Annotated Bibliography on Sex Trafficking

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

Just as a family poverty level can directly relate to the contribution of the child sex trafficking industry, the trauma of child after such a difficult situation is related to the victim resources that are available to them afterwards. There are so many issues that have not even been mentioned that are associated with private trouble and public issues of children sex trafficking. All of these factors can be looked at through a sociological perspective and can help us develop a better understanding of child trafficking and what can be done to rectify the issues that are associated with

Biljana Meshkovska, Melissa Siegel, Sarah E. Stutterheim & Arjan E. R. Bos (2015) Female Sex Trafficking: Conceptual Issues, Current Debates, and Future Directions, The Journal of Sex Research, 52:4, 380-395, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.1002126

(2010, September 23). HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN ANDYOUTH INTHE UNITED STATES (L. Catherine, Ed.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/chrc/pdfs/Conference_Outcome_Document_2011.pdf

Sex trafficking is essentially systemic rape for profit. Force, fraud and coercion are used to control the victim’s behavior which may secure the appearance of consent to please the buyer (or john). Behind every transaction is violence or the threat of violence (Axtell par. 4). Just a decade ago, only a third of the countries studied by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had legislation against human trafficking. (Darker Side, par.1) Women, children, and even men are taken from their homes, and off of the streets and are brought into a life that is almost impossible to get out of. This life is not one of choice, it is in most times by force. UNODC estimates that the total international human trafficking is a

Human trafficking is one of the largest growing criminal activities. The commercial sexual exploitation of children, also known as CSEC, is often perceived as a hidden atrocity that occurs in an international setting. However, this manifestation of sexual abuse has increased and has become a recognized health issue in the United States. You may hear this problem to be known as domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Domestic minor sex trafficking is defined as the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act” where the person is a citizen younger than the age of 18 years by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. This includes sexual acts like survival sex, prostitution, and stripping, where the child is the victim of criminal exploitation in exchange for remuneration in the form of money, food, shelter, or other valued entity. Approximately twenty-eight percent of US minors living on the streets are reported to exchanging sex for drugs or money. The estimation so far is that 150,000 to 300,000 children are falling at risk of being victimized each year, and the average age at which they are recruited is twelve to fourteen years of age. By raising awareness we are avoiding children suffering from long-term health consequences such as severe sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. By raising awareness a family may not lose their little boy or girl to human trafficking. Consider how many young women have been kidnapped, drugged, tricked or even sold by

According to the Bureau of Justice, human trafficking is becoming the nations second largest problem, following the war on drugs (“Anti Human Trafficking Initiative” 1.) Statistics on human trafficking in the United States are very scarce and there have not been many studies conducted on the issue. Of the studies done, many of the studies focus only on minors. 100,000-300,000 children are prostituted each year in the United States. In the Ohio, 1,078 people will be trafficked into the sex trade each year. Between January 2003 and June 2006, 15 human trafficking cases were identified in the Columbus and Toledo area. Human trafficking is not something that only takes place in foreign areas, which is why the Polaris project is working to fight human trafficking not only in foreign areas but also in the United States.

Sex trafficking, particularly that of children, has become a growing concern in the United States over the past several decades (Kotrla, 2010). By definition, child sex trafficking is “when a child (under 18 years of age) is induced to perform a commercial sex act” (U.S., 2013, para. 4), and includes forms such as prostitution and pornography (Kotrla, 2010). Researchers suggest that children are the most vulnerable to becoming victims of prostitution (Kotrla), and it is estimated that there are at least 100,000 victims in the United States (Estes & Weiner, 2001). Sex traffickers, otherwise known as “pimps,” often lure children with promises of food, clothing, love, and shelter, and then the pimps manipulate the children to keep them in prostitution (U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ], 2015). Awareness of the issue has led to the development of organizations, such as Children of the Night, that seek to help victims escape the sex trafficking industry (Children of the Night [COTN], 2016d).

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.

Raising awareness of child sex trafficking is extremely important if a change is going to be made. Most think human trafficking is humans being brought in from other countries and forced to do labor, or sex trade against their will, but even on US soil adults and children can be targeted. One way to raise awareness is to understand signs and identify victims. In a recent article written by nurse practitioner Janet Selway said that “particularly those working with children in school, health, other settings, we may have encounter young victims yet be completely unaware of their situation”(258) The US Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools(OFDFS), says trafficking can include school-age children, particularly those who are not living with their parents. The OFDFS has a list of signs that a victim may exhibit, while many of the signs of sex trafficking are similar to signs of abused children. Some additional signs can be that a child suddenly acquires expensive items, has an older boyfriend, and uses the terminology of the sex industry beyond age specific norms. It is extremely important that communities educate the public on this list of signs. If the public is more knowledgeable and aware of what to look for, then they can succeed in the prevention of child sex trafficking. Janet Selway emphasized that “All human trafficking is horrific, but the concept of defenseless children being sold

Sex trafficking is a global problem that involves the exploitation and abuse of girls as well as women. This paper will discuss the problem, with an emphasis on the views expressed by Paola Monzini in her book Sex Traffic: Prostitution, Crime and Exploitation. The paper will look at the causes, consequences and prevalence rates of sex trafficking and will consider the impact of such factors as globalization and women’s poverty in perpetuating the problem or making it worse. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the ways in which a human rights perspective might translate into positive action to eliminate the trafficking of girls and women.

It is estimated that there are more slaves today than ever before; the majority of salves are involved in sex trafficking (source). Many Americans connect sex trafficking to third world countries and are surprised to discover that trafficking occurs equally as much in their home country. Sex trafficking in the United States is made up of foreigners being sold on American soil, Americans being sold in foreign countries, and Americans being sold on American soil. Every girl, as well as the lesser number of boys, have their own story on how they ended up in sex trafficking. These stories commonly include being sold by family, kidnapped, and tricked with promises of a better life. While the distinctions between sex trafficking and prostitution have been heavily debated, the current definition is that prostitution is done through their own free will and sex trafficking is done through force. The only exception is that any minors who are selling sex are considered to be a part of trafficking, even if they are choosing to do it (source). The legal issues of sex trafficking do not only contain the act of trafficking, but also the rehabilitation for the victims after the fact. The victims suffer sexual, physical, and mental abuse while held captive and commonly deal with these issue long after escaping. America currently has numerous laws on both a state and federal government level that focus on the rehabilitation of these victims; however, it seems that there is a disconnect

“Sex-Trafficking” is a very complex and layered phenomenon. Critically evaluate some possible explanations for it's continued prevalence and seeming invincibility to regulation and control.

There is a strong nexus between prostitution and the trafficking of women/men. Many believe that sex work should be legalized and regulated, while others believe that all prostitution is sexual slavery and that those involved are victims. There is also a legal trend in the United States to not allow any minor to be arrested for prostitution. This paper will discuss the connection between prostitution and sex trafficking of women/men and the legal trend regarding minors. The different prostitution policies and how they impact sex trafficking as well as my opinion on an appropriate

Child abuse number continue to grow in our community, with the confirmed cases of child abuse reported increased by 9% from 2011 to 2012. We face a reality where 1 in 5 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. However, human trafficking of minors is an especially tragic and difficult area to address.