Fighting Against Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is an international problem of monumental proportions. Women and children from Southeast Asia, Central America, South America, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Western Europe are victimized, as well as those from many other third-world countries.

It is also a problem that hits close to home in North America. The FBI estimates that more than 100,000 US children are victims of sex trafficking annually. They are cleverly lured by experienced predators with promises of modeling contracts, acting careers, opportunities for dating wealthy men, and other lucrative propositions. Once they fall victim, they are marketed as sex slaves through personal ads and dating services via the Internet.

Victims are physically and emotionally abused into submission; fear and degradation are common tactics. They are starved, bound, locked up, gang raped, beaten, held at gunpoint, and their families are threatened.

In addition to those who perpetrate these crimes, the men who purchase time with the victims are equally guilty. They contribute to a multi-million dollar industry that preys on human lives, most often those of women and children.

The Facts

According to a 2003 U.S. State Department estimate, more than 800,000 human beings are bought and sold annually, and transported across borders worldwide. At least 20,000 of these people are brought into the United States yearly against their will. They typically range in age from 9 to 19, and are frequently teenage girls.

In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act became law. It was the first law of its kind to set forth guidelines to protect victims of sex crimes and to prosecute the perpetrators. It was reauthorized in 2003, 2005, and 2008, and more than $200 million was added to the program by the federal government to facilitate the prevention, protection, and prosecution of sex crimes.

More than 290,000 teenage runaways are at risk of sexual victimization; in addition, “average” teens are at risk for trafficking. Between January 2007 and September 2008, more than 1,200 cases of human trafficking were reported to the Human Trafficking Reporting System established by the US Department of Justice. Two-thirds of the victims were under age 17, and nearly 90 percent were female.

• Read the stories of two “average” teenage girls who were brutally exploited.
• Read about six Filipina women who were transported against their will to Nigeria.

Organizations

• Make Way Partners: A Christian mission agency working to combat human trafficking by educating and mobilizing people; they also offer practical help to victims and those at risk for victimization including food, shelter, medical care, and employment.
• International Justice Mission: A human rights agency of lawyers, investigators and counselors who work with law enforcement to ensure rapid victim rescue, provide counseling to victims, and oversee prosecution of perpetrators to the full extent of the law.
• Coalition Against Trafficking in Women: An international organization that specifically focuses on the sexual exploitation of women and children and works to combat human trafficking in all forms. Information available in several languages.
• Protection Project: Project of the Johns Hopkins University with numerous publications, speeches, and news stories on national and international trafficking.

Resources for Further Education

• Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the United States Department of Justice offers facts and information on legislation against sex trafficking, the US efforts to combat interstate trafficking, as well as data on child prostitution.
• Frontline “Sex Slaves” offers a UNESCO trafficking database, a chart of comparative trafficking data, and other statistical information.
• Human Rights Watch: Collection of news and reports on trafficking, anti-trafficking legislation, the sex industry, and more.

Public awareness, education, tough laws, and rapid prosecution are a must to end this heinous activity perpetrated against humanity. Learning everything we can helps protect children from sexual victimization.

Presented by DateHookup.dating Signup for free online dating.

Some More Resources oklahoma chat - singles edmond ok - mn men - single woman in charlotte - dating brooklyn new york - colorado springs chat rooms - charlottesville personals - free saint petersburg online dating - singles in cary - single woman in indianapolis - dating daytona beach fl - singles in traverse city - independence chat rooms - eugene dating - illinois dating - singles killeen texas - cumming personals - santa fe singles - single women in fayetteville nc - single men in ms - lynchburg personals - escondido singles - single woman in bakersfield - personals in savannah - singles chula vista ca - free denver online dating - va dating - single men in milwaukee - dating idaho falls idaho - fayetteville personals - lakeland chat - dating louisville kentucky - cedar rapids chat - bloomington chat - single man in savannah - cumming dating - dating palm coast fl - dating columbus georgia - singles in lafayette