This inspirational book was written to empower male survivors of sexual victimization at any age to overcome the effects of trauma and learn to thrive. Male survivors often struggle to feel any sense of hope for the future, so Joining Forces is designed to inspire them and their allies with easily mastered skills developed over the course of psychologist Dr. Howard Fradkin’s 30-year career, and the real-life experiences of other survivors who have learned to thrive. Each chapter invites survivors to dare to dream that they can take another step in their healing process by leaving their isolation behind; challenging their dysfunctional beliefs and replacing them with healthier, functional messages; practicing healing exercises; reading about the struggles and successes of men just like them; and learning how to build hope through the use of affirmations. This book is unique in that it is based on the experiences of over 800 participants in MaleSurvivor Weekends of Recovery. The tools taught during those workshops, plus many more developed through Dr. Fradkin’s clinical experiences, are presented so that each survivor has an opportunity to use coping skills as he faces the challenges of his recovery. Survivors and their allies will learn that they are not alone in their struggles and that others have walked in their path, become stronger, and found a sense of freedom. They’ll read about how to make healthier choices to enhance their relationships, emotional functioning, and job performance and to thrive in their lives.

Each year, more than two million children around the world fall victim to commercial sexual exploitation. The numbers of children sexually abused for non-commercial purposes are even higher. Put simply, the growing, increasingly-organized epidemic of child exploitation demands a coordinated response. The aim of this book is to bring some fresh thinking to this complicated area of the law, and to help erase some of its counterproductive mythology. The book provides the first comprehensive, practical introduction to the history and present-day reality of child sexual exploitation, as well as to the interconnected web of domestic and transnational federal laws and law enforcement efforts launched in response thereto. It is written from the distinctive perspective of those who have spent their careers in the trenches investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating these intricate and commonly emotional cases. Relying on real-world examples, the authors offer proscriptive and descriptive practical advice and reform proposals aimed at those involved at all levels in this difficult area. Serving as a “first-line” resource for clear, practical thinking on the range of complex, and often misunderstood, investigative, prosecutorial, and rehabilitative issues surrounding child exploitation cases, this work is a must-have for anyone with interest in the protection of children from sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Every day in the United States, children and adolescents are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite the serious and long-term consequences for victims as well as their families, communities, and society, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated, and unevaluated. Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States examines commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States under age 18. According to this report, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes require better collaborative approaches that build upon the capabilities of people and entities from a range of sectors. In addition, such efforts need to confront demand and the individuals who commit and benefit from these crimes. The report recommends increased awareness and understanding, strengthening of the law's response, strengthening of research to advance understanding and to support the development of prevention and intervention strategies, support for multi-sector and interagency collaboration, and creation of a digital information-sharing platform. A nation that is unaware of these problems or disengaged from solutions unwittingly contributes to the ongoing abuse of minors. If acted upon in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, the recommendations of Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States can help advance and strengthen the nation's emerging efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States.

The aim of this bibliography on child labour was to assemble the best of the rapidly increasing literature and research material in recent years and make it accessible. The focus is from 1995 to 2002 although a few authoritative earlier sources have been included. Three basic selection criteria were applied: the material had to be considered representative; relevant and to present sources that had been previously overlooked.

In this commentary, Sabine Witting provides a comprehensive analysis of the Second Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. This commentary critically reflects on the impact of globalisation, digital technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic on the nature, scope and meaning of the Second Optional Protocol since its adoption on 25 May 2000. Apart from analysing a broad range of topics, from online child sexual abuse to surrogacy and ‘voluntourism’, this commentary highlights the importance of establishing child-friendly transnational collaboration mechanisms, conceptualised through a holistic gender lens and taking into consideration the online-offline nexus of violence against children and relevant Global North-Global South dynamics.

Outcry Response is a book about sexual abuse for educators and administrators of all private and public learning institutions, organizations, and nontraditional settings. How to listen, respond, report, and recognize the often-disturbing signs of sexual abuse are noted for the purpose of building confidence as a mandated reporter. Survivors need responses of compassion, support, empathy, and recognition for their courage since the sexual assault was not their fault. Many survivors, past offenders, educators, and related agency personnel have assisted in describing the aftermath of sexual abuse and how educators can help. Compassion fatigue and exhaustion can lead a listener to inadvertently react with shock, shaming, repulsion, or silence. The solution is self-care with definitions and options provided in Outcry Response Trauma informed research and practices have made mandatory reporting, open communication, and safer campuses much more manageable. This wonderful book provides a variety of examples of trauma informed responses within educationally based scenarios of sexual abuse. The Department of Education websites for all fifty states and community programs enumerated within Outcry Response provide our educators and administrators with numerous resources about sexual abuse to use in their primary role of compassionately educating students of all ages.

This UN report looks at the commitments made during the 1990 World Summit for Children to improve the well-being and treatment of children worldwide, and considers the lessons for the future from the past decade. It summarises the progress made towards the implementation of the Summit's Declaration and Plan of Action in the areas of: health, nutrition, water and sanitation; education and literacy; children's protection and civil rights. This is an adapted and abridged version of the UN Secretary-General's report which was presented to the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children in June 2001.