Sex Trafficking: Victims and

Perpetrators Chayla Weaver

What is Sex Trafficking?

Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery which the victims are forced to perform sexual acts.

It is the largest growing business of organized crime.

Third largest criminal enterprise in the world.

Any minor (under 18 years of age) who engages in commercial sex is a victim of sex trafficking.

Victims are forced by being threatened, beat up, lied to and/or tied up.

Victims are often kept through debt bondage or psychologically when they are convinced that they love their pimp.

Reality of Human Trafficking

Who Are The Traffickers?

“Pimps”

Master manipulators

Family operations

Small business operations

Criminals

International criminal operations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNDjXPgfw2sThis video is an interview explaining how a man got caught up in the sex trade. The man explains that he felt like he did not have any options because his mom stated that she would kick him out of the house. He explained that he initially had no idea what human trafficking was until introduced; and how he smuggled women throughout countries. The man stated that his bosses were officials who were higher up, which explains why sex trafficking is such a lucrative operation. He then goes on to tell how he was caught by the police so he tried to work with them; but the operation that he worked for had the connections to get him killed. The police would not offer protection to him, so he turned to church. Turning to the church enabled this guy to turn his life around and ultimately work to help combat sex trafficking.

Types of Trafficking

Domestic Pimp-Controlled Trafficking

Pimp-Controlled Trafficking

Truck Stop – Moderate Truck Stop – High Other – Moderate Other – High Commercial Front –

Brothel Peddling/Door-to-Door

Who Are The Victims

Every year, 1.2 million children are sold into sex trafficking globally.

Victims in all 50 states and globally.

Diverse socioeconomic background.

Various levels of education.

Foreigners are among the highest risk in the United States because of the language barrier.

While all demographics are at risk of sex trafficking, homeless and runaway youth are at the highest risk.

Young girls who have experienced any form of violence and/or trauma.

https://vimeo.com/45214726

This video was created by the Jubilee project and highlights minor sex trafficking. The Jubilee project shows a glimpse of what girls go through on a daily basis.

How Are Young Girls Lured

A pimp will look for a potential victim at malls, schools, bus stops or other places young girls frequent.

A pimp will prey on more vulnerable potential victims.

Including victims who have experienced; sexual and/or physical abuse, runaways, unstable home life, or girls looking for a better life.

Promises of a romantic relationship.

Promises of a high-paying job.

Pimps will start out by treating the victims with gifts and money (abuse will appear later in “relationship”).

Pimp appearing as a “father-figure” to victim.

Pimp could use an older victim who is already involved in sex trade to lure a potential victim (“bottom bitch”).

If a pimp works with more than one girl, victim can get a sense of having a “family.”

How Are Young Girls Forced To Stay In Sex Industry

Violence; physical or sexual.

Threats to victim or victims family.

Victim made to feel as if she is in debt to pimp.

Psychological abuse that makes the victim feel as if her pimp is the only one that cares about her, or will support her.

Victim shaming.

Victim does not have access to personal documents such as birth certificate or social security card.

If victim is from another country, she could be threated to be sent back to that country.

Victim is financially dependent on pimp.

Victim fear of being arrested.

Why Girls Return to the Sex Trade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=105&v=VJyx9hf6_Ps

Sex Trafficking in Europe More than 23,600 victims were trafficked in Europe in a three year span.

From 2008 to 2010, human trafficking increased by 18% and the number of convictions decreased by 13%.

Most victims who are trafficked in Europe are from Europe.

Most victims are poor who get into the sex trade by lies of job opportunities.

One-quarter of women who are trafficked globally are smuggled out of Central and Eastern Europe as well as the former Soviet Union each year (not including women who remain silent).

The rise of sex trafficking is directly related to the fall of the Soviet Union.

Moldova, Europe- high rate of sex trafficking.

There are girls and women of all ethnicities who are deemed beautiful which make them high demand.

Victims are locked up in back rooms and café lounges.

Sex Trafficking in Europe

Victims cannot get out of the sex trade because of their debt.

Police corruption make it easy for perpetrators to get away with this crime.

Places blame on victims.

Sex industry is legalized in some parts of Europe.

Activist work overtime by educating young girls on the issue.

The International Organization for Migration.

https://vimeo.com/21076799

This video illustrates the story of Stella from Moldova, Europe. She grew up in an orphanage and felt as if she was not wanted. She later died from HIV AIDS which prompted the start of Stella’s House; which is a safe place for young girls who have experienced the sex trade from Moldova.

Sex Trafficking As a Social Problem

Sex trafficking is a social problem because it affects all demographics of every part of the world.

Young girls are being taken and traded not only in the United States, but across the world.

Internet aids in continuing the growth of the sex trafficking industry.

Most instances of sex trafficking go unreported.

Sex trafficking is one of the causes of the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Sex trafficking is a growing social problem because there is a lot of unawareness about the subject.

The human trafficking industry makes more money than the drug industry yearly.

Social Work Implications

The abuse that young victims of sex trafficking endure can often lead to physical, emotional and psychological problems.

It is important as a social worker to help clients cope through the trauma that they have faced when sex trafficked.

In the social work profession, there is often an overlap between local and global issues as well as micro and macro- sex trafficking is just that.

Social workers are committed to empowering vulnerable populations.

Social workers can advocate for policy changes geared toward sex trafficking.

Collaboration with other agencies.

Signs of A Potential Victim of Sex Trafficking

PSA

https://vimeo.com/28365828

Sources http://

www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex-trafficking-in-the-us

http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org/type-trafficking/human-trafficking

https://combathumantrafficking.wordpress.com/

http://htia.weebly.com/social-impact.html

https://txssc.txstate.edu/topics/school-violence/articles/recognizing-human-trafficking

http://socialproblemsucd.wikispaces.com/Sex+Trade+and+Human+Trafficking

http://modernsocialworker.blogspot.com/2011/05/human-sex-trafficking-social-work.html

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3071965/ns/us_news-only/t/infiltrating-europes-shameful-trade-human-beings/#.VamwdbtRHIU