Definition of Human Trafficking
The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. [Article 3, paragraph (a)]
Federal Law:
Sex Trafficking - A commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion. Or in which the victim performing the act is under the age of 18.
Labor Trafficking - Which persons are recruited, transported, provided or obtained for labor or services through the use of force or fraud.
State Law:
Violating the liberty of a person with the intent to either commit certain felony crimes or to obtain the person for forced labor or services.
Human Trafficking is a Crime
Adult of child victims may have been imported into America by force or fraud from another country to be used as sex slaves or exploited for labor. Yet there are other forms of sexual assault crimes that are less obvious, but just as devastating and inhumane.
Some Statistics
- 27 million – Number of people in modern-day slavery across the world.
- 14,500 - 17,500 – Number of foreign nationals trafficked into the United States every year.
- 244,000 – Number of American children and youth estimated to be at risk of child sexual exploitation, including commercial sexual exploitation, in 2000.
- 38,600 – Estimated number of an approximate 1.6 million runaway/thrownaway youth at risk of sexual endangerment or exploitation in 1999.
- 12-14 – Average age of entry into prostitution.
Sexual assault crimes may take many forms
Internal TraffickingU.S. citizens are also kidnapped and coerced into sexual servitude against their will. Women and children in the Bay Area have been taken by force, drugged, and forced into slavery.
Rape for SaleThis includes the solicitation of sexual assault on the internet. Planned repetitious acts of gang rape upon one individual can be signs of a crime ring.
Incest, Acquaintance-Rape, and Dating ViolenceThe perpetrator uses power and control, as well as sexual coercion, upon the victim, with whom there is a familiar or romantic relationship.
Filmed Rape (Forced Pornography & Prostitution)Not every porn star or prostitute is there of their own will; some do not have a choice.
Stop Sexual Slavery!
