically-assisted child sex trafficking and exploitation and gaps in responses to child victims. Using thematic analysis, we identified two overarching themes. Sector-Specific Roles & Challenges highlights the roles, challenges, and gaps across five key stakeholder domains. Cross-Sector Imperatives underscores the institutional, survivor-, and child-led leadership required to move beyond silos. We conclude with recommendations across policy, practice, and research to build coordinated, survivor-centered support systems capable of meeting the challenges of emerging technologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6408cd444c7f413d8d8a808bd11e58ab |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6408cd444c7f413d8d8a808bd11e58ab2025-08-20T02:46:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16259751625975Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitationJennifer Martin0Kiaras Gharabaghi1Meghan Donevan2Meghan Donevan3Faculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, CanadaFaculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, CanadaFaculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenUntil recently, child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation were treated as distinct crimes against children, leading to siloed responses from victim services, legal and policy frameworks, and law enforcement. Technology has blurred this distinction, and a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary response is needed as a first step to protect and respond effectively to victims. This paper presents the findings from a symposium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in June 2024. Children’s mental health and child welfare practitioners, researchers, policymakers, child advocates, law enforcement professionals, and community members with lived experience came together to explore the current state of knowledge, policy, and practice related to technologically-assisted child sex trafficking and exploitation and gaps in responses to child victims. Using thematic analysis, we identified two overarching themes. Sector-Specific Roles & Challenges highlights the roles, challenges, and gaps across five key stakeholder domains. Cross-Sector Imperatives underscores the institutional, survivor-, and child-led leadership required to move beyond silos. We conclude with recommendations across policy, practice, and research to build coordinated, survivor-centered support systems capable of meeting the challenges of emerging technologies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1625975/fullchild sex traffickingonline child sexual exploitationtechnology-facilitated sexual abusechild sexual abuse materialtraumacross-sectoral practices |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Martin Kiaras Gharabaghi Meghan Donevan Meghan Donevan Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation Frontiers in Psychology child sex trafficking online child sexual exploitation technology-facilitated sexual abuse child sexual abuse material trauma cross-sectoral practices |
| title | Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation |
| title_full | Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation |
| title_fullStr | Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation |
| title_short | Dismantling silos: cross-sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation |
| title_sort | dismantling silos cross sectoral response to combating child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation |
| topic | child sex trafficking online child sexual exploitation technology-facilitated sexual abuse child sexual abuse material trauma cross-sectoral practices |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1625975/full |
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