France | Aid map and michetometer to help minors escape prostitution

Prostitution of minors: michetometer, aid card or how to get young people out of this phenomenon

The shocking sentence in the press release from the Children’s Rights foundation puts directly into the picture these minor prostitution networks in France. A phenomenon that the structure describes as «not new» but «growing».

«In France, more than 11,000 minors are victims of sexual exploitation»

So to counter this movement, facilitated by «social networks and victims» possession of smartphones”, associations and other aid structures are looking for new weapons. We take stock.

Victims on the move: the map of France

There is a help card available in France. It is accessible to witnesses, victims and especially child welfare professionals.

«Young women who are victims of prostitution networks, even when assisted, move frequently,» explains Julien Landureau, advocacy and communications manager for Droit d’Enfance.

Thus «a victim received in Amiens who moves towards the Lyon metropolis could be better monitored: the Picardy structure would easily find their Lyon counterparts on the sound card and could indicate to them the arrival of this minor in their geographical area».

But, precisely, in Amiens, the map does not indicate any aid structure. Neither in Amiens, nor in the rest of the Somme, or even the Aisne.

Only Oise would have a support structure, in Tillé, near Beauvais, ADSEAO – AdoSexo. «Several structures do not appear on the map.».

An oversight by the PARÉ team which created – among other things – this map 

«It is most often a respite structure. The victims stay there for a few days, weeks, months. To protect them – as well as the staff who work there – they do not appear on the map,» notes Julien Landureau.

You know a minor victim of this type of network

You live in Abbeville or Saint-Quentin and Tillé seems to be almost on the other side of the world to help a loved one or because you are a victim yourself. 

On the same web page as the Child Rights card, the useful national numbers have been listed.

Among them, 119, which advises and directs minors who are victims of sexual exploitation and other abuses or crimes.

A number dedicated to families whose child has disappeared also exists. It does not replace the gendarmerie or the police who can carry out research, but it accompanies and supports families: the 116,000.

Tools to avoid denial like the michetometer

Among the 11,000 minors victims of sexual exploitation in France – according to a government estimate – «many are in denial» about prostitution, notes Droit à l’Enfance.

It is not always easy to see the limits between «cooking» and prostitution; the first already being risky behavior.

For prevention, a michetometer has been set up by the ACPE (Agir contre la prostitution des enfants). The principle 

By finding the type of activity he or she has, the minor victim sees if she is engaged in «risky behavior» – such as creating an OnlyFans account – if she is in prostitution or even if she has switched to pimping.

«Most of these underage prostitution rings are informal and disorganized. Some of the young girls are recruited by former victims who have become pimps,» explains Julien Landureau.

Who are the minor victims of these networks? 

Forget the image of a teenager from a disadvantaged background falling into prostitution before reaching adulthood.

«Several studies have come out on this subject and there is not really a typical sociological profile.» On the other hand, the most common point between these victims is «having been a victim of sexual violence at least once. But each case is unique.».

A trauma which can lead to an erroneous image of one's body, to addictive behaviors which lead victims to these minor prostitution networks.

Aid structures still have a way to go to stem the phenomenon or at least its expansion, despite budgetary and staff recruitment difficulties.