The Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CASEY) has been working hard over the last 13 years to raise awareness around the issue, and Wednesday marked the first time they have received any substantial funding from government.

Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Carol Anne Haley announced just over $60,000 in funding to CASEY from government, before she quickly got up and left while Thrive Exeuctive Director, Angela Crockwell was mid-speech, and before taking any questions from the media.

Formed and coordinated by Thrive in 2006, Crockwell says they recieved “a chunk of funding” to produce a video about ten years ago, but this is the first time they’ve had resources to actually provide staffing and capacity for the organization.

She says it’s been a long, hard-fought battle for a lot of CASEY’s members.

Crockwell says to make a real impact, they have to be resourced, and can’t be collectively doing the work from the sides of their desks. She says of course they’re happy to get the funding, but it was a long time coming.

For a long time they felt there was a lack of serious will to face the issue of sexual exploitation in youth.

Crockwell says it took a lot of determination and commitment to keep at it and say “we’re not going away”.

She says most people who are trafficked in Newfoundland and Labrador, are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and not from other countries or provinces.