In this National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, we’d like to highlight the Sphères project, a multisector initiative in which Marie-Vincent participates and which is an inspiring example of cooperation.

Launched seven years ago by the Institut universitaire des Jeunes en difficulté (IUJD), the Sphères project aims to fill the gap in services for young people in situations of sexual exploitation, particularly during their transition from adolescence to adulthood, a time when they may experience certain problems or vulnerabilities on a personal, family, and social level. At this age, young people may perceive sexual exploitation as a possible choice, or sometimes even as an obligation. In fact, the average age of entry into prostitution is between 14 and 15 (1).

Aimed at young Montréalers aged 12 to 24, the Sphères project uses an integrated, concerted approach to help young people in situations of sexual exploitation build a positive identity, reclaim their ability to act, and develop their autonomy. The approach is voluntary and individualized.

Six Committed Community and Institutional Partners

  • The Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté (IUDJ) of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal manages and coordinates the program.
  • The CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which acts as a liaison between the various services to identify English-speaking participants. The Batshaw Centre, affiliated with CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, provides a patient pivot resource to do follow-up with young people. CIUSSS Centre-Sud also assigns a patient coordinator to assist Sphères project participants.
  • Marie-Vincent, which provides psychotherapy services personalized and adapted to participants’ needs.
  • L’Anonyme, which assigns a pivot resource to Sphères project participants and helps identify candidates.
  • En Marge 12-17, which assigns a pivot resource to Sphères project participants while offering, as needed, respite or accommodation services to street-involved youth (a safety net available 24/7, 365 days/year) and support for their loved ones, such as parents.
  • Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), which arranges meetings with survivors using a peer-based approach and provides support to victims during the legal process.

Alarming statistics

In 2020, police services in Québec recorded 2,209 offenses related to sexual exploitation, compared with 764 in 2015 (2). In addition to being alarming, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, given the clandestine nature of sexual exploitation; the scope of the problem is thus greatly underestimated (3).

Regardless of the type of crime, the vast majority, if not almost all, of victims of sexual exploitation are female. In 2020, women accounted for 98.6% of victims of pimping and sex trafficking, 88.9% of victims of the commodification of sexual services, and 84.3% of all cases of published intimate images of minors.

These statistics do not reflect the issue of sexual exploitation of boys, which is also widespread and less documented (e.g., sexual services in exchange for drugs, shelter, food, etc.). The data regarding boys are not well known, and that group is difficult to reach through the Sphères project.

Marie-Vincent, playing a key role

Sphères project interventions focus on prevention and response to the immediate needs of young people, offering follow-up that can include, for example, individual meetings with a youth worker, recreational and cultural activities, and referrals and guidance to specialized resources. Since 2019, Marie-Vincent’s youth workers have supported young people with psychotherapeutic follow-up to address the lack of support in resolving traumas experienced in situations of sexual exploitation and other types of victimization (sexual and other).

While the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder is 10% in the general female population, a recent study in Quebec found that the percentage is 25% to 35% in women who have been sexually exploited (4).  

Marie-Vincent has revolutionized the treatment approach by eliminating waiting lists and prioritizing sexually exploited youth. As soon as workers determine the victim’s engagement and needs in terms of trauma resolution, they immediately refer to Marie-Vincent. This concerted approach fosters comprehensive follow-up and proactive, customized care.

As a result, since 2019, the Sphères project has benefited from a centralized location that facilitates the support made available to young people in situations of sexual exploitation. The collaboration with Marie-Vincent has strengthened the Sphères team’s ability to address the issue as a whole, bringing substantial value-added to the project’s mission.

A concerted, integrated approach focused on personal needs

When a young person has been sexually exploited and wants to make changes in their life, they must be able to find the resources to make sustainable changes. This is what the Sphères project offers: expertise and personalized support to help victims rebuild their lives.

Most of the young people who receive support originate from youth centres. The Sphères project fills a crucial need for support during their transition to adulthood, when these young people find themselves left to their own devices. The approach increases the likelihood of long-term change.

Through its collaborative approach, the Sphères project encourages partnership and concerted action to help young people meet their needs in circumstances other than those of sexual exploitation. Partners strive to help youths integrate into society and adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Each partner has an important part to play in guiding the young person toward the desired changes in their life, and the success of the project lies in the synergy between the community, police, university and the health and social services sectors. Considerable efforts are also made to increase public confidence in police services.

Credit: SPVM

“The absence of a uniform helps break the ice. Meeting with young people while we’re in plainclothes helps give them a positive interaction with the police, which they haven’t always had. In the long run, it helps victims dispel their negative perceptions of law enforcement, I’m told.

“Experience has also taught me that the best way to gain the trust of young people is to listen to their needs. Many put themselves at risk because they’re looking for excitement. One solution I often suggest is to seek those same sensations, but in healthier activities such as sport. Some young people tell me they want to become police officers for the same reasons.

“The most important thing we can do to protect victims is to make sure they have a safety net. That way, when they are ready to get out of their situation, they have a set of human resources at their disposal. We also work with parents or other significant adults.”

  • Constable Ann-Marie Houle, coordinator of the Survivors program, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).

“When a young person agrees to take part in the Sphères program, their first objective is often to find a safe space where they can express themselves freely about their situation, without fear of being judged, and explore such aspects as risk management, setting limits, romantic relationships and so on. Over the course of the recommended meetings and activities, a relationship of trust is built up between the Sphères counsellor and the young person. By respecting the young person’s pace and personal development, a support network is established around them, guiding them towards specialized resources and providing support tailored to their needs. In my eyes, every step forward is a victory worth celebrating!”

  • Mélissandre Gagnon-Lemieux, Cooordinator of the Sphères program and clinical advisor, En marge 12-17

Meanwhile, three Marie-Vincent psychotherapists support young people referred by Sphères project workers, offering guidance in trauma resolution and harm reduction.

“The young people I meet are touching and endearing. Their ability to introspect and work on themselves, despite their sometimes-heavy traumatic baggage, impresses me every time. Every step they take is a source of hope, and working with them is incredibly stimulating. Collaborating as a team with the members of the Sphères project and being able to count on mutual support is rich and essential with this type of clientele. It’s not just a job, it’s a human adventure where the importance of unity and support only grows.”

  • Jennifer, sexologist and psychotherapist at Marie-Vincent and partner in the Sphères project for 4 years.

Youth seeking to improve their lives

In addition to psychotherapeutic support, the young people who take part in the Sphères project benefit from many tools to help them regain control of their lives, such as job placement assistance, activities to overcome social isolation, strategies to identify risk factors, and financial support.

Marie-Vincent is a proud partner of the Sphères project, an initiative that fits seamlessly with its mission to build a world free of sexual violence by supporting victims in an approach that reunites all necessary services under one roof. Marie-Vincent has followed the progress of 30 to 40 young people since the beginning of its involvement and hopes to continue working with partners to make a real difference in the lives of young people who have experienced the unimaginable.

(1)  Briser le cycle de l’exploitation sexuelle. Plan d’action gouvernemental 2021-2026 en réponse aux recommandations de la Commission spéciale sur l’exploitation sexuelle des mineurs, p. 20.

(2) Ibid, p. 9

(3) Ibid, p. 10

(4) Ibid, p. 15