It is estimated there are 100,000 to 300,000 children in the United States that are “at risk” of being sexually exploited into forced prostitution and pornography each year. Due to this being a hidden crime, exact figures are not available.
As awareness and resources are on the rise, law enforcement’s rescue efforts are also increasing.
In Colorado alone, under the state and federal law enforcement, over 600 children have been rescued since 2011. Young men and women over the age of 18 are also recovered each year.
When girls are rescued, Reclaiming Hope is there – both offering Hope Bags and the opportunity to receive a Mentor. You can help us make hope a reality!
What is human trafficking and sex trafficking?
The TVPA (Trafficked Victim Protection Act) defines “severe forms of trafficking is persons” in the following two tiered definition: Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or, recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.
What are the ages of children sex trafficking victims in the United States?
How do traffickers recruit girls?
Traffickers prey on those who are vulnerable in some way like runaways and at-risk youth.
What makes a child vulnerable to child sex trafficking?
Trafficking is a crime that knows no race, nationality, gender, age, or socioeconomic boundaries. However, some key vulnerabilities Victims have in common include: 1) an absent father; 2) their family is dependent on welfare; 3) there is substance abuse within the family; 4) there is domestic violence within the family; 5) the majority have been physically and/or sexually abused.
Why don’t victims just leave when they have the opportunity?
Traffickers use physical, emotional and psychological abuse that creates a trauma bond between the victim and trafficker that can be more powerful than physical chains. Many times traffickers use the threat of violence against a victim’s loved ones to secure their control.
Are girls who choose to sell their bodies victims?
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), sex trafficking of any minor used in a commercial sex act (the exchange of any item of value for a sex act) is a victim of trafficking, regardless of their willingness or desire to engage in the sex act.
Is there a link between pornography and trafficking?
Unequivocally the answer is yes. One out of every 5 pornographic images is of a child who, under the protection of the Trafficked Victim Protection Act, has been trafficked.
What do I do if I suspect someone is being trafficked?
Contact the Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking (CoNEHT): 1-866-455-5075 and/or the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888. If you are aware that a child is missing, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at: 1-800-THE-LOST