Final answer:
Children who are neglected, from migrant backgrounds, or raised in environments with substance abuse are at greater risk of being involved in prostitution and child trafficking. Other risk factors include social isolation, low parental education, and being from a minority group. Global issues like state-sponsored violence also heighten vulnerability to exploitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children at Greater Risk of Exploitation
Children who are neglected or come from unstable backgrounds are at a significantly higher risk of exploitation, including prostitution and child trafficking. Some specific groups of children who are vulnerable include those born to very young mothers, such as under the age of twenty-one, as these children may experience neglect early in their lives. Additionally, illegal migrants, particularly unaccompanied minors from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, are highly susceptible to falling prey to smuggling rings which can lead to sex/human trafficking.
Moreover, children raised in environments with substance abuse are three times more likely to be physically abused and four times more likely to be neglected. These circumstances compound risks for exploitation. Social isolation, depression, low parental education, and having a history of being mistreated also increase a child's vulnerability. Further, children who experience bullying due to characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, or who have cognitive impairments, are at an elevated risk for targeting by traffickers seeking to exploit them.
Furthermore, global issues such as state-sponsored violence or oppression significantly increase the vulnerability of women and girls to sexual abuse and forced labor. For instance, Rohingya and Uyghur women, as well as young girls affected by terrorist groups like Boko Haram, have suffered widespread sexual violence. Internationally, there are millions of children in child labor, with the highest numbers in sub-Saharan Africa and central and southern Asia, which underscores the connection between poverty, lack of education, and the risk of trafficking and exploitation.