SEX TRAFFICKING EDUCATION
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
There are two categories of human trafficking: Sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.
SEX TRAFFICKING
The crime of using force, fraud or coercion to get someone to perform sex acts in exchange for money or something else of value.
Common types include escort services, pornography, illicit massage businesses, and outdoor solicitation.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
The abuse of a position of vulnerability, power, or trust for sexual purposes to profit monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
MINORS engaging in commercial sex acts are considered to be victims of
sex trafficking regardless of the use of force, fraud or coercion.
Find more stats and facts at polarisproject.org
To understand the stats, we need to understand the stories of vulnerability.
SEX TRAFFICKING: A story behind the stats
Read about Molly below.
Molly's Story
This story combines real survivor stories into a single narrative.
When "Molly" was 9, her parents got divorced and she and her sister moved in with their mom. Soon, her mom’s new boyfriend started spending time with them and bringing fun gifts. Unfortunately, those gifts were used to build trust and distorted affection with Molly that eventually led to sexual abuse.
By the time Molly turned 17, she was desperate to get away from home. She met a guy online who said all the right things and she quickly fell in love. She was excited to run away with him, but in the process she was isolated from family and friends.
After they left, she learned that he had lied about his job, age, and intentions. He forced her to have sex with others for money. But he said he loved her and it was only until he saved up enough money for them to be together.
She didn’t know she was being trafficked because all the images she saw about human trafficking were people chained, locked in a basement, or being controlled by a pimp. That wasn’t her story – she chose to go with her boyfriend, didn’t she? One day after another brutal beating, Molly finally realized that she had to run. Even though her boyfriend had convinced her that if she sought help, she’d be arrested and he’d go after her sister, she knew she had to take the risk.
Molly got connected to Wings of Refuge and spent 11 months at the restoration home finding freedom and support to process through her trauma, overcoming what made her vulnerable to being trafficked in the first place, and practicing healthy life skills that empowered her to take the next step toward independence and new life!
DID YOU KNOW?
LESS THAN 1% OF TRAFFICKING IN THE US
IS STRANGER ABDUCTION.
Most victims are trafficked by someone they know and trust.
UP TO 84% OF TRAFFICKING VICTIMS EXPERIENCED CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE.
PORNOGRAPHY
FUELS
DEMAND
Watching any form of pornography directly fuels the demand for sex traffickers to make money by selling videos to porn sites.
PEOPLE CAN BE TRAFFICKED IN THEIR OWN HOMES
Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling. Trafficking has nothing to do with moving something or someone from one country to another. Smuggling is a crime against a border, not a person.
