Gwangju City to Open Dedicated Support Center for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking on the 25th

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City will open the dedicated support center for children and adolescents victimized by prostitution, "Dream Switch," on the 25th to protect them and prevent re-entry into prostitution.

According to Gwangju City on the 24th, the dedicated support center will be operated by the Gwangju Women's Human Rights Support Center and will oversee emergency rescue, medical and legal support, and counseling services for children and adolescents victimized by prostitution.

Additionally, individual professional mentors will be assigned to provide continuous management such as academic and career counseling until they reach adulthood, preventing re-entry into prostitution and supporting their growth into healthy members of society.

Counseling for victimized children and adolescents is available through visits, phone calls, KakaoTalk Plus Friend, Facebook messages, and other means.

The opening of the support center follows the revision of the Juvenile Protection Act in May last year, which defines youth involved in prostitution as "children and adolescents victimized by prostitution" and provides support through dedicated support centers.

Under the previous legal framework, children and adolescents involved in prostitution were defined as "target children and adolescents" from the perspective of punishment and correction, and protective measures were imposed, making it difficult for them to report victimization or escape sexual exploitation structures.

Gwangju City has formed a network with related organizations such as the police, dedicated support centers, and facilities protecting victims of prostitution to jointly respond in order to support children and adolescents victimized by prostitution and prevent re-entry.

When the police discover victimized children and adolescents, they notify Gwangju City, which then connects with the dedicated support center to provide assistance.

Kim Soon-ok, head of the Women's and Family Division of the city, said, "The reality that children and adolescents are drawn into prostitution is not their fault but the responsibility of the older generation," adding, "We will do our best to prevent re-entry into prostitution and ensure that victimized children and adolescents receive necessary protection and grow up safely."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.