Child sex trafficking is an international threat to the happiness of children everywhere. Children are our hope. They are the inspiration for a lot of the humanitarian work in which many people around the world are involved. Threats to the well-being of children are numerous. In addition to many living in less than stable familial environments, children today are continually forced to face the effects of a conflict filled society, regardless of their country of origin.
Creating an environment that extends beyond safety and includes meeting their basic need for food, love, and nurturing continues to be a goal. This must remain a goal as children and the women who care for them remain the most vulnerable to mistreatment and neglect in even the most economically advantaged countries. What follows is a short overview of the status of children worldwide with regard to safety and wellbeing, information about human trafficking, and recommendations for citizen involvement in prevention of the sex trafficking of children.
Essential to the healthy physical and psychological development of children, is that their basic needs are consistently met. Research showed that in addition to physical needs, such as safety, food, shelter and access to medical care, children’s psychological wellness is determined on the nature of relationship with those primarily responsible for their care. Specifically, beginning at birth, the relationship must be characterized by security and uninterrupted
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.
“According to UNICEF, every two minutes a child is being prepped for sexual exploitation.” Studies have shown that 1.2 million children are being trafficked each year. “This number excluded the millions already being held hostage by trafficking.” (1).
(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
Human trafficking, which involves the recruitment and movement of women, men, and children across or within national borders for the purposes of sexual, labor, and other forms of exploitation, is a serious human rights violation and important public health issue.(Oram, Siân, et al, 2016). Female children are the only ones taking part in this. They are the ones that are being taken from their homes and it
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
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).
Each year, “600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders;” half of those people are children (“11 Facts”). Human trafficking is a criminal act and violates human rights; it is especially devastating to children. Countless innocent children and families are impacted by Child Trafficking
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.
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
“A review of the historical, neurological, and developmental vulnerabilities typical of child sex trafficking victims reveals serious doubts regarding their ability to control their choices or escape from a trafficker. The uniform shielding of all child victims of sex trafficking, whether international or domestic, from legal culpability for the criminal conduct of traffickers is recommended.” (Reid, Jones)
This essay also focuses on the issues of child – sex trafficking. The study claimed that trafficking women especially children for sexual slavery is one the fastest growing common criminal and a social issue in the world. The study states that in the united states, almost 6 in 10 identified trafficking survivors were trafficked for sexual abuse. Out of that figure, 98% of the victims are female and 70% of it are children. This because the number of victims of sex trafficking is children, this may go as young as the age of eight. This is because children are easy targets when
Children are vulnerable to being preyed upon. This is often due to parents who are physically and emotionally absent, as well as abusers that may be in the child’s life. “Among all CSEC victims, 90% had experienced some form of abuse – physical, sexual, or a combination of both – before their exploitation.” (Shapiro, 2014). Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children is often referred to as CSEC. As a result, children are often coerced by pimps and recruiters of sex trafficking by gaining their trust. This is a world-wide issue that reaches into every social class and every race and ethnicity. Furthermore, sex trafficking affects many children in the world, and, although there are programs meant to help these children, the number of victims is still increasing. (Shamir, 2012). New measures need to be taken if any real change is expected to be made.
Child sex trafficking is a global issue all over the world. Innocent children are being forced into marriage of individuals over twice their age and are being forced to be have sexual relationships with these individuals. Consequently, countries who follow at least the minimum laws against trafficking have made significant changes, all for the better. Sweden, for instance, no longer is as affected by this global issue. They implemented multiple plans to help combat
Human trafficking has become a major problem worldwide which affects many people. An estimated 600-800 thousand people are moved unwillingly between international borders each year (Kristof, et al, pg. 10). There is an even larger number of 12.3 million people who are estimated to be forced to work in agriculture, manufacturing, and the sex trade (Shepherd, pg. 94). A majority of the people forced into labor, especially into the sex trade, are children, most of which are women, at an estimated 1 million children per year (Kristof, pg. 9). There is a large amount of violence and abuse involved in sex slavery, many times leading to death. Globalization seems to have played a major role in the rise of sex slavery and the sex trade but
Trafficking in people, particularly in ladies, and kids has turned into a matter of genuine national and universal concern. Ladies and kids – young men what 's more young ladies – have been presented to uncommon vulnerabilities business misuse of these vulnerabilities has turned into an enormous composed wrongdoing and a multimillion dollar business. Countries are endeavoring to battle this exchange human wretchedness through administrative, official, legal and social activity. Trafficking of kids is an overall wonder influencing extensive quantities of young men and young ladies commonplace. Kids and their families are frequently attracted by the guarantee of better livelihood and a more prosperous life a long way from their homes. Others