HUMAN TRAFFICKING is a 24 BILLION DOLLAR industry and growing everyday. Here in this country, people are being bought, sold, and smuggled notably our children. They are Targeted every minute everyday!
They are trapped in lives of misery—often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay. We’re working to stop human trafficking—not only because of the personal and psychological toll it takes on society, but also because it facilitates the illegal movement of immigrants across borders and provides a ready source of income for organized crime groups and even terrorists.
If you wait on Law Enforcement or Media thinking this will resolve your issue with someone missing, I am truly sorry to say you are making the worst decision of your life becuase a life hangs in the balance.The clock is ticking.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING - a BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY - and still growing everyday. Every minute everyday somebody is being targeted for trafficking. Here in this country, people are being bought, sold, and smuggled.
They are trapped in lives of misery—often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay. We’re working to stop human trafficking—not only because of the personal and psychological toll it takes on society, but also because it facilitates the illegal movement of immigrants across borders and provides a ready source of income for organized crime groups and even terrorists.
If you think the remedy is to wait on law enforcement or get the media involved for the 'wait and see' approach, you will be saddened by the results. Lives hang in the balance - the clock is ticking. You can either take the initiative to he the right help or wait a lifetime for answers. Do not let these traffickers wage their war anymore. We will help you stop this epidemic.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATISTICS The following is a list of available statistics estimating the scope of Human Trafficking around the world and within the United States. Actual statistics are often unavailable, and some may be contradictory due to the covert nature of the crime, the invisibility of victims and high levels of under-reporting. Further obstacles include inconsistent definitions, reluctance to share data, and a lack of funding for and standardization of data collection. Particularly lacking are estimates on the number of American citizens trafficked within the U.S.
Human Trafficking Worldwide: § 27 million – Number of people in modern-day slavery across the world. o Source: Kevin Bales of Free the Slaves. § According to the U.S. Department of State’s 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), estimates vary from 4 to 27 million. § The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates 2.4 million people were victims of human trafficking from 1995-2005. This estimate uses the UN Protocol definition of human trafficking, and includes both transnational and internal data.
§ 800,000 – Number of people trafficked across international borders every year. Source: U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007. § Note: The TIP Report in 2001 and 2002 estimated this figure at 700,000; The TIP Report of 2003 reported 800,000 to 900,000 victims; The TIP Reports of 2004 through 2006 reported 600,000 to 800,000 victims. § 1 million – Number of children exploited by the global commercial sex trade, every year. o Source: U.S. Department of State, The Facts About Child Sex Tourism: 2005. § 50% – Percent of transnational victims who are children. o Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Fiscal Year 2003: 2004. § 80% – Percent of transnational victims who are women and girls. o Source: U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007. § 70% – Percent of female victims who are trafficked into the commercial sex industry. This means that 30% of female victims are victims of forced labor. o Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons: 2004. § 161 – Countries identified as affected by human trafficking: o 127 countries of origin; 98 transit countries; 137 destination countries. o Note: Countries may be counted multiple times and categories are not mutually exclusive. o Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns: April 2006. 32 billion – Total yearly profits generated by the human trafficking industry. o $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries. o $9.7 billion in Asia o $13,000 per year generated on average by each “forced laborer.” This number can be as high as $67,200 per victim per year. o Source: ILO, A global alliance against forced labor: 2005.
Foreign Nationals Trafficked into the U.S.: § 14,500 - 17,500 – Number of foreign nationals trafficked into the United States every year. o This is the most recent U.S. government statistic. However, it is constantly being revisited, and a newer statistic is currently under study and review. o Source: DOJ, HHS, DOS, DOL, DHS, and USAID. Assessment of U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons: June, 2004 § The TIP Report in 2001 estimated this number at 45,000-50,0001 § The TIP Report in 2002 estimated 50,000 § The TIP Report in 2003 estimated 18,000 – 20,0002 1 Amy O’Neill Richard. International Trafficking in Women to the United States: A Contemporary Manifestation of Slavery and Organized Crime. Center for the Study of Intelligence: November 1999. 2 DOJ, HHS, DOS, DOL, DHS, and USAID. Assessment of U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons: August 2003.
§ 1, 379 – Number of foreign national victims of human trafficking certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from October 2000 through FY 2007. o 131 minors, and 1,248 adults o These victims originate from at least 77 different countries. o Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Anti-trafficking in Persons Department; U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007. § 1,318 – Number of T visas granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from FY 2000 through November 1, 2008 to human trafficking survivors. 729 visas were issued between FY 2000 and FY 2006. o Another 1,076 derivative T visas were granted to family members. o DHS is authorized to issue up to 5,000 T-visas per year. o Source: USCIS; U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007.
Human Trafficking of U.S. citizens within the U.S.: § 244,000 – Number of American children and youth estimated to be at risk of child sexual exploitation, including commercial sexual exploitation, in 2000. o Source: Estes, Richard J. and Neil A. Weiner. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The University of PennsylvaniaSchool of Social Work: 2001. Study funded by the Department of Justice. § 38,600 – Estimated number of an approximate 1.6 million runaway/thrownaway youth at risk of sexual endangerment or exploitation in 1999. o Source: U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Runaway/Thrownaway Children: National Estimates and Characteristics. NISMART Series: 2002. § 12-14 – Average age of entry into prostitution o Source: Estes, Richard J. and Neil A. Weiner. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The University of PennsylvaniaSchool of Social Work: 2001.
Human Trafficking within the U.S. by State Very little research has been done to determine the extent of human trafficking on the state level. Several state-wide reports have been published however, due to data collection limitations the following statistics should be taken as baseline estimates only. These statistics are not definitive or comprehensive estimates. California: § 559 – Potential victims identified between Dec. 1, 2005 and March 12, 2007 by five CA Task Forces. § 57 – Number of applications for continued presence submitted during the same time period. o Source: CA Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery Task Force, Human Trafficking in California Final Report: October 2007.
Virginia: § 43 – Number of trafficking victims served by 4 organizations in Northern Virginia. o Source: Polaris Project, Fact Sheet on Human Trafficking. Wisconsin: § 200 – Number of identified cases of sex and labor trafficking. § 85% – Proportion of victims in the 200 identified cases who were adults. § 75% – Proportion of victims in the 200 identified cases who were victims of sex trafficking. o Data obtained through a survey of over 1,300 sexual assault and domestic violence service providers, law enforcement and district attorney’s offices, with a 30% return rate. o Source: WI Office of Justice Assistance, Hidden in Plain Sight: A Baseline Survey of Human Trafficking in Wisconsin: February 2008.
U.S. Investigations, Prosecutions, and Convictions It is likely that the numbers of traffickers convicted are higher than those reported below. Defendants may be charged with other crimes such as kidnapping, immigration violations or money laundering for strategic or technical reasons. Also note that data is not comparable across agencies as a result of the complexity of investigations and the incompatibility and limitations of agency data systems. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Civil Rights Unit: § 751 – Number of trafficking cases opened between 2001 and April 5th, 2007. o The numbers of cases opened has increased: from 54 in 2001 to 126 in 2006, § 185 – Convictions o The number of convictions has increased: from 15 in 2001 to 70 in 2006. o Includes joint investigations with ICE, and both sex and labor trafficking. o Source: Government Accountability Office, Human Trafficking: A Strategic Framework Could Help Enhance the Interagency Collaboration Needed to Effectively Combat Trafficking Crimes: 2007. FBI Crimes Against Children Unit – Innocence Lost National Initiative: § 327 – Number of trafficking cases opened from 2004 through June 5th, 2007. o The number of cases opened has increased every year: from 67 in 2004 to 103 in 2006. § 182 – Number of convictions. o The number of convictions has also increased: from 22 in 2004 to 43 in 2006. o Source: GAO, Human Trafficking: A Strategic Framework Could Help Enhance the Interagency Collaboration Needed to Effectively Combat Trafficking Crimes: 2007. Civil Rights Division/Criminal Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices (Dept. of Justice): § 139 – Number of trafficking cases prosecuted 2001 – June 14, 2007, under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, (TVPA). o 100 cases of sex trafficking; 39 cases of labor trafficking. § 19 – Number of trafficking cases prosecuted1995 – 2000, prior to the TVPA. o 7 cases of sex trafficking; 12 cases of labor trafficking § 302 – Number of defendants convicted 2001 – June 14, 2007, under the TVPA 228 sex trafficking; 74 labor trafficking § 67 – Number of defendants convicted 1995 – 2000, prior to the TVPA. o 20 sex trafficking; 47 labor trafficking o Source: GAO, Human Trafficking: A Strategic Framework Could Help Enhance the Interagency Collaboration Needed to Effectively Combat Trafficking Crimes: 2007. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): § 899 – Number of trafficking cases opened between FY 2005 and May 31st, 2007 o 557 sexual exploitation; 257 forced labor; 85 other § 264 – Number of convictions. o 129 sexual exploitation; 17 forced labor; 118 other o Source: GAO, Human Trafficking: A Strategic Framework Could Help Enhance the Interagency Collaboration Needed to Effectively Combat Trafficking Crimes: 2007. § 61 – Number of arrests for child sex tourism made by ICE Operation Predator from July 2003 through June 2007. o Source: DOJ, Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons: September 2007.
Federal Laws
18 U.S.C. § 1591 (2008)
§ 1591. SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN BY FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION
(a) Whoever knowingly-- (1) in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means a person; or (2) benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which has engaged in an act described in violation of paragraph (1),
knowing that force, fraud, or coercion described in subsection (c)(2) will be used to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act, or that the person has not attained the age of 18 years and will be caused to engage in a commercial sex act, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b).
(b) The punishment for an offense under subsection (a) is-- (1) if the offense was effected by force, fraud, or coercion or if the person recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained had not attained the age of 14 years at the time of such offense, by a fine under this title and imprisonment for any term of years not less than 15 or for life; or (2) if the offense was not so effected, and the person recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained had attained the age of 14 years but had not attained the age of 18 years at the time of such offense, by a fine under this title and imprisonment for not less than 10 years or for life.
(c) In this section: (1) The term "commercial sex act" means any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person. (2) The term "coercion" means-- (A) threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; (B) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or (C) the abuse or threatened abuse of law or the legal process. (3) The term "venture" means any group of two or more individuals associated in fact, whether or not a legal entity.
18 U.S.C. § 2421 (2008)
§ 2421. TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY
Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
(a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.
18 U.S.C. § 2423 (2008)
§ 2423. TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS
(a) Transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A person who knowingly transports an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States, with intent that the individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.
(b) Travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. A person who travels in interstate commerce or travels into the United States, or a United States citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States who travels in foreign commerce, for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
(c) Engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. Any United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence who travels in foreign commerce, and engages in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
(d) Ancillary offenses. Whoever, for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, arranges, induces, procures, or facilitates the travel of a person knowing that such a person is traveling in interstate commerce or foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
(e) Attempt and conspiracy. Whoever attempts or conspires to violate subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall be punishable in the same manner as a completed violation of that subsection.
(f) Definition. As used in this section, the term "illicit sexual conduct" means (1) a sexual act (as defined in section 2246 [18 USCS § 2246]) with a person under 18 years of age that would be in violation of chapter 109A [18 USCS §§ 2241 et seq.] if the sexual act occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; or (2) any commercial sex act (as defined in section 1591 [18 USCS § 1591]) with a person under 18 years of age.
(g) Defense. In a prosecution under this section based on illicit sexual conduct as defined in subsection (f)(2), it is a defense, which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant reasonably believed that the person with whom the defendant engaged in the commercial sex act had attained the age of 18 years.
State Laws
Child prostitution is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For information regarding your state’s laws, please contact your state government’s website or the agency listed below.
The National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse American Prosecutors Research Institute Suite 110 44 Canal Center Plaza Alexandria, VA 22314 Telephone: 703-549-9222 Fax: 703-836-3195 http://www.ndaa.org/apri/index.html
Please note that we provide this information as a public service. Child Recovery Intrernational does not sponsor or endorse this group.
