Most
people assume that slavery in the modern world ended with Lincoln
and the 13th amendment. This could not be further from the truth.
Nearly a century and a half after abolition, slavery persists inside
and outside of our country’s borders in the form of human trafficking.
Trafficking of persons is one of the largest criminal industries existing
today, superseded only by drug and arms dealing. However, the difference
is that traffickers can sell drugs and arms only one time, but humans
can be sold over and over again. The perpetrators instill fear in
their victims in order to keep the victims from leaving or reporting
the crimes they endure. Fear is instilled through actual harm, the
threat of harm or the believed threat of harm to the victim, or to
another person connected to the victim.
Human trafficking has been documented in almost every country, and
unfortunately, the United States is not an exception. There are two
types of human trafficking in the United States: domestic and international.
International victims are foreigners who enter this country in search
of a better life, but who end up working for another for which they
receive little or no pay. On the other hand, domestic victims are
Americans who become exploited in the commercial sex industry. It
is estimated that as many any 450,000 American children run away from
home each year and that one out of every three of those kids is lured
into sex trafficking within the first 48 hours of leaving home. Even
more disturbing is the fact that the average age of entry into sex
trafficking is 12-13 years old. Youth who are runaways, throwaways,
or homeless are the most vulnerable to trafficking, especially those
with histories of abuse or those within the foster care system and
child protective services. Human trafficking is an issue for all socioeconomic
levels and does not only affect low-income families and households.
DOMESTIC
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
General trafficking facts:
- 100,000 - 300,000 American children are at risk for
sex trafficking each year
- At risk children include:
• runaway youth,
• throwaway youth, and
• homeless youth
- One out of every three teens on the street will be lured
into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home
Houston trafficking facts:
- Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S.
- Located on the crossroads of national highways including
the I-10 corridor
- Host to many conventions and professional sporting events
which create demand
- Home to many sexually oriented businesses, including
strip clubs, massage parlors and modeling
studios
- On August 25, 2009, Houston police arrested five men
and women accused of forcing girls as young as 16 into a life of prostitution
Why victims are difficult to identify:
- Physically or psychologically controlled by pimps
- Trained by pimps to tell lies and false stories
- Distrust of service providers and law enforcement
- Frequently moved from place to place
- Technology can disguise the real age of a victim
- May be running from something worse
- They do not see themselves as a victim; they feel responsible
for the choices they’ve made.
“ Red flags” to look for in identifying a victim:
- Excess amounts of cash
- Hotel room keys
- Chronic runaway/homeless youth
- Signs of branding (tattoo, jewelry)
- Lying about age/false identification
- Inconsistencies in story
- Lack of knowledge of a given community or whereabouts
- Presence of an overly controlling and abusive “boyfriend”
- Inability or fear to make eye contact
- Injuries/signs of physical abuse or torture
- Restricted/scripted communication
- Demeanor – fear, anxiety, depression, submissive,
tense, nervous
For
further information, please contact:
Mandi Sheridan Kimball, Director, Public Policy & Government Affairs,
mkimball@childrenatrisk.org, 713.869.7740
Jennifer Michel Solak, Senior Staff Attorney, jsolak@childrenatrisk.org,
713.869.7740
visit
our website at www.childrenatrisk.org
Download
State of Human Trafficking in Texas Brochure here.
