Sex Trafficking Of Children: A Case Study

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.

“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

Nothing drives emotions out the window more than hearing about innocent children being used for sex. In Cambodia, sex trafficking has grown into a troublesome issue. Sex trafficking has become one of the fastest growing crimes occurring internationally. It is the third largest crime-business in the world, after drugs and arms trafficking. Women, girls, and even men and boys are victims of the billion-dollar sex trafficking industry. Sex trafficking occurs everywhere, and it is not culturally specific, but a gender specific issue. There are numerous cases of sex trafficking within Cambodia, however child sex trafficking is extremely captivating and distressing to learn about.

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

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

Kotrla, K., & Wommack, B. A. (2011). Sex Trafficking of Minors in the U.S.: Implications for Policy, Prevention and Research. Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 2 (Iss. 1), article 5.

In this article we got to see the struggles that the girls went through from start to finish. It explained how the girls were promised better live but instead were forced to do these acts for many hours of the day every day of the week. It included the threats and rules the girls needed to follow. This information allows you to feel that you can understand and relate to what they went through. He explained that the police are trying to figure out what is the next step and what they can do to free other victims around the world.

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’s hard not to wonder if they have been kidnapped and are being trafficked. Child sex trafficking also known as human trafficking is a major issue that is not only plaguing the United States, but also the world. Residing in a state where teen sex trafficking is very common, it is imperative that not only adults, but youth as well understand what child sex/human trafficking is, what is a sex-trafficker, and data that displays how serious child sex trafficking is.

Oftentimes when people hear the term human sex trafficking, they think of heinous acts that take place in other countries where adults, children, girls and boys are exploited to perform sexual acts in exchange for money or goods against their will. They think it typically occurs in places that are less developed than the United States. However, the reality of this horrific crime is that it is taking place in the United States, and it occurs more and more each and every day. Young girls are not solely the victim of human sex trafficking, young boys are victims of this monstrous act as well. Individuals residing in the United States need to be made more aware of this issue as it has started to rise through social media, large events, and by those in other countries being promised work here. After researching, it is apparent that there is a great deal of information that is lacking, on sex trafficking in the United States. Not only is sex trafficking an issue, but the lack of awareness about sex trafficking is also an issue. This thesis proposes that human sex trafficking is an unacknowledged epidemic within the United States, and it seeks to discover why it has become so prevalent.

When some people hear the expression “child sex trafficking” inevitably unspeakable thoughts come to mind, others are unaware this is even happening. Sex trafficking is a serious criminal issue taking place within the borders of the United States, but on the outside of these boarders this crime stands as a reliable source of income for those who participate. Although child sex trafficking is a local crime it is obvious that multiple nations have different viewpoints on the topic. The problem at hand is meeting in the middle where this situation can exist without creating a riot with residents and eliminating the destruction of young children’s lives. Though this topic is a sensitive one, there are ways to allow it to coexist in everyday

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.

Currently, the FBI estimates 100,000 minors in America are victims of human sex trafficking. ABC News explained that “pimps target the most trusting or vulnerable teens to fill out their stable of working girls, often ignoring their ages.” Human trafficking is one of the worst human rights violations that involves transporting and selling people into forms of slavery, such as sex exploitation. The crime goes unnoticed, manifesting itself in places like massage parlors, illegal brothels, or fake modeling companies. However, the real way to fight human trafficking is through legalization of sex work. If law enforcement no longer occupied themselves with safe, registered sex work, they would have more time and resources devoted to stopping human trafficking. In addition, legalization would lead to more public awareness of the difference between sex work and human

Whilst numerous reports suggest a decline in sex trafficking of women and children in Cambodia, Cambodia still remains one of the largest destinations of sex tourism. Many methods have been implemented on both a national and community level in order to combat this criminal activity across the country; however none have been sufficient enough to entirely eradicate sex trafficking of persons in Cambodia. Thus a number of recommendations to combat these human rights violations have been listed, as follows:

Child sex tourism; a form of human trafficking; has taken many definitions some which include flesh peddling, child slavery, child labor, children for sale and child prostitution. International and local laws prohibit any form of child exploitation. Child sex tourism is a human rights violation that is affecting millions of children globally. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child defines a child as any person under the age of 18. Child sex tourism is defined by the UN as “tourism organized with the primary purpose of facilitating the effecting of a commercial-sexual relationship with a child.” To effectively combat child sex tourism there must be a coordinated response between governmental officials, police, health workers and non-government organizations (NGO’s). Proactively engaging these agencies to identify victims and vulnerable children and providing them with appropriate resources. Proper training will help law enforcement agencies in identifying the perpetrators, properly investigating cases and prosecuting these crimes.