Children Of The Night: Online Child Prostitution

Children within the United States who are being trafficked are part of what is called, domestic minor sex trafficking. These adolescents are citizens who have been forced, coerced, or misled to become a part of the commercial sex industry. Some of the most common ways to force minors into trafficking is through exotic dancing also known as stripping, brothels, porn, escorting, and massage services just to name a few (Minor Domestic Sex Trafficking). It is disturbing to know that there are children who are going through this. In order to create prevention and intervention programs for trafficking, it is important to understand what a sex trafficker is and the strategies they use to recruit children.

All children and young people are potentially at risk of being sexually exploited. Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator (New England definition 2017). The Education system via schools, youth services, parental advice have a vital role to play in reducing the risk by enabling children and young people to explore what makes a safe and healthy relationship. Youth work professionals can help young people

In reality, this simply limits the visibility so desperately needed by law enforcement and non-profit help organizations. Danah Boyd writes that “Visibility serves many important purposes in advocacy. Not only does it motivate people to act, but it also shines a spotlight on every person involved in the issue at hand. In the case of nonconsensual prostitution and human trafficking, this means that those who are engaged in these activities aren’t so deeply underground as to be invisible. They’re right there. And while they feel protected by the theoretical power of anonymity and the belief that no one can physically approach and arrest them, they’re leaving traces of all sorts that make them far easier to find than most underground criminals”. In short, Boyd, and many others who have researched this issue, believe that placing restrictions on advertisement sites will merely push the sex slave market further underground, rather than eliminate it all together. An example of this would be when, in 2010, after much pushing from law makers and citizens, “Craigslist” removed their “Adult Services” category. While on the surface this appeared to be a step toward the goal of eliminating online sex trafficking, a closer look revealed that pimps and traffickers where still placing ads, but were instead moving them to

“I want my mommy” is a common phrase used by kids who are in emotional distress and want to find comfort. To hear a child utter those words would be enough to evoke empathy in most Americans. Unfortunately, while most Americans look at a child as helpless, emotional, and pure, there is a darker side to the U.S population. This demographic actively chooses to disregard a child's innocence and uses them for their own personal needs: sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is the exploitation of nonconsensual people that occurs throughout the United States and Globally. Oftentimes the victims are subjected to threats, violence, and other forms of coercion to compel their victims to perform commercial sex acts. The reason this is a problem is that sex

Imagine knowing that your parents set you up to be raped, just so they can make money. This violence leads to depression and even suicide, making the children feel extremely weak and empty. Weak law enforcement and poverty has driven sex slavery out of hand. A solution to end this violence begins with people who raise awareness. To raise awareness, it is important to meet with the federal and local government to inform them on the issues and convince them to combat sex trafficking. Come up with different fundraisers for battered victims, host awareness events so people become familiar with the issue, and eventually the victims can become educated and well equipped with the proper care they need. Consider working with different organizations that help women who have fallen victims of prostitution, pornography, trafficking and other forms of sexual violence. Work with a religious community that can help raise money for families in poverty. This can decrease the amount of women and children traded for sex. Internationally, we need to become more familiar with, knowledgeable of, and aggressive to end this suffering of dehumanization and advertise what the poor victims have to face on a daily

Despite the initial intent for Redbook escorts and other adult service providers to have a place to advertise and discuss work-related topics on a private forum, such sites have been a concern due to the fact that those placing ads cannot be screened properly. These online communities become a hotbed for nefarious activity, including, in some instances, the exploitation of minors. Free escort ads attract pimps, despite the fact legitimate private strippers and clientele were able to pay a premium for enhanced site features. In an effort to combat human trafficking, such sites are being shut

Although citizens need to be aware, it is the government that needs to be doing their jobs. The government is the most important factor in the global effort to contest human trafficking (Government Corner). Congress needs to pass a law that children are not criminals. Because the children are forced into prostitution, they should be treated as victims not criminals

Next, to make a difference to end child prostitution is people should treat them as the victim, rather than treating them as the criminal. One clearly does not know what is going through their mind, so making judgements and statements does not help their situation at all. Julian Sher discusses that “When these children go get the attention of the system, they are almost always treated as criminals, not victims” (13). For what we can assume is that they did not choose this lifestyle but have just got caught up in it and have a hard time getting out. They are scared of their “pimp” who tells them if you do not do what I say I’ll kill you, hurt you, we’ll sell you to another pimp, etc. In the article, Report urges new approach to child prostitution: “ ‘These are children that are prostituted. These are children that are harmed. These are not criminals, Ellen Wright Clayton, a physician and member of the team, said at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on

Imagine driving down the street at night seeing no one on the corner half dressed trying to get money, or scrolling through a website and have a pop up come up about buying someone. Sex trafficking has become apart of everyday life. Many people are taken everyday and forced into the ring of sex trafficking. One girl spent her whole childhood getting raped by her father and then forced to go out to bars every night and sleep with other men, then go to school the next day (Sher). Sex trafficking is a problem in the United States that can not be ignored no longer.

The whole foundation that AwareKC and Stop Trafficking is built off of raising public awareness over this issue. The only way to combat this problem, is to educate all ages about the gravity of this issue. The education of young people is vital to shape the future posterity of the United States. Research has proven that people who receive a greater punishment are less likely to to repeat their actions. In 2012, sex traffickers “received sentences that ranged from four to eleven years in prison, and that was all” (KCTV5). The fact of the matter is that on average, people in the trafficking business, if caught, are only sentenced roughly 7 years. Knowing these women/men sold into the business are doing these things against their will, and the puppet masters are only put in jail for a few couple years for ruining someone's life, is incredibly problematic. Another known issue seen in society today is the objectification of the female body. If female bodies were not objectified by society, exploitation of vulnerability would be harder, since the women insecurity rate would decrease. If males were taught from a young age to respect the female body, it will help decrease the amount of trafficking through the United

About 62% of girls who are brought into sex trafficking have a huge lack of a stable home life, and a large majority of these girls suffer from childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence at home, poverty, and running away lead to a much greater threat. About 374 girls have trafficked per day in Atlanta alone, and 100 juveniles per night. These girls have come from a difficult a background and need to feel safe in their lives. A vast majority of these girls have not felt loved and have felt endangered in their homes. On March 12, 2017, 168 girls were found in Texas, and only 117 of those girls were reported missing. The girls were all under that age of 18 and victims of sex trafficking. 95% of sex trafficking victims are uneducated not only in school but also about sex trafficking. Also, these girls are young, and a source says that 45% of the victims of sex trafficking have not received a substantial education past the 7th grade. These girls have not been taught about the warning signs of sex trafficking and how to defend themselves. In fact, many girls in America do not even understand the effects of sex trafficking. In the end, these girls are faced with a battle that most are not prepared for, but with assistance and education, they could become more

In America illegal crimes are committed every day. One out of the three most frequent illegal crimes committed is sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is a major issue throughout the world. Most of the victims in sex trafficking are American-born. Not only women are considered victims of sex trafficking but also men can be forced into a life of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is considered modern day slavery. The number of victims that are minors is one-third of the whole total. The United States has been trying to end Sex Trafficking to no avail. No matter what laws are set in place pimps find a way to get around the laws all together.

Every year in the United States, up to 300,00 children, aged 18 and younger, are forced into the commercial sex trade. Sex trafficking not only occurs in the United States but throughout the world. Not only are young girls trafficked but also young boys. Child sex trafficking is highly a major issue because of how victims are targeted, how it effects a child and their life and there are certain signs to look for to notice if a child is being trafficked.

Would you want your daughter out on the street looking for men to take them back to their place? The underage sex trade had been happening for many years, yet we as a society haven’t stepped in and stopped this. They do this from most peer pressure and money for their families, so they feel the need to go out and do this. Sri Lanka has the highest percentage of child prostitution. Not only third world countries are being affected USA and Canada are coming fourth and fifth for the most child prostitution. In between is Thailand, were child sex tourism goes international which they're known for doing so. If this were to carry on, these girls will be introduced to drugs, violence, sexual and verbal abuse, and depression. There is an estimated 13 million children who are victims to sex trafficking. As they have no say and are underage this is an account of rape. Offering these young girls schooling, so they can earn money for there families better

Traffickers manipulate adolescents and youth into the sex trafficking through targeting their emotional vulnerabilities. To begin, traffickers use threats, intimidation and violence to enforce or entice adolescents into trafficking. One adolescent, a runaway from Baltimore County, Maryland, is gang raped by a group of men associated with the trafficker, who thereafter executes a “rescue” (Walker-Rodriguez & Hill, 2011) Following the “rescue”, the trafficker imposes she recompense him by working for him as one of his prostitutes (Walker-Rodriguez & Hill, 2011). Unfortunately, in many cases youth are generally beaten up until they yield to the trafficker’s orders (Walker-Rodriguez & Hill, 2011).