MPs' success as child "prostitution" term is scrapped

The Rotherham MP and shadow minister for preventing abuse and domestic violence, pressured the Office for National Statistics (ONS) into removing the term “abuse of children through prostitution” from national crime statistics.

The ONS had reported in their latest release in January that “abuse of children through prostitution” had increased by 65 per cent in the last year.

But Ms Champion wrote to the Government pointing out that the use of the word “prostitution” was wrong as “it infers criminality on the part on the child and does not acknowledge that children cannot consent to sex themselves, but are instead exploited.”

The ONS has now changed the term to “abuse of children through sexual exploitation” and said the old term would be removed from all future publications.

Ms Champion said: “I am very pleased that the Government and the Office for National Statistics agree with me that the use of the term child prostitution is wrong and greatly misrepresents such a sensitive issue.

“It is essential in moving forward and tackling all forms of child abuse that we address the misuse of language and treat all victims and survivors with the dignity that they deserve.

“Victim blaming has been a barrier to justice for many and this change is another step in the right direction.”