The investigative work of social services with children subjected to commercial sexual exploitation

Research QuestionCommercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children is a form of child abuse that damages a child´s health.

There is criticism of the social services´ investigation work with this group: social services fail to detect children and young people´s vulnerability to CSE, there is a lack of knowledge about CSE, and the victims feel that they are met with distrust, blame, and a lack of understanding. The support offered is rarely tailored to the specific issues.

There is also a lack of scientific knowledge about CSE and about the methods social services use to investigate and assess child welfare cases.

The aim of the study is to describe and analyze the investigative process in CSE cases from the perspectives of young people and social workers, as well as to understand and clarify the treatment, support, and protection that young people receive.

DataMethods for collecting data: (i) document studies of social services´ case files, (ii) a survey completed by social workers, (iii) interviews with young people who have been victims of CSE, and (iv) interviews with social workers experienced in investigating CSE cases.

To provide further understanding of the empirical results, a theoretical framework will be applied, consisting of the theoretical concepts of victim and victimhood, intersectional risk theory, and institutional theory. Social RelevanceViolence against children is a global issue, and there are several efforts addressing the problem.

The government´s assignment to the National Board of Health and Welfare to prevent men´s violence against women and to map children´s participation within social services justifies the relevance of the study.

The National Board of Health and Welfare has further identified a significant need for knowledge about CSE, which prevents the agency from providing targeted recommendations to social services.

There are also shortcomings in children´s right to protection from violence and participation in cases concerning them. The new Social Services Act aims to strengthen children´s rights and prevent problems through evidence-based methods.

PlanThe study will be conducted by researchers from Örebro University in collaboration with interest organizations in the field, as well as representatives from the Swedish Gender Equality Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare.

The study will last for three years and provide knowledge that can be used to improve social services´ investigative practices.