Understanding Sex Trafficking: A Global Crisis

The term sex trafficking is usually associated with kidnapping of women and children used for sexual slave work. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that both genders without age limit can be taken; the common age tends to range from 14 to 16. According to Sharedhope International, sex trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a minor to commit a commercial sex act. When thinking about this we usually think it’s happening far from us. Although, one of the most popular places it happens is in Europe, it also happens in the U.S. as well. Sex trafficking is “ a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 20.9 million people around the world (Polaris Project).”

It is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world (Rodriguez-Walker, Hill).” As the business has expanded it is more organized and brutal. In some cases victims work for little or no money. As FBI reports women are locked up in rooms or brothels for weeks or months, drugged, terrorized, and raped repeatedly. They drug them in order to make it easier for them to have control. Because these captives fear their traffickers they remain silent and do not take chances even when opportunities to escape are presented. Customers are considered “Johns.” More often than not traffickers who have more than one victim have a “bottom”. The “bottom” has been in the trafficking system the longest and has earned their trust. They collect money from other girls, discipline them and take charge of the day-to-day

The safest precaution to take would be contacting an organization or police department. To be able to distinguish whether the person is in danger you can look for signs that include “inability for employees to come or go from work as he/she wishes. Employees living very close by or the same building as where they are employed, employees living together, traveling in groups or with their employer (Network of Victim Assistance).” As well as looking out for any physical abuse or nervousness when speaking about intimate subjects can help dictate whether someone is a captive.

In conclusion, sex trafficking a form of slavery in today’s world. With that said, we need to limit this problem that is happening all over the world. Not only is it an expanded business internationally but also at the local level. This business endangers the young, naïve people of our society. It harms the survivors and takes lives from the one who aren’t fortunate to get away. All forms of law enforcement should be on the look out. Not only should society support the survivors but should be preventing such situations by putting a stop on bullying and