Sex Trafficking

Sex Trafficking is a combination of Sexual Slavery and Human Trafficking. These two represent the supply and demand side of the sex trafficking industry respectively. Most victims find themselves in coercive or abusive situations from which escape is difficult or nearly impossible and dangerous. Sex trafficking expands the globe and reflect an intricate web between nations – this makes it difficult for governments and human rights organizations to find a viable solution or end to this problem.
Most trafficked victims are unseen, operating in places where the government or authorities have little to no jurisdiction – this can be in unmarked brothels or even suburban neighborhoods. Some authorities are even bribed to look away or police the area by pimps or gangs who operate sex trafficking. Traffickers, Pimps or gangs use various ways to control their victims, often by force, drugs, emotional tactics or even financial means. The extremes of this can be from gang rape to making the victims succumbing to Stockholm syndrome by telling them they love or need them. This tactic is particularly effective on younger victims as they are less experienced and easily manipulated.

There are different types of trafficking:
Familial Trafficking: where a family member of the victim sexually exploits them for money or drugs. For example a mother may pimp out her son/daughter for money to friends or strangers. This type of trafficking is difficult to detect as the victims have a certain degree of freedom, such as going to school. They may not even understand they are being trafficked or sexually exploited.
Pimp-Controlled Trafficking: The victim is controlled by a single pimp; they can be controlled physically, psychologically or emotionally. In most times, the pimps groom and pretend to care or even love the victim, promising them protection, a home and opportunities in return for loyalty. More than often, it is difficult for a victim to escape due to their emotions towards their pimp.
Gang Trafficking: The victim is controlled by more than one person, a gang. Gangs more than often turn to sex trafficking as it is safer and more lucrative than drug trafficking and dealing. The victim may be sexually exploited by gang members as well as people outside of. Some victims may have tattoos or brands on their bodies as a sign of ownership towards a particular gang.
Forced Marriage: It is where one or both victims are forced to marry without freely giving their consent to do so. Forced marriage can qualify as sex trafficking in some cases; if a woman is sent aboard, forced to marry and to perform sexual acts without her consent or by force repeatedly, it is sex trafficking.
Survival Sex: Not sex trafficking in the common sense but the victim feels the need to perform sexual acts in order to gain common necessities such as food, shelter and so forth. This is considered sex trafficking of the victim is below the age of consent.

Numbers and estimates:

• Approximately 70-85% of human trafficking is for the sex industry.
• Estimated 27 million adults and 13 million children are victims of human trafficking.
• An estimated 300,000 of sex trafficking victims die each year due to abuse, disease, torture and neglect. 80% of those sold into sexual slavery are under 24 and some are s young as 6.
• Research shows that 80% of victims are women. 50% are children.
• 71% of trafficked children have shown suicidal tendencies.
• Belarus, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey and the United States are ranked high as destinations of trafficked victims.
• Around the globe, human trafficking has made a profit that is roughly estimated from $9 billion to $31.6 billion. Half of these profits are made in industrialized nations.
• Japan is considered the largest market for Asian women trafficked for sex.
• Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states in the US.
• Brazil and Thailand are generally considered to have the worst sex trafficking records than any other country.

Resources:
“55 Little Known Facts About Human Trafficking.” 55 Little Known Facts about Human Trafficking. Web. 15 May 2016.
“What Is Sex Trafficking? – Shared Hope International.” Shared Hope International. Shared Hope International. Web. 15 May 2016
“Sex Trafficking.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 15 May 2016.
“Facts on Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery | Soroptimist.” Human Trafficking Facts. Soroptimist. Web. 15 May 2016.
Puelma, Alfredo Valenzuela. The Merchant’s Pearl. 1884. Oil on Canvas. Museo Nacional De Bellas Artes, Chile.