The Issue Of Sex Trafficking

Theresa Flores, a girl from Detroit, was 15 years old when a boy she had a crush on from school offered her a ride home. Instead of taking her home he brought her back to his house where he insisted she come in. Red flags went off in Theresa’s head, but he told her he liked her, and that’s all it took to convince her to come inside. He offered her a soda laced with drugs that made her become dizzy, and then he raped her. The next day at school the boy and his friends informed her of the pictures they had taken of her, and threatened her to “earn the pictures back”, or they would share the pictures with everyone at school, her church, and to her family. From that day on, every night Theresa would receive a call around midnight and the boys would pick her up and bring her to random houses where often several men would be waiting for her. This continued for almost two years till her family relocated (Zukowski, 2015). This is one example of a girl being lured into sex trafficking as a teen and is one out of an estimated 800,000 women and children that are trafficked across international borders every year (Facts on human trafficking and sex slavery, 2012). Sex trafficking is a huge issue today and is only continuing to grow as an industry. In order to put an end to this horrifying issue more action must be taken in order for a difference of significance to be made. However, in order to take action people must understand the essence of what it is,

Human trafficking affects our children and our schools more than most realize. It is estimated that more than 200,000 American children are trafficked each year in America. Victims of trafficking often come from vulnerable populations, including migrants, oppressed or marginalized groups, runaways or displaced persons, and the poor (Talati). The children most likely to be targeted by traffickers are those not living with their parents, who are vulnerable to coerced labor exploitation, domestic servitude, or prostitution. Sex traffickers target children because of their vulnerability and gullibility, as well as the market demand for young victims. Studies have shown that it is not just high school children at risk, demonstrating that pimps prey on victims as young as 12 years old. Victims

Intervention can be equally difficult. Many students do not recognize they are victims of sex trafficking (Perkins & Ruiz, 2016), therefore rarely seek help. Many students will defend or lie to protect their abuser often out of denial or fear (Litam, 2017).

One of the growing issues in our society is sex trafficking. Sex Trafficking is a hidden crime because victims rarely come forward to seek help due to language barriers, fear of the traffickers, and they do not know where or who to turn too. These young girls are lured into prostitution by force, fraud, or promises of a better life. Sex Trafficking is a serious crime that often goes overlooked because people are uncomfortable with the issue, and are not sure how to fight it. This issue can be found even at our own back door. The same interstate many Lamar Orange students use is the same one sex traffickers use to transport their victims. One in every five victims of human trafficking in the U.S. travels through Texas along Interstate ten. (Texas

World wide slavery is a thirty-two billion dollar industry. There are more than twenty-seven million slaves. But sex trafficking in the U.S. alone is a $9.8 million industry. Nearly 100,000 of those slaves are youth that are trafficked in the U.S. annually.(Donley-Hayes, 1.) In order to solve this problem people need to be aware of the extent of the problem, along with causes and effects before a solution can come about.

27 million people all over the world are currently being forced into human trafficking or modern day slavery, 161 countries including the US will be affected by human trafficking. 1 million children will be exploited by the commercial sex trade each year. Sex trafficking began in the 1700s in the United States. It hasn’t been stopped because it continues to increase over the years. Even though the law enforcement and people around the world could be strong enough to stop human trafficking, I believe this situation needs to be more focused on and stopped as soon as possible. Because Human Trafficking is increasing rapidly and Oklahoma is a cross-way for sex trafficking due to the interstates such as I-35, I-40 and I-44.

For example, the University of Notre Dame offers students two courses on human trafficking and community colleges in Michigan and Pennsylvania and other states holds annual seminars about human trafficking. If only California’s colleges and universities adopted this policy, I believe it will strongly benefit the fight against human trafficking in Sacramento. It will not only raise much needed awareness, but also educate generations about human trafficking, especially young people, who are often targeted by these human traffickers. A study managed in Chicago found 56% of prostituted women were runaway youth and similar numbers have been identified for male prostitutes (National Human Trafficking Hotline). This occurs since runaway and homeless youths lack strong supportive networks (National Human Trafficking Hotline). They flee into unfamiliar and unsafe environments, which human traffickers targets for potential victims (National Human Trafficking Hotline). This is why homeless or runaway youths often get approached by traffickers (National Human Trafficking Hotline). They’re young and easily impressionable, especially because they’re in need of shelter and help, so get lured by these traffickers. These traffickers act friendly and kind, just to lure victims into their traps, but they’re only playing nice to elicit commercial sex or services from the victims.

After thinking about a research topic for a long and hard time I decided to choose sex trafficking. The problem with sex trafficking is that it happens more than what we are aware of! Yet we do not raise any awareness for it. My question to schools, local communities, health workers and local governments is, "Why can we not raise more awareness sex trafficking wise?" As a future educator, I want my students to be aware of this harsh and cruel world. Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery! This modern form of slavery is not for labor but for sexual desires. Do you see why I do not understand making rape very aware in public. Yet, we do not do the same about sex trafficking?

The author of this book gives an in-depth explanation as to why many people today still do not view human trafficking as slavery. Because of mainstream influence, society assumes only females that are uneducated, poor, or in prostitution are trafficked. In reality, young children or teenagers who are kidnapped and forced into trafficking make up a lot of the sex trafficking industry. The writer goes on to explain that this stereotype is both inaccurate and a hindrance to obliterating trafficking in today’s world. Lastly, this author thinks that in order for human trafficking to be viewed as a real world threat to society, the media must step in and cover this topic with tenacity in hopes to uncover what really goes on behind the trafficking

I would have never imagined that in my community young men, women, and children are being forced into the trafficking industry. Each and every city in the world has a specific place in which targets are most commonly picked out. Barbara Wheeler, the state representative from Illinois, informed me on the issues of human trafficking in Illinois, Crystal Lake included. She described how massage parlors in Illinois are used as ways to bring in women, to be forced to perform sex acts for the customers (Wheeler). The fact that this is happening so close to my home is very frightening. I cannot fathom how difficult this is for these women to go through and not have a say in what is to be done. One of the biggest questions I had running through my mind at the beginning of this project was why aren’t we (the community) doing anything to stop and help these women?

Human trafficking is a serious problem in modern society. In fact, the United Nations has referred to it as “one of the gravest human rights violations of our times” (“Secretary - General Calls Human Trafficking”). It is a fast growing industry that affects millions. No gender, age, or status is spared from the cruelty that is trafficking. To stress this point again, human trafficking is not just a problem of the “world” or “United States”, in general. As previously seen, it strikes very close to home, affecting hundreds of men, women, and children of our own community. In fact, “North Carolina ranked as a top-10 state for human trafficking with Charlotte being the top destination. It is estimated that more than 1,700 girls are trafficked

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

Have you ever walked into Wal-Mart and taken the time to look at the numerous pictures of missing youth that is plastered on the wall? When looking at how long they have been missing, it ranges anywhere from months to years. Looking at their age, both boys and girls, it is hard not to wonder if these kids are being trafficked. Child sex trafficking, also known as human trafficking, is a major issue that is not only plaguing the United States, but the world. Residing in a state where teen sex trafficking is very common, it is imperative that not only adults, but the youth understand what child sex/human trafficking is, what is a sex-trafficker, and the data that reveals the seriousness of child sex

Young girls still isn't informed of how bad others have it, which is why there is a rise in the trade. But as women are coming out and telling their stories of the abused mentally and physically in the trade it makes society aware of what's real. Noy Thrupkaew is an advocate of sex trafficking. She talks about how human trafficking surrounds society as a whole on TED Talks. She discusses how a shame she fell at the fact that one of her family members went through the trade but saved her from it. An individual is not to blame for the trade itself. Society just have to be aware and try to put an end to it after interviewing Michigan State University Police officer, Steven Kramer he feels that “societies youth have to be smart online and everywhere an individual might go. He discusses how the youth of society puts everything on the internet making it easy for traffickers to contact them. He pushes towards educating the youth about being aware but also making it known that sex trafficking it is not just in Africa, London, or Paris it is in the

Our perception that these crimes, called “The Game”, do not exist near us is a dangerous myth as it enables traffickers to easily find victims. For example, there are no shelters that cater towards freed sex slaves in Ontario, essential because they support people who were denied basic human rights. Instead, they are pawned off to other provinces, due to a lack of government funding. Traffickers typically target the vulnerable, at-risk youth and aboriginals, groups often overlooked by the government. If the public is aware and educated about the crimes that occur regularly in their cities, they become part of the solution. To start resolving the issue, school presentations and parent council meetings should talk about the dangers and methods of trafficking in their region. Additionally, police officers need to engage more often with schools and children in care facilities to make sure that they understand the severity of the issue, and the support services available. As a result, the public’s knowledge of the situation will move them to push for government reform, changing infrastructure and increasing resources. For instance, after learning about the trafficking hub within Toronto, a fellow art student and I decided to start the Amnesty International Youth Group in my high school to educate students about these crimes and create a national network to support