Sex Slavery/Trafficking Here?

Like most of you in suburban comfortable homes, I didn't think that sex slavery is that big of a deal. Certainly it's not such a big deal in America. Oh sure, there may be  prostitution and strip clubs, but not sex trafficking, right?

My daughter, Jessica Elston, read the book Sold in one of her graduate classes in Massachusetts. As a result, Jessica prepared a documentary with the help of her husband, David, and a friend Murray Rogers. The quality of the sound is not great in some places, but it's interesting what many people don't know about the industry or what can be done. I hope you will check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UT6nwbXt3c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

So you think that it only happens in big cities? Think again. the following are statistics about the industry in Louisiana.

Local:

• Trafficking Hope’s partner, the Rescue and Restore outreach team, has identified 95 victims since April 2009
• The age of the youngest confirmed victim of sex trafficking in Baton Rouge, LA is 6 years old (Rescue and Restore Coalition of Louisiana)
• The current number of beds available in Louisiana designated for human trafficking victims is 0.
• According to Shared Hope International, Baton Rouge is among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for human trafficking (February 5, 2010. Wafb.com. http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11940245
• There are approximately 200,000 homeless children in Louisiana. Our state has the highest rate of child homelessness of the 50 states (National center for family homelessness)
• 30% of homeless shelter youth and 70% of street youth are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. (Reichard Estes and Neil Weiner, University of Pensylvania)

Still not convinced that it's an issue locally? Cassie Hammet, the director The HUB Ministry in Shreveport, Louisiana reports that Levingston Love is a monthly outreach to the residents of the Levingston Motel. The Levingston is notoriously the center for drug and sex trafficking. They are the closest thing to an unreached people group in our city. The residents in the Levingston are in great need for things that we can provide. We feed, clothe and take care of the residents at this event.

The Hub: urban ministries is a gospel based non-profit organization that exists to bring hope, love and friendship to the poor through providing resources, conversation and care; always pointing to Jesus as the only source of complete healing and wholeness.

 

 

National:

• It is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 child victims of human trafficking in the U.S. alone (Ernie Allen, President of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reported in the LA Times)
• 2.8 million children live on the streets (Shared Hope International)
• Within the first 48 hours of being on the street, 1 in 3 children are lured into commercial sexual exploitation (National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrown-away Children)
• 75% of minors engaged in prostitution have a pimp (Shared Hope International) By law, this makes them victims of human trafficking
• Pimps can earn up to $632,000 per year by selling 4 women or children (Shared Hope International
• In the 2009 fiscal year, the DOJ Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, charged 114 individuals and obtained 43 convictions (21 labor trafficking and 22 sex trafficking, both involving adults). 306 child victims were identified leading to 151 convictions of traffickers at the state and federal levels. (Department of State 10th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report)
• It is estimated that there are only 100 beds available in the U.S. for sex trafficking victims (cite: Shared Hope International)
• The average age of entry into human trafficking for girls and boys ranges from 11-14 years old. (Cite: Ernie Allen, President of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, July 21, 2009
• 49 states have passed human trafficking legislation- Wyoming being the only one without. (Cite: http://www.wowktv.com/story/17343206/west-virginia-passes-criminal-laws-against-human-trafficking)

General Facts:

• 27 million people in bondage world wide
• 99% of victims are not rescued yet
• Within 48 hours one in three runaways will be approached by a pimp
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• 77% of adult prostitutes were trafficked into the trade as children
• The human trafficking industry earns more than $32 billion per year, six times more than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.
• There are more slaves today than ever before in human history
• 75% of minors engaged in prostitution have a pimp (Shared Hope International)
• 2.4 million people globally are victims of human trafficking at any one time- 80% of them are sexual slaves (United Nations)
• One out of 100 of victims of trafficking are ever rescued. (United Nations)
• "10% of police stations across United States have any protocol to deal with human trafficking." (Mira Sorvino, U.N. Goodwill Ambassador against Human Trafficking)
• “After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing.” (Department of Health & Human Services, Rescue & Restore Campaign)
• An estimated 9.5 billion is generated in annual revenue from all trafficking activities, with at least $4 billion attributed to the worldwide brothel industry. (Office of Justice Programs)

Obviously, these are sobering and overwhelming facts.The obvious question is "What can I do?"

First of all, become aware that this IS happening. If you have read this blog, you are already significantly more aware than a substantial number of Americans. 

Here are few things you can do to help:

1. Send this blog site to 10 ten people on your e-mail list so that they can become aware of the issues. You can just click www.perkinsfirm.blogspot.com  and email the blog to ten people. AWARENESS is critical!!

2. Do you suspect trafficking in Louisiana, there is help. There is a way out. Call 1-888-3737-888 for more information or contact us at info@traffickinghope.org.

3. Do you suspect trafficking in Shreveport/Bossier, contact The HUB email at serve@thehubministry.comYou can also fill out the form below or call our office at 318-200-0517

4.  In cases of immediate emergencies, it is best to call your local police department or emergency access number, typically by dialing 911.

5. You can report suspected trafficking crimes or get help by calling the national 24/7 toll-free Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888. This center will help you determine if you have encountered a victim of human trafficking; identify local resources available in your community to help victims;

6. For sexually exploited or abused minors call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST to be connected with the most appropriate assistance in your area, or you can report incidents at http://www.cybertipline.org.

7. You can report suspected instances of trafficking or worker exploitation by contacting the FBI field office nearest you at http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm or by contacting the Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Office at 1-888-428-7581.

8. Donate time and money to organizations working to end or at least get people out of  this tragic industry.

Remember: 99% of victims are not rescued...YET.