Ending Violence Articles

Human Trafficking is the buying and selling of people. It does not necessarily imply movement or transportation. It is Slavery.
Human trafficking is the second largest illegal business in the world with estimates of 30 billion dollars plus per year worldwide.

In the collective imagination, the term human trafficking most often conjures visions of exotic people from foreign countries being forced into brutal labor and/or sexual situations. But although international sex trafficking and sweatshop labor is very much a reality, the extent of the issues covered by the term human trafficking is far more widespread, and often much closer to home. Within the US domestic trafficking of children for sex and labor is increasingly becoming more common. In the USA, sex with any person under the age of 18 is a crime in most states, and if a minor has been induced to perform commercial sex in any way, that minor is a victim of human trafficking.

“Traffickers are preying on the vulnerable and enslaving them right here within our own communities,” says Carlos J. Barron, the FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge of Houston, TX. Victims are from all socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnic backgrounds. They are from urban, suburban and rural areas. How they become victims happens in many ways, some are kidnapped, but many are groomed, recruited, or forced by someone they know: friends, family, peers, a boyfriend, persons of authority or a person the victim trusted.

Big states, such as Texas and California are hotspots for domestic human trafficking because cities like Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles are home to many runaway and “throwaway” youth. On average, Texas has about 6,000 runaways annually. According to National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Throwaway Children, an estimated one out of every three children that run away is lured into sex trafficking within 48 hours of leaving home. Even more frightening is the fact that the average age of entry into sex trafficking is between 12 and 13 years old.

Other issues that are major factors in the elevation of a runaway's vulnerability of being forced into slavery include:

Looking for love, affection and attention
Past sexual/physical/emotional abuse
Learning disabilities/physical challenges
Low self-esteem
Depression and other mental health issues
Drugs and alcohol use and addiction
Financial: offers of making “easy” money
Homelessness
Family and/or friends in gangs, drug or trafficking activities.
Lack of education, awareness of their bodies, and relationships.
Constant bombardment with media messages that promote unrealistic and unhealthy lifestyle, material, and relationship choices.

Once victims are exploited they are often unable or afraid to escape due to beatings, threats against family, fear of being killed, embarrassment and feelings of shame (often feel they are to blame for their situation), drugs, no where else to go due to family situation or homelessness, or Stockholm syndrome.

Resources
If you see what could be human trafficking do not endanger yourself or the victim. Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline: 1-888-3737-888

Human Trafficking is everywhere you go: nail parlors, massage services, bars, restaurants, domestic workers, construction, factories, truck stops, and on the Internet the modern marketing tool of choice.

There are many organizations across the country that needs volunteers and funding:
United against Human Trafficking (Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition): www.houstonrr.org
Free the Girls: www.freethegirls.org
San Francisco SafeHouse: www.Sfsafehouse.org

Polaris Project: http://www.polarisproject.org
Not for Sale: http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/about/
Walk Free: http://www.walkfree.org

For more information on the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas:
FAUSA: www.fausa.org
FAWCO: www.fawco.org
FAWCO Foundation: www.fawcofoundation.org

Books and videos:
“Half the Sky” by Sheryl Wu Dunn and Nickolas Kristoff
“A Path Appears” by Sheryl Wu Dunn and Nickolas Kristoff
“Walking Prey: How America’s Youth are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery.” By Holly Smith