
Stats from PolarisProject.org
Educate yourself.
Share the information with everyone, everywhere. Help others become aware.
For most people, it is an out of sight out of mind sort of situation. By educating yourself and spreading the word, people will become more aware.
The more we know, the more we will see. The more vigilant we are, we might be able to recognize the signs of a child in a bad situation. Recognition could lead to action, and that action may save a life.
Be educated. Be active. Be vigilant. Be a difference.
There are many organizations which could use your help.
The more knowledge you have about child sex trafficking, the better inclined and prepared you are to help stop both potential and ongoing abuse.
With education, you will be able to notice the signs and situations of a possible victim of child sex trafficking.
By engaging in this website, you are educating yourself – to spread the word, share this information and share the page.
Be watchful, and if you notice any suspicious activity you believe may be related to child sex trafficking, be safe and make that phone call!
When you have learned the signs, you can recognize possible victims or traffickers. Report your findings to the local authorities. Call 911 or call the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Resource Center line at 1-888-373-7888
Share, engage, inform, speak out!
“It’s a problem that may seem too big to tackle, but for the thousands of people caught in this dangerous world, there is hope. And there are ways you can help.”
Human Trafficking: 20 Things You Can Do Today To Stop It
Office On Trafficking In Persons, An Office of the Administration for Children and Families // Assistance for Child Victims of Human Trafficking
“Fifty years ago, the abomination of slavery seemed like a thing of the past. But history has a way of repeating itself.”
Their Mission: To assist youth and young women survivors of violence, street life, and human trafficking in their efforts to pursue educational endeavors and acquire skills to become self-sufficient.
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combats human trafficking. Founded by Opal Singleton who serves on the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) as the Training and Outreach Coordinator.
is a collaborative effort between San Bernardino County Children and Family Services and faith-based and community-based partners to achieve permanency, safety and well-being for San Bernardino County’s children including its Foster Youth and Young Adults, and supporting their families. Quarterly meetings are held at the First United Methodist Church in Redlands, CA.
Check out these educational and awareness tools and resources about human trafficking for teens, students, teachers, and youth leaders.
The mission of the NRS is to help keep America’s runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. 1-800-RUNAWAY
Covenant House is the largest privately funded charity in the Americas providing loving care and vital services to homeless youth for more than 40 years.
has released a new guide for educators on ways to identify and help prevent child trafficking in schools. Human Trafficking in America’s Schools is a free guide for school staff that includes information about risk factors, recruitment, and how to identify trafficking; what to do if you suspect trafficking, including sample school protocols and policies; and other resources and potential partnership opportunities.
In children’s dance classes around the nation, young kids are learning to dance with choreography that hypersexualizes them and their bodies. These children have become covert victims of sexual exploitation in what used to be a safe place – the dance studio. As awareness grows, more and more dance educators, parents and concerned citizens are speaking out against this cultural shift toward normalizing the hyper-sexualization of kids in dance.
Human Trafficking: The Myths and the Realities
Their Vision: A world where every victim of sexual exploitation has access to transformative care
“Thorn is part of a large ecosystem of people, companies, organizations and governments working to protect kids from sexual exploitation. To fully address these crimes, we must build and maintain an understanding of the complex life cycle of abuse. Deep understanding allows for specific action to change lives.”
“Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and it’s happening now: in our communities, on our streets, and in our schools. We’re calling on you—students, parents, teachers, community members, and active citizens—to educate yourself on this issue and help us put an end to this unconscionable crime.”
“What is Human Trafficking?”
is dedicated to bringing an end to sex trafficking through our three-pronged approach – prevent, restore, and bring justice. For background information and free educational materials, including the video Waiting for You to Notice.
is a national anti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages. 1-888-373-7888.
is an evidence-based comprehensive sexual health education curriculum for middle school and high school students (including special education), as mandated by California Education Code 51930-51939. Lessons include human trafficking (including sex trafficking), sexting, and internet safety. Funding for curriculum materials and teacher training is available to school districts through the state’s Mandated Costs Reimbursement Program and Mandate Block Grants. Title I and LCFF funds may also be used.
According to The United Nations Office Of Drug and Crime, Article 3, paragraph (a) of 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.”
The act, meaning what is done.
The means, meaning how it is done.
The purpose, meaning why it’s done.
Sex traffickers use many forms of coercion to compel victims to engage in commercial sex acts against their will. Some examples of the coercion are violence, threats, gift giving, and being supportive and complementary to lure children in.
According to U.S. federal law, any minor who is 18 years or younger lured into commercial sex acts is a victim of sex trafficking regardless of the means.
Trafficking is not particular to a certain race, nationality, gender, age, and background. Therefore, everyone should be vigilant of themselves and their surroundings. However, human traffickers do tend to prey on those who are vulnerable in some way. In youth, this means runaways and homeless.
This is not always the case. Victims are usually convinced by their abusers that there isn’t a way out or that this is the right way. Also they are manipulated to not trust city, state and government authority figures. Self-esteem can also be an issue as the victim might blame themselves for the situation, which is another form of manipulation by those in control of their actions.
Counting the number of victims in the US is a difficult task due to the underground and secretive nature of the human trafficking industry.
Be watchful for these red flags (according to the University of North Carolina):
Trafficking is a felony under federal and state anti-human trafficking laws.
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) sex trafficking must contain a component of force, fraud or coercion UNLESS the victim is minor (18 years or younger). Any minor used in any commercial sex act IS a victim regardless of the circumstances.
The buyers of sex from juveniles can be anyone – professionals, students, tourists, military personnel, a family member. Buyers are difficult to identify often because the encounter is brief and monies paid are not traceable (meaning using cash for services).
Consent becomes irrelevant when any of the ‘means’ of trafficking are used. Also, a child cannot give consent regardless of the circumstances. The means, meaning how it is done is the threat of or use of force, deception, coercion, abuse of power to control a victim.
Smuggling is a consensual act and requires crossing an international border illegally. Trafficking is not consensual, and the coerced victim is not a criminal.