Sex Trafficking Is A Serious Problem

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

Human trafficking is a significant, but hard to spot problem in Houston – and across Texas. Houston is known as a hub for human trafficking, which involves young women brought here for prostitution because of our proximity to the Mexican border. One fourth of all trafficking victims rescued in the United States are found in Texas, mostly in Houston (McCall). In the year 2011 alone, there have been a number of arrests for Human Trafficking made in the Houston area as well as several brothels have been closed down. However, FBI reports at least two new brothels open monthly in Houston (Palmer). There are a number of ways to fight human trafficking including educating yourself, spreading the word, taking a look in your own community,

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.

To fully understand the controversies regarding making human trafficking laws tougher in Texas, it is essential to analyze the various views regarding the issue and its history to be able to see how the problem arose. Such views include discussions of laws like Tex. Penal Code §20A.02, where it “Establishes trafficking as a second-degree felony with a sentence of two to 20 years imprisonment. If the persons trafficked or transported are under the age of 14, or if the commission of the offense results in death, the offense is a first-degree felony with a sentence of five to 99 years imprisonment” (“Human Trafficking Laws”). Specifically, these views are centered around three main beliefs. Some professionals advocate for tougher laws, while others want to see more comprehensive laws. Others believe that our attentions are misplaced, and instead, the emphasis should be on helping the victims recover from their traumas.

Sex trafficking is a major problem in the world today and the only way to truly combat it is by raising awareness through the media. I say the media because it is the most effective tool to reach out to world’s largest audience. Although one person has the ability to change the world, it is not enough to change the process of sex trafficking. If everyone right now was able to view real, in depth information on sex trafficking, the problem would not go unnoticed. However, the thought would be out of people’s mind within a week because of some other news article, or video. I propose that we use the mass media to its full potential and rame through every aspect of social media and make the people uncomfortable. By doing this, I believe that it would be a more effective way to to keep the thought of sex trafficking linger in one’s brain enough for them to want to help change the problem.

Houston. A beautiful city with high diversity, a thriving economy, many opportunities, and a sprawling landscape. These are all things that make for a desirable place to live, but it also makes it a desirable place for something really terrible: Human trafficking. Houston is one of the major hubs in the U.S. for human trafficking and it’s not very well known around town that this city has a major problem. When I bring it up to friends and family, they are usually very surprised and/or confused because they don’t see it. Because of this prevalent issue, many nonprofit groups have popped up around town to inform people of the issue and to stop human trafficking. By educating Houstonians and creating joint efforts with law enforcement, Houston

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

Currently, 501 children mostly African American and Latino are missing out of Washington, D.C. since the beginning of the year. The police have good reason to believe that this is due to sex trafficking. These kids were taken from their lives and are threatened even with the thought of leaving their trafficker. Some children have been able to escape, but this is very risky. A young, 13-year-old girl who has a mental illness was brought into sex trafficking because she believes that her trafficker loved her. She was sold for sex to around 40 men per day. Because of these reasons sex trafficking needs to become a thing of the past. Sex trafficking in the United States can be reduced and possibly eliminated through education, government intervention,

dreamed that they would be in love for the rest of their lives. She dreamed that her childhood dream of

For many years, Sacramento’s human trafficking chains continuously functioned without going noticed. This is because human trafficking is a sensitive and serious issue, especially because human trafficking involves real life victims, so a majority of people feel uncomfortable discussing or just talking about the tragedies of human trafficking. This is why I believe educating the public about human trafficking will benefit society as a whole. It will encourage people to talk to each other about human trafficking, not feel ashamed or uncomfortable for just discussing human trafficking in general. For example, if people are educated about human trafficking, then they will be less likely in confusing prostitution for human trafficking. This problematic confusion happens because legislation and advocacy work often times blurs or denies differences between trafficking and sex work (Rewire.News). Many don’t know sex workers are men, women, or transgendered people who offer sexual services in exchange for money, but they do it voluntarily (Rewire.News). However, human trafficking is a practice of illegally transporting

Amongst all the crimes in the world, one that is widely overlooked is that of human trafficking. Many individuals believe that murder, rape, grand theft auto, and other crime activities are of much importance. Although other crimes are of much important in the United States, one crime that is overlooked, especially when dealing with child welfare, is human trafficking. One thing that people overlook is that people of youth are the most vulnerable population in the United states that are risk to becoming victims of sex trafficking (Kotrla, 2010, pp. 27-42). Another issue that is overlooked is the fact that a majority of women who are in prostitution entered this fate as minors due to being trafficked (Kotrla, 2010, pp. 27-42)

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?

Individuals all over the world are at risk of being abducted and sold into some form of human trafficking or forced prostitution. Worldwide, human trafficking is the second largest form of organized crime. This is especially true in Oklahoma. Interstate Highways Forty, Thirty-five, and Forty-four all three run through Oklahoma, stretching from coast to coast, and from Mexico to Canada. These highways make Oklahoma an ideal crossroads for human trafficking. Because of these highways, new cases of this epidemic emerge in Oklahoma every day. For example, in June of 2015, five residents of Oklahoma City were indicted by a federal grand jury for operating an escort service, providing underage females to men in exchange for money (Justice News). Everyone is at risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking, especially females. I am particularly concerned about this ever-increasing trend for the safety of my wife and other members of my family. There are steps, however, that we as Oklahomans can take to protect ourselves, and those we care about to reduce this despicable crime. The first step we must take is to increase public awareness of the problem. Like so many other problems, people assume that such a tragedy could never happen to them. Second, Oklahoma State Legislature must increase the penalty upon conviction of human trafficking. Finally, Oklahoma Legislature must prohibit gentleman’s clubs statewide. The society we live in views females as

It seems as though every issue that is argued by the American people seems to be, in one way or another, debating the age old question of freedom versus equality. The case of Richard Schmidt’s Cambodian adventures in sex tourism certainly argues this question, while at the same time it extends beyond the traditional argument. Schmidt’s case extends beyond the bounds of the American border, and for this reason it begs the question; can you ever escape the freedom (or lack thereof) of the American Government, even outside the country? The 2004 law passed under George W. Bush seems to argue otherwise, though there are definitely reasons which support the law. Sex trafficking, especially child sex trafficking, certainly has a black eye from nearly

Many Americans remain ignorant of human trafficking within the United States, believing that this inhumane act only occurs in third-world countries. No one likes to believe that it can be happening in our own country let alone in some of our own states and cities. Society rarely takes the time to understand these women and what lead them into trafficking and what factors contributed to them staying in trafficking. This study seeks to voice the ability to raise awareness, enhance penalties for the traffickers/violator’s, and offer rehabilitation for the victims.