New report on commercial sexual exploitation of women with learning disabilities

CSE Aware has called on the Scottish Government to commission in-depth research exploring the prevalence, dynamics and understanding of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) among women with learning disabilities.

This is after a new research project found that some women with learning disabilities are involved in selling or exchanging sex, very often as a result of the exclusion and inequality they have encountered, and through the influence of individuals who seek to take advantage of these vulnerabilities.

CSE Aware is a project developed for frontline services in Scotland to increase and share their knowledge and skills about CSE. The research report was produced with support from the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities and People First.

The findings highlight the urgent need for frontline services to increase their staff’s skills and confidence in working with individuals with learning disabilities and improve their understanding and practice of CSE.

What is commercial sexual exploitation?

Commercial sexual exploitation primarily affects women, and it can involve activities such as street prostitution, stripping, lap dancing, escorting, pornography, webcamming, selling images online, and trafficking, among others. The payment can be money or things like drugs, alcohol, a place to live, groceries, and even affection.

CSE is one of the less-considered forms of abuse, and very little is known about how it affects women with learning disabilities. Yet internationally it is known that they are at higher risk of abuse and exploitation.

The small research project aimed to examine what puts women with learning disabilities at risk of becoming involved in selling or exchanging sex. It also looked at how support services identify that CSE is happening to women with learning disabilities and what support women need.

Over three months, they consulted frontline workers from different services – learning disabilities, housing, mental health, advice, and violence against women. They found that abusive men target women with learning disabilities because of the disadvantage and exclusion that women face.

Recommendations from the report

The charity says that the Scottish Government must review the application of Adult Support and Protection legislation in relation to CSE cases and produce guidance for frontline services. This should include creating a framework corresponding to a support package that women can avail themselves of when moving on from this experience.

Specialist learning disability and CSE services must also work together to produce accessible resources which raise awareness about commercial sexual exploitation in the context of learning disabilities, the causes, consequences and avenues for support. These should be specifically designed for, and co-created with, people with learning disabilities.

In addition, services must collaborate to find the best approach to multi-agency work, review roadblocks that can limit work between agencies, produce a framework that allows for effective multi-agency work, and hold case conferences specifically created for cases of CSE.

Easy read on CSE

CSE Aware has also launched an easy-read leaflet on CSE, aimed at both affected women and support organisations. It is available in both written and audio formats and consists of five sections:

1. What is CSE?
2. What are the different types of CSE?
3. How does CSE occur?
4. What are the risks associated with CSE?
5. How to get support.

The leaflet emphasises that, regardless of the activities a woman may be involved in – such as street prostitution, escorting, lap dancing, or others – there can be various reasons behind it. It sends a clear message that women have the right to say no to sexual activity, even if they have been paid.

CSE Aware aims to break the stigma surrounding CSE and ensure that women involved in selling or exchanging sex receive comprehensive, non-judgmental support that understands how CSE can impact their lives.

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies. She is also a mother to a gorgeous 13-year-old boy who has a learning disability.

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