Projects

Partir de nous – Empowerment of adolescent girls in situations of sexual exploitation

Duration of the project: 2024 - 2025

Since 2021, the Quebec programming of the International Bureau for Children's Rights has been working to establish the rights of children at risk or victims of violence, by promoting dialogue and empowering children, and by creating environments that listen to them, where children feel able to take their place and adults feel able to leave their place. 

In 2023, researchers from the psychoeducation and psychology department of the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), professionals from the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) of the Laurentides and five adolescent girls from the Laurentides in a situation of sexual exploitation, placed in rehabilitation centers for youth with adjustment difficulties (CRJDA), conducted a participatory action-research process on the trajectory of services for girls in a situation of sexual exploitation.

The results of this process, combined with some of the recommendations made by the youth involved in the International Bureau for Children's Rights' “Parole aux jeunes” project, highlighted:

• The importance of children's participation in decisions that affect them, and in defining the services they receive as a result of certain situations;
• The lack of services for youth in situations of sexual exploitation;
• the under-representation of youth in the establishment of practices intented for them.

The teenagers involved in this process also recommended the need for workshops on sexual exploitation, “created by the youth, for the youth in a situation of sexual exploitation”, as well as workshops for professionals designed with the expertise of the youth.

Objectives

On this principle, “Partir de nous” aims to empower teenage girls in situations of sexual exploitation, by organizing discussions between them and the adults responsible for their protection, and by supporting them in the creation of training tools:

• For teenagers in CRJDA, recognizing the singularity of their experiences and journeys;
• For those working with them, to help them better adapt to the realities of girls in situations of sexual exploitation.

The four stages of the project

• Step 1 : The teenagers review the conclusions of the participatory action-research process and define the key aspects of its formative action;
• Step 2 : The teenagers develop a formative action (content) and the necessary tools for its application;
• Step 3 : The teenagers test their training by organizing a workshop with other teenagers, incorporate modifications and finalize the creation of the training;
• Step 4 : Adolescents discuss, collaboratively with adults and other adolescents involved in the process, identifying participatory initiatives to sustain the process.

Results

In the medium term:

• Teenage girls in situations of sexual exploitation see their protection strengthened through an approach in line with their own needs and experiences;
• Adolescent girls in situations of sexual exploitation increase their participation in the decisions that concern them in the service trajectory;
• Professionals in Quebec's child protection system are more able to adapt their practices to adolescent girls in situations of sexual exploitation, and to collaborate with them in defining their service trajectory.

In the long term:

• Adolescent girls in situations of sexual exploitation are empowered, making a key contribution to their well-being and development, and becoming agents of change in their own lives;
• Spaces and services in Quebec designed to protect adolescent girls in situations of sexual exploitation are better adapted to their needs and more in line with their best interests.

The project « Partir de nous - Autonomisation des adolescentes en situation d’exploitation sexuelle », is funded by the fonds d’aide aux victimes d’actes criminels (FAVAC) from the Quebec Ministry of Justice.