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International Centre for the Study of Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Children and Young People
A new development within the area of research on vulnerable children and young people is the International Centre for the Study of Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People.
This is the first international research centre with an exclusive focus upon scholarship in the area of sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and young people. There is an increasing concern in government and welfare and justice agencies about problems associated with the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and young people.
This Centre aims to develop an international dialogue between academics, practitioners and policy makers who share these concerns.
A strong portfolio of work into issues relating to the sexual exploitation and the trafficking of young people is taking place within the University of Bedfordshire. Associates of the centre have generated innovative research, training and consultancy in this area and the centre will serve as a focal point for the further development of the work.
The Centre has links with a range of organisations working in the field. Centre members have active working links with some of the major children's charities, with the police and government departments in the UK and abroad. For example Professor Jenny Pearce is chair of the National Working Group for Sexually Exploited Children and Young People.
She works on two sub committees for the UKHTC, is on the Home Office Advisory Group for the NSPCC Trafficking Advice Line and is currently working on a Ministry of Justice funded study into gathering evidence against those who sexually exploit young people (with Sue Jago).
Other topics currently being researched include, 'Young people and trafficking: a research project into practitioners definitions of responses to trafficking', (NSPCC funded). This work will continue whilst new projects and initiatives are developed in collaboration with institutions and organisations in Britain, mainland Europe, Asia and other countries and abroad.
The centre is led by Professor Jenny Pearce. view Jenny's profile in the Department of Applied Social Studies
