Truth About Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Sex traffickers frequently target victims and then use violence, threats, lies, false promises, debt bondage, or other forms of control and manipulation to keep victims involved in the sex industry for their own profit.

Sex trafficking is real, and it’s happening in your community. In fact, it may even be happening in your neighborhood. Many believe that sex trafficking only happens overseas, but what they fail to realize is that the United States has thousands of reported cases each year. Since 2007, there have been over 45,000 sex trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Many also believe that victims in the US are brought in from other countries. False. More than 80% of trafficked victims in the United States are US citizens. It’s time we stop turning a blind eye to this horrific truth and take a stand to ending sex trafficking world-wide— but first, within the borders of our own nation.

What You Didn’t Know

 

SEX TRAFFICKING IS PERSONAL

Despite the common misconception that victims are trafficked through a complex kidnapping scheme, data shows victims usually know and trust their traffickers. Recruitment by family members and intimate partners is highly reported for all forms of trafficking.

Recruitment by family members and intimate partners was particularly noteworthy in sex trafficking situations. In 2020, situations of sex trafficking or sex and labor trafficking combined, of the 2,448 victims whose recruitment was known:

42% were brought into trafficking by a member of their own families.

39% were recruited via an intimate partner or a marriage proposition.

Friends and family who know something about the victim and the situations are also the most likely to be the way they are connected to help.

Interaction with friends and family has been the top reported access point from 2018 – 2020. In 2020, friends and family were the access point for help for 40% of identified victims (4,098).

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SEX TRAFFICKING HAPPENS ONLINE

The internet can be one of the easiest ways a trafficker can target a vulnerable person, especially young children.

During the 2020 pandemic, online recruitment increased a significant 22%. During the lockdowns, as the proportion of victims from common recruitment sites such as strip clubs, foster homes and schools went down drastically, the internet was reported as the top recruitment location for all forms of trafficking. There was a 125% increase in reports of recruitment on Facebook over the previous year and a 95% increase on Instagram.

SEX TRAFFICKING IS FUELED BY THE PORN INDUSTRY

There are more women in the sex industry than any other time in history, a reality that is fueled by demand. As long as there is a demand for commercial sexual services, vulnerable people will continue to be exploited and trafficked.

Sex trafficking is a market-driven criminal industry that is based on the principles of supply and demand. People who purchase commercial sex increase the demand for commercial sex and likewise provide a profit incentive for traffickers. Buyers of commercial sex need to recognize their involvement in driving demand. By not buying sex and not participating in the commercial sex industry, community members can reduce the demand for sex trafficking.

It is estimated that the pornography industry’s annual revenue has reached $13 billion. Traffickers can sell sexual photos of the women in addition to forcing them into prostitution at a great financial gain. The younger the girls, the more expensive the photos, making the underground child pornography industry one of the most lucrative markets for sex traffickers.

Did you know that porn sites have more regular traffic than Amazon, Netflix and Twitter combined?

According to JUST Pornhub’s site statistics:
• More than 109 billion videos were watched in 2019
• There were 42 billion site visits in 2019
• 5.8 billion hours of porn were watched in 2019

49% of women who have worked in prostitution report being filmed by their traffickers. This is just the percentage of women who knew they were being filmed. This footage is often streamed and or later distributed. A person viewing this type of pornography would have no way of knowing whether or not the person on the other end of the camera is a willing participant. In many cases, she is not.

CONSIDER BEFORE CONSUMING.

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Learn to Spot the Signs

INDICATORS OF A POSSIBLE TRAFFICKED VICTIM

  • Avoids eye contact

  • Poor physical health: appears malnourished

  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

  • Not allowed or able to speak for themselves; a 3rd party may insist on being present

  • Few or no documents, or someone else in control of their documents/passport

  • No control over their own mail, no phone or phone held by someone else

  • Presence of an older boy/girlfriend

  • Odd/different sleep patterns

  • Inability to clarify where he/she is staying

  • Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

  • Shows signs of physical or sexual abuse, physical restraint

  • Feel they are in debt to someone

  • Limited freedom of movement and dependency on others

  • Bruising and injury; signs of branding or tattoos

  • Signs of or history of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse, STD's

  • Skipping school, school grades slip

  • Runaway/Homeless

ASK YOURSELF

  • Do they have lots of cash or own expensive items, but are not employed?

  • Do they look disheveled, or dressed in clothes they could not afford to buy?

  • Is the clothing the right size and appropriate for the weather?

  • Are there any signs of physical abuse such as bruising or red marks?

  • Are there any visible tattoos that may suggest they are associated with a gang?

  • Is the child with an adult? If accompanied, does the adult appear to be controlling the child through speaking or interpreting for them?

  • Does the child seem out of place, given the time of day and night?

  • Do any of the child's family members appear to control their movements?

  • Has the child been taken out of school?

  • Have any new children recently moved into the family home?

  • Does the child or youth avoid eye contact?

  • Do they appear scared or fearful of other adults and children?

  • Is the child or youth aggressive towards people in a position of authority?

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