Recruiting, Harboring, Transporting, Transferring, or Obtaining a person
By the means of:
Threat, Coercion, Abduction, Fraud, Deceit, Deception, or Abusive power
With the goal of:
Commercial sex acts such as Prostitution, Pornography, and Violence/Sexual Exploitation
Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that enslaves an estimated 27 million worldwide and occurs every day throughout the world (transitions global). It is unknown exactly how many are trafficked because many victims go unnoticed and are seen as runaways instead of victims. It is estimated that around 150,000 children from the United States are deceived and forced into prostitution each year (NISMART). This billion dollar criminal industry is the fastest growing and most lucrative crime trade, ranked higher than the trade of weapons and illegal drugs (Polaris project). Human trafficking mostly affects women and children between the ages of 12-17.
Trafficking is not something that takes place solely in countries outside of the United States. In fact, it happens all around us. Federal estimates state that 20,000 women and children are sold into the U.S. annually, while other reports suggest a much higher count. The state of Oregon is one of the main locations for human trafficking in the U.S., with three to five victims encountered by police each week (Langlois 1).
HISTORY OF SEX SLAVERY
3000 BC - 300 AD:Slavery, forced prostitution, and sexual exploitation exist in many ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Persians.
1441:European slave trading begins in Africa. African men are exploited for labor in Europe and the Caribbean, while African women are exploited for labor and sexual services.
1619:The first slaves in the United States arrive in Jamestown, Virgina.
1865:The U.S. Congress approves the 13th Amendment, outlawing slavery.
1885:William and Catherine Booth, Salvation Army founders and anti-slavery movement leaders, help establish the Criminal Amendment Act, raising the age of sexual consent in Britain from 13 to 16, and bringing worldwide attention to the issue of forced prostitution.
1904: The District Court for District of Washington recognizes sexual servitude of women as grounds to block their deportation from the United States.
1949: The United Nations adopts The Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.
1998:US Congresswoman, Linda Smith founds Shared Hope International to rescue and restore women and children in crisis by providing comprehensive services to meet their needs.
2000:The U.S. Congress passes the U.S. Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA), in which Congress declares that sex trafficking is the "modern day slavery."
2003:U.S. Congress unanimously reauthorizes the TVPA, allotting additional measures and funding to continue fighting trafficking.
2005:The United States becomes the 95th country to ratify the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
2005:U.S. Congress again unanimously reauthorizes the TVPA, including additional measures and funding to continue fighting trafficking.
2008:Congress passes the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) which imposes tougher criminal penalties for traffickers and increases protection and services for U.S. citizen and foreign national victims in America.
Shared Hope International launches investigations to uncover sexual predators and expose marketplaces of victimization around the world. Their Predator Project focuses on profiling and punishing those who prey on and profit from exploiting vulnerable women and children.
Shared Hope International created the Predator Project in 2003 as part of an international movement to identify traffickers and their victims. This effort collaborates with local law enforcement, government officials, and the public by disclosure of information.
Their strategy involves exposing the perpetrators that create demand for sex-trafficking, aiming to bring justice for the victims and prosecution of the predators by:
Prevention: developing public awareness campaigns to help educate others and raise awareness of sex-trafficking, especially as it relates to demand.
Prosecution: researching and gathering information for law enforcement about how predators work, to help dismantle trafficking operations around the world.
Protection: partnering with local non-government organizations (NGOs), boosting their capacity to assist victims of sex trafficking (Shared hope International).
"Building New Lives for Survivors of Sex Trafficking"
Founded in 2007
Created Transitional Living Centers (TLC) in: Cambodia, India, and soon Portland
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