ttps://www.soroptimistinternational.org/campaigns/modernsla
Sex Trafficking Bryan Yan Understanding the Issue Sex trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a child to commit a commercial sex act. Traffickers lure their victims by promising them things like protection, a home, love, adventure, and opportunity. They often use violence, fear, threats, and intimidation to make their victims compliant. Traffickers find their victims through social network, home neighborhoods, clubs or bars, the internet, and school. Traffickers often utilize the internet in order to obtain their victims. They do this through social media, dating sites, and other various methods.
Who Does it Affect? Anyone can be a victim of sex trafficking. Some are more likely to be victims than others, like women and children. Victims can include all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, citizens, and non-citizens. However, indigenous populations and those individuals who live in poverty are one of the more vulnerable populations.
Global Implications Globally, there are an estimated 4.5 million victims of sex trafficking. Yearly, about 600,000 to 800,000 people, who are mainly women and children, are trafficked across national borders which does not include the millions of people trafficked within the United States every year. Traffickers primarily obtain their foreign victims from Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, Honduras, Guatemala, India, and El Salvador.
Professional Opinion In my professional opinion, it is important to be educated about this topic in order to help those trapped in sex trafficking and to identify potential victims. Doing things like raising awareness to appeal to help victims and taking action to report immediately to become an advocate for real or close-to-be victims could also help those who are trapped in sex trafficking. Also, teaching men at a young age to respect women is important.
https://www.forthepeople.com/sex-trafficking-lawyers/
Efforts and Solutions The people who are freed from this lifestyle should be treated as victims of crime and not criminals. This would help men and women speak out against their attackers and in turn lead to an increase in prosecutions of traffickers. Sex trafficking can also be prevented through awareness and knowing the signs of sex trafficking. States and communities can implement and evaluate efforts that encourage healthy behaviors in relationships, foster safe homes and neighborhoods, identify and address vulnerabilities during health care visits, reduce demand for commercial sex, and end business profits from trafficking related transactions.
References 1. Chang G. Sex Trafficking. In: Encyclopedia of Migration. Springer Netherlands; 2016:1-4. 2. Sex Trafficking. Cdc.gov. Published January 28, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/ violenceprevention/sexualviolence/ trafficking.html 3. Shared Hope International. 2021. What is Sex Trafficking? - Shared Hope International. [online] Available at: <https://sharedhope.org/theproblem/what-is-sex-trafficking/> [Accessed 15 February 2021]. 4. State.gov. Accessed April 19, 2021. https://2001-2009.state.gov/ documents/organization/33216.pdf
