Human Sex Traficking Awareness Month 2019

The month of January is Human Sex Trafficking Awareness Month. Human Sex Trafficking is the third largest international crime industry. It reportedly generates a profit of over 32 billion dollars every year. Of that 15 billion is made is made in industilized countries. The International Labour Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked. However when it comes to Human Trafficking it is known as the New Form Of Slavery.

We must do something to help our women and children. According to estimates 80% of trafficking involves sexual expolitation and 19% involves labor exploitation. According to the U.S States Department 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international boarders every year, of which 80% are females and half are children. The average teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14 years of age. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children.Young men can also be trafficked.  It was once reported that California harbors 3 of the FBI's 13 highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation.

Sex Trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud or coercion to cause a commericial sex act with an adult or minor to commit a commerical sex act. The Commericial Sex Act includes prostitution, pronography and sexual perofrmance done in exchange for any item of value, such as money, drugs, shelter, food of clothes.Traffickers find their victims through social neworks, home neighborhoods, clubs or bars, internet and schools.

This has to end. If you have been a victim, survivor, parent or concerned citizen and want to discuss this topic call 516 387-1914 to join in on the conversation at 12 pm pacific. The is help available. Employers are also doing better to educate their employees to be aware of the warning signs.