| As defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
“Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Victims are young children, teenagers, men and women." The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) defines “Severe forms of Trafficking in Persons” in these two ways: - “Sex Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person forced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years; or…
- Labor Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery. In both forms, the victim is an unwilling participant due to force, fraud or coercion.”
An estimated 18,000 victims of trafficking are brought to the United States every year. Typically the poor and vulnerable are targeted for exploitation and are taken against their will or under false pretenses. Of these trafficking victims, 80% are women and children. Texas is the destination for 25% of all victims brought into the United States. The majority of those find themselves in Houston. Additionally, an estimated 200,000 - 600,000 men, women, and children are domestic victims of human trafficking. This means that residents of the United States are also victimized in this fashion without ever leaving our country. Victims are generally trafficked into the United States from Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe. Many do not speak or understand English, and are further isolated and unable to communicate with relief organizations, law enforcement and others who might be able to help them. There are several common destinations for victims of trafficking. They include cantinas, strip clubs, massage spas, modeling studios, brothels, and private establishments. The Internet provides a convenient source of advertising for those who enslave others. Cantinas:
In Houston, cantinas are typically Hispanic bars with "bar girls" who are rented out to customers. They are sold with the customer's beverage and are often forced to dance topless or nude, or engage in forced prostitution. Spas/Modeling Studios/ Adult Galleries:
The number of these brothels has increased in the last decade, as they operate without a Sexually Oriented Business license and without local, county, or state controls.
Often these establishments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Under the guise of “massage,” women are sexually abused and exploited for the financial gain of their trafficker. Strip Clubs:
Some strip clubs are starting points for women and girls being forced into a life of slavery. Often a pimp or a "boyfriend" forces them, through the use of threats or acts of violence, into performing acts of prostitution. Internet: The Internet has proven itself to be a safe place for traffickers to advertise. There are specific web sites dedicated to the advertisement, review, and sale of victims of human trafficking. Private Establishments:
Many victims of human trafficking are forced to act as servants or sex slaves in a private home, apartment or hotel. This provides an environment where the trafficker can more easily hide his victim, with less risk of exposure to authorities. For additional information, visit:
Polaris Project at www.polarisproject.org The United States Department of State at www.state.gov/g/tip The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at www.unodc.org Not For Sale Campaign at www.notforsalecampaign.org |
