What is Human Sex Trafficking?

The Federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act defines human sex trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a sex act.  It is modern day slavery where people are illegally traded for exploitation or commercial trade. Traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to lure their victims into commercial sex exploitation. Human Trafficking generates billions of dollars in profit every year, second only to drug trafficking.  This is not just a crime overseas, this is here in our backyard. Many women and children become entrapped in the sex trafficking industry at an early age because they are sold by parents or a family member. Some are lured by false promises or employment while many are drawn in through romantic involvement with an individual who forces or manipulates them into prostitution. Females in the foster care system are particularly vulnerable to this.  All around us are women and children being sold night and day for sex, forced to use drugs, beaten, manipulated and controlled, all with no hope of ever having a different life or finding the resources to get out.  This is a very real crisis and one we as a community must address. We can win this fight against sex trafficking but we must link arms and work together until all are free. One way you can do this is by making a donation to support a woman in our safe house. Another important avenue is to educate yourself and those around you. Knowledge is power. And together we can make a difference for lasting change.