The province is officially recognizing the Week to Address the Sexual Exploitation of Youth.

A proclamation was made at Thrive in Downtown St. John’s today in partnership with the Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth, or CASEY.

This week will be all about raising awareness of sexual exploitation in Newfoundland and Labrador. Sexual Exploitation is the abuse of positions of vulnerability, power, trust, and dependency to profit monetarily, materially, socially, or politically off the exploits of another person.

The province is giving CASEY $60,100 through Budget 2022 to support the organization’s initiatives to prevent the sexual exploitation of young people, and support those with living and lived experience.

CASEY Coordinator Amnesty Cornelius says a proclamation is a small step in the right direction.

She says right now there is only enough funding for one full-time staff member. She says more funding and resources would allow them to expand their capacity and mobilized efforts to other communities to make sure the needs are being met.