Preventing Child Sex Trafficking
Human Trafficking, Including Children, is one of the Fastest Growing Crimes in the World
While many think that child trafficking or child sex trafficking occurs mostly in other countries, it is a major problem in the United States. It is a problem that is on the rise and affects girls from the youngest of ages.
The average age of girls that are exploited is 13 years old. Children are abducted off the street, at shopping malls and even from their homes. Many of the girls, however, are homeless and have no homes. Their only means of support is through prostitution and finding someone who will take care of them so they can earn a living.
StreetlightUSA is an organization that houses exploited girls and also gives those girls opportunities to succeed. They take homeless girls from all over the United States and their aim is to help those girls with not only their basic needs, but give them clear direction.
Education on preventive measures is a service that is offered by Streetlight. Their goal is to teach others and help them prevent this atrocity from occurring to others.
StreetlightUSA will soon be a Squidoo Charity Partner. While you can donate proceeds from your lenses, you can also donate directly through a link to their website, located on this page.
Thank you for your support and God Bless.
What is Child Sex Trafficking?
Minor Trafficking or Minor Sex Trafficking is the sexual exploitation of a youth that is under 18 years of age. This trafficking is done for commercial purposes or in other words, for the purpose of making money.
Many don't realize that more than 100,000 youth in the United States are trafficked on a yearly basis. Most of these youth are used and controlled in prostitution and a "pimp" or a "John" controls them and sells their young bodies for sexual gratification of paying customers.
Most of the time, the youth are not known to be victims. They may have contact with County or State services such as child protection or other providers who do not know their history or activities.
These youth are exploited on the street, used as escorts, used in massage parlors, used as exotic dancers, traded or advertised through online chat systems, online dating sites, online pornography sites or through other means.
It is a rampant and growing industry.
"Online pornography continues to grow and to spread and has reached epidemic proportions." "We are facing a national crisis that is every bit as damaging to our citizens and our culture as the oil spill is to the Gulf and the Gulf community."
Washington Post - June 15, 2010
Did You Know That This Was Going On?
What do you know about child sex trafficking?
God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue - by Daniel Walker
Exactly Who is Exploiting Minors?
Despite what you may believe, it is not always a sex offender or convicted felon performing sex trafficking of children. The following individuals may be involved and you may never know about it.
Children can be and are sold by their own family members for any kind of financial benefit. Children are also traded by families, friends or strangers and force the children to trade sex for any needs.
You have heard of "Pimps." Pimps use coercion and control to manipulate others. "Johns" are people who can be anyone, who uses the children to trade for anything of value
Organized trade of children by criminal syndicates or Drug Cartels is also very prevalent. Children are used as a form of currency or to pay off favors in some circumstances.
The saddest people are the children themselves. They need to survive after being abandoned or needing to make money for basic sustenance.
Who is StreetlightUSA and What is their Purpose?
StreetlightUSA's Mission can be summed into three words:
"STOP CHILD RAPE."
By the year 2009, Child Sex Trafficking was so rampant that over 70 religious organizations across the USA banded together to form Streetlight USA.
They work together to make people aware, try to prevent instances of it occurring, and deal with the victims, after it occurs.
in late 2009, StreetlightUSA was awarded a 501 (c) 3 status and they built a safe house for victimized girls, ages 11-17. They continue to expand and are currently needing funds for additional housing for girls that come from across the USA.
The Sad Stories of the Actual Victims
Video interviews of actual cases
Stories about child sex trafficking are as unique as they are scary.
They include abductions, sales of family members, voluntary acts and many other things. That little girl that you see down the street could very well be a victim that you are unaware of.
I have compiled some actual videos below of what is happening. It will even open the eyes of those that may be aware of the problem, but do not know how extreme it is.
Child Sex Trafficking Stories - Make sure you have a box of tissues when listening to these
How Can I Help the Victims?
The easiest way to prevent child sex trafficking and to assist the victims are cash donations. You can do both through the link below.
If you live near a center, you can provide volunteer services and also in areas that you may not think of yourself. Volunteers are always needed in different capacities.
Another way to help the victims is to spread the word. Just a quick posting on Facebook or Twitter can be very helpful. It may move some to action in areas that you cannot do yourself.
Prevention is the key. Talk to your children, their friends, to your child's teachers, etc. as awareness is very important. Many people never expect it to happen until it does and most people don't do something anything to help with prevention, until they do it in reaction. Let's prevent these awful crimes today!
Should Child Sex Trafficking be a Capital Offense?
Do you agree with the death penalty for those convicted of multiple child sex trafficking offenses?
Other Sites that Help Prevent Child Sex Trafficking
- Stop Child Trafficking Now
Current statistics and information on child sex trafficking. Information that you probably don't know. - Polaris Project
The Polaris Project is an organization that helps combat human trafficking, including trafficking of children. - The Stairway Foundation
A resource center for children's rights.
Sex Trafficking: The Global Market in Women and Children - by Kathryn Farr
Now that you Know about it, What do You Plan to Do?
What is your action plan?
Related
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Incarceration, castration or execution -- attempts to control the dangerous, violent sex offender
Current Human Trafficking Issues in the United States
Savior From Sex Slavery, Anuradha Koirala
Missing: Where Are All The Missing Children And Adults That Seem To Vanish Each Year?
