Sexual Exploitation / Human Trafficking
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual exploitation or human trafficking, please report the incident online to us, and contact Liberty University’s Police Department.
What is it?
Sexual Exploitation occurs when a person takes sexual advantage of another person for the benefit of anyone other than that person without that person’s consent.
Examples of Sexual Exploitation
Sexual Exploitation can be and is not limited to:
- Invasion of sexual privacy
- Sexual voyeurism (such as watching a person undressing, using the bathroom, or engaging in sexual acts without the consent of the person observed).
- Prostituting another student (Human Trafficking)
- Taking pictures or video or audio recording another in a sexual act, or in any other private activity without the consent of all involved in the activity or exceeding the boundaries of consent (such as allowing another person to hide in a closet and observe sexual activity or sharing sexual pictures/nudes without the photographed person’s consent).
- Sending unsolicited nude pictures/videos
- Knowingly transmitting an STI or HIV to another person.
- Exposing one’s genitals in non-consensual circumstances; inducing another to expose their genitals.
What Can You Do?
Report: Whether you are a victim or someone trying to help a victim, you can always report what has happened to the OEC/Title IX.
Know the process: After a report is submitted to the OEC, it is very helpful to familiarize yourself with what’s next.
Be familiar with your rights: as a victim of sexual exploitation, you have rights and options available to you. You can feel safe and protected as you walk through this process.
Reach Out: you don’t have to walk this alone; we encourage you to contact the OEC so we can offer you the support you need to get through this time. You also have the option of talking with a confidential resource.
Internet Safety
Online Risks
- Fraud and scams from fake dating websites.
There are 1,000s of fake dating websites around the world, scamming lonely people through blackmail, fraud, and much more. - Catfishing and fake profiles.
Fake and dishonest accounts are a huge issue, even on real dating sites. They can trick people into sharing private information, sending money, or sharing sexual imagery later used in blackmail and extortion schemes. - Stalking, harassment, abuse.
Stalking and harassment have been issues long before dating went online. They’re probably as old as dating itself. But technology has made it easier and easier to become a victim.
A potential stalker can quickly access your social media and follow your entire life online. They can do it anonymously. And never even have to leave their home. - Revenge porn and image-based abuse.
Despite progress towards making revenge porn illegal, this type of abuse continues to be a major issue. Women, in particular, are vulnerable and must take precautions so they are not victimized by having private images released by ex-partners, hackers, and people they meet online. - Unwanted and negative attention on social media.
Even with all the dating sites and apps in the world, many people still insist on using social media like Facebook and Instagram to solicit sex and relationships.
Resources to help bring awareness or for more information:
- Keeping You Safe Online
- Take it Down
- NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
- Thorn
- Blue Campaign
- Freedom 424 – Prevention Education
- Homepage – YWCA Central Virginia (ywcacva.org)
- Homepage | National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
- It’s On Us | About Sexual Violence (itsonus.org)
- RAINN | The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization
- Liberty University Police Department
- Home – Lynchburg Police Department (lynchburgvapolice.gov)