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Sex Trafficking

Victims of sex trafficking are forced into one or more forms of sexual exploitation.

Sex Trafficking - Table of Contents

Sex Trafficking

Victims of sex trafficking are forced into one or more forms of sexual exploitation. It is important to note that sex trafficking and prostitution are not synonymous and that prostitution is simply one type of work performed by victims of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is an umbrella term that may include commercial sex work such as prostitution, but also pornography, exotic dancing, stripping, live sex shows, mail-order brides, military prostitution, and sexual tourism. Although victims of sex trafficking can be of any age and of either sex, the majority are women and adolescent girls. Although many nations have outlawed the trafficking of females, it is still widely prevalent on a global scale.

Once women and girls become involved in the sex trafficking industry, it becomes very difficult for them to escape. Victims may face legal barriers, where the traffickers will confiscate or sequester all forms of immigration and citizenry documentation. Language barriers, fear, limited knowledge, and lack of money are other barriers that women and girls may face to prevent them from escaping the sex trafficking ring. In many parts of the world, legacy prostitution, or the involuntary enslavement of future generations of girls in the sex trafficking industry, becomes an expected societal norm.

The global sex trade is the fastest growing form of commerce, worth $32 billion annually. In fact, human trafficking is the fastest growing area of organized crime and the third largest income revenue for organized crime after narcotics and arms sales. What makes this business unique is that women and girls sold into sex trafficking earn profits for their pimps and traffickers over a great number of years, unlike the profits earned from drugs and narcotics that are sold and used only once.

Victims of sex trafficking are likely exposed to adverse conditions that can negatively affect their physical, mental, and emotional health.

Physicians, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare providers can play critical roles in helping to identify victims of sex trafficking as a first step in providing both assistance and advocacy for affected women and girls.

As a provider, one can play an essential role in providing interventions to improve physical and psychological health among victims and advocating on behalf of victims to help improve their social circumstances.

Victims of sex trafficking acquire adverse physical and psychological health conditions and social disadvantages.
Victims may face legal barriers, where the traffickers will confiscate or sequester all forms of immigration and citizenry documentation. Language barriers, fear, limited knowledge, and lack of money are other barriers that women and girls may face to prevent them from escaping the sex trafficking ring.

Sex trafficking is a type of human trafficking and is a form of modern-day slavery. It is a serious public health problem that negatively affects the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker exploits an individual with force, fraud, or coercion to make them perform commercial sex or work. Sex trafficking is defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to make an adult engage in commercial sex acts. However, any commercial sexual activity with a minor, even without force, fraud, or coercion, is considered trafficking. Understanding the shared risk and protective factors for violence can help us prevent trafficking from happening in the first place.

Many victims are women and girls, though men and boys are also impacted
Victims include all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, citizens, non-citizens, and income levels
Victims are trapped and controlled through assault, threats, false promises, perceived sense of protection, isolation, shaming, and debt
Victims do not have to be physically transported between locations to be victimized
The consequences of sex trafficking are similar to the consequences of sexual violence. Consequences can be immediate and long-term including physical and relationship problems, psychological concerns, and negative chronic health outcomes. Read more about common issues seen in victims of trafficking.

Victims of sex trafficking can be any gender, socioeconomic class, and ethnicity.
Individuals who have experienced previous violence (domestic violence or sexual assault/abuse) are more at-risk for being trafficked.

Sex trafficking definitions

International Definition
Forced labor includes forced sexual services. The ILO’s Forced Labor Convention defines forced labor as all work or service exacted from a person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily. The UN’s Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (the Palermo Protocol) includes three elements in its definition: the act, the means and the object. Sex trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons who under threat, force, coercion, fraud, deception or abuse of power are sexually exploited for the financial gain of another.

United States’ Definition

Similarly, in the United States, sex trafficking involves three elements: the process, the means and the goal. The U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act defines sex trafficking as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of an individual who under force, fraud or coercion is induced to perform a commercial sex act. Note that sex trafficking does not have to have some form of travel, transportation or movement across borders. At the core, sex trafficking is characterized by sexual exploitation through force, fraud or coercion. For children (anyone under 18 years old), consent is irrelevant, and the element of means (e.g., force) is not necessary (22 USC §7102).

Sex Trafficking United States

The United States recognizes two primary forms of trafficking in persons:  forced labor and sex trafficking.  The basic meaning of these forms of human trafficking and some unique characteristics of each are set forth below, followed by several key principles and concepts that relate to all forms of human trafficking.

More than 175 nations have ratified or acceded to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (the UN TIP Protocol), which defines trafficking in persons and contains obligations to prevent and combat the crime.

The United States’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (TVPA), and the UN TIP Protocol contain similar definitions of human trafficking.  The elements of both definitions can be described using a three-element framework focused on the trafficker’s 1) acts; 2) means; and 3) purpose.  All three elements are essential to form a human trafficking violation.

Sex trafficking encompasses the range of activities involved when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to engage in a commercial sex act or causes a child to engage in a commercial sex act.

The crime of sex trafficking is also understood through the “acts,” “means,” and “purpose” framework.  All three elements are required to establish a sex trafficking crime (except in the case of child sex trafficking where the means are irrelevant).

The “acts” element of sex trafficking is met when a trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, patronizes, or solicits another person to engage in commercial sex.

The “means” element of sex trafficking occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion.  Coercion in the case of sex trafficking includes the broad array of means included in the forced labor definition.  These can include threats of serious harm, psychological harm, reputational harm, threats to others, and debt manipulation.

The “purpose” element is a commercial sex act.  Sex trafficking can take place in private homes, massage parlors, hotels, or brothels, among other locations, as well as on the internet.

Child Sex Trafficking

In cases where an individual engages in any of the specified “acts” with a child (under the age of 18), the means element is irrelevant regardless of whether evidence of force, fraud, or coercion exists.  The use of children in commercial sex is prohibited by law in the United States and most countries around the world.

Sex trafficking and the Internet

Supply and demand have increased through the years partially due to the internet and the ease with which traffickers and customers can discreetly complete a transaction. Traffickers utilize social media, dating sites and online advertisements to market minors and trafficked victims. Ads seemingly posted by a person willingly engaged in the sex trade are often created or monitored by traffickers. Traffickers lie about the victim’s age and may even disguise themselves as the person in the ad when communicating with johns via the internet or phone. Some websites try to screen ads for trafficking; however, the sheer volume of ads makes this process a daunting task. For instance, when the U.S. Craigslist Adult Services Section was available, there were 10,000-16,000 adult services postings per day in the U.S. alone. Additionally, it’s difficult to determine if the person advertising is independently working in the sex industry or is under a trafficker.

How can we prevent sex trafficking?

Sex trafficking is preventable. Efforts have focused on increasing community awareness of human trafficking and addressing exploitation after it occurs. More research is needed to evaluate programs and policies that help reduce factors that put people at risk in order to help prevent trafficking before it occurs. Strategies based on the best available evidence exist to prevent related forms of violence, and they may also reduce sex trafficking. States and communities can implement and evaluate efforts that:

  • encourage healthy behaviors in relationships
  • foster safe homes and neighborhoods
  • identify and address vulnerabilities during health care visits
  • reduce demand for commercial sex
  • end business profits from trafficking-related transactions

Sex trafficking statitstics

The most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation. The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls. Surprisingly, in 30% of the countries which provided information on the gender of traffickers, women make up the largest proportion of traffickers. In some parts of the world, women trafficking women is the norm.
Worldwide, almost 20% of all trafficking victims are children. However, in some parts of Africa and the Mekong region, children are the majority (up to 100% in parts of West Africa).

In USA 3.8 million adults are trafficked for forced sexual exploitation and 1.0 million children are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation. (ILO, 2017)

The global sex trade is the fastest growing form of commerce, worth $32 billion annually.

Around the world, there are an estimated 40.3 million victims trapped in modern-day slavery.
Sexual exploitation is by far the most commonly identified form of human trafficking (79%), followed by forced labor (18%).
71% of trafficking victims around the world are women and girls and 29% are men and boys.

You can read more in “Global report on traffiking in persons” of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Sex trafficking Hotlines

Australia Hotline

If you are a victim of trafficking or know someone who is, contact the AFP on 131AFP (131237) or use the online form to report information regarding human trafficking

USA Hotlines

IN AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 —

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to:

GET HELP and connect with a service provider in your area;
REPORT A TIP with information on potential human trafficking activity; or
LEARN MORE by requesting training, technical assistance, or resources.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, toll-free hotline available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. The Hotline is not a law enforcement or immigration authority and is operated by a nongovernmental organization funded by the Federal government.

Call federal law enforcement directly to report suspected human trafficking activity and get help:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-347-2423 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov/tips . Individuals across the world can report suspicious criminal activity to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line. The Tip Line is accessible internationally by calling 1-802-872-6199. Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE HSI, including those related to human trafficking.
You may also submit a tip online to the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov/ , or call your local FBI office (you can get their number at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/field-offices .
The State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigates visa and passport fraud. Human trafficking often include visa fraud. As a result, DSS works with its U.S. and international law enforcement partners to investigate these crimes. Additionally, DSS leads on the investigation of trafficking cases when they involve diplomats. To submit a tip, please email TraffickingTips@state.gov.
Call the following federal government lines for other assistance:

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) for cases where labor exploitation may be present but does not rise to the threshold of trafficking.
U.S. Department of Labor OIG Hotline at 1-202-693-6999 or 1-800-347-3756, hotline@oig.dol.gov, or http://www.oig.dol.gov/hotlinemain.htm 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report allegations of trafficking committed through fraud in DOL programs, including, but not limited to, the H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and PERM. When filing an OIG Hotline complaint, it is not necessary to provide names or any other identifying information.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at 1-800-669-4000 from 7:00am to 8:00pm (EST) for information about how workers, including trafficking victims, can file a charge of employment discrimination.
Report suspected child prostitution activity to the CyberTipline:

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, at 1-800-THE-LOST or www.cybertipline.com , 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Congressionally-authorized CyberTipline is operated by a nongovernmental organization and provides a means for reporting crimes against children and is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Europe Sex Trafficking National Hotlines 

Austria

  • LEFÖ-IBF – Victims Protection Organisation for women and girls: + 43 1-796 92 98
  • Criminal Police Anti-Trafficking Hotline: +43 677 61 34 34 34

Belgium

  • Police of Belgium – in case of immediate danger: 101
  • National Centers for Trafficking in human beings
  • PAG-ASA: + 32 2 511 64 64
  • Payoke: +32 3 201 16 90
  • Sürya: +32 (0)4 232 40 30

Bulgaria

  • Foundation Campaign A21: National hotline against trafficking in human beings – Active 24/7: +359 800 20 100
  • “Animus Association” Foundation: Hotline for support of victims of violence and trafficking – Active 24/7: +359 800 1 8676; +359 2 981 7686
  • Executive Agency “General Labor Inspectorate”: Hotline regarding labour exploitation and labour rights violations – Active during the working hours: Monday – Friday; 9 AM – 17 PM (CET): +359 700 17 670
  • National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings – Active during the working hours: Monday – Friday; 9 AM – 17:30 PM (CET) Receiving signals for presumed VoTs and suspicious situations: +359 2 807 80 50
  • State Agency for Child Protection: National telephone line for children – Active 24/7: 116 111
  • Emergency number – Active 24/7: 112
  • Hotline numbers for Ukrainian migrants: call center to the governmental crisis headquarter – Active 24/7: + 359 2 905 5555, + 380 322 465 075
  • Bulgarian Helsinki Committee: legal aid for refugees and migrants – Active during the working hours: Monday – Friday; 9 AM – 17 PM (CET): +359 2 980 20 49, +359 2 981 33 18
  • Active during the hours: Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 18 PM (CET) Weekends: 10 AM – 16 PM (CET): +359 8888 19 745

Croatia

  • SOS help line for victims of human trafficking : +385 0800 77 99
  • Croatian police: 192

Cyprus

  • Operated by the Police – line to the wider public to report suspicious cases: 1497
  • Anti-trafficking Police Office: +357 22 808 063 /064 / 280
  • Social Welfare Services (Anti-trafficking helplines): +357 22 804 766 / 709 / 780
  • Helpline for child exploitation and abuse: +357 22 103 234
  • Citizen’s line: 1460
  • General information to refugees from Ukraine, regarding immigration, education, welfare, etc.: 1477 / +357 22 285 777
  • Line for undeclared work or breach of terms of employment: +357 7777 8577

Czechia

  • Police of the Czech Republic: 158
  • Victim Support Line: 116 006
  • Civil Society Organisations:
    • SOS line LA STRADA: +420 222 71 71 71, 800 077 777 (free of charge)
    • Crisis line CARITAS OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PRAGUE: +420 739 002 905 (Monday-Friday 9.00-17.00)
    • Crisis line Diaconia ECCB Centre of Nationwide Programmes and Services: +420 739 244 889, +420 731 605 857
  • International Organisations:
    • Helpline IOM: +420 233 370 160

Denmark

Danish Centre against Human Trafficking national hotline (Monday-Friday 8:30-16:00 & bank holidays/weekends 9:00-15:00): +45 7020 2550

Estonia

Finland

National Assistance System for victims of human trafficking: +358 29 54 63 177

France

  • Helpline for victims of THB – Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm: +33 492 15 10 51
  • Police emergency number: 11
  • Hotline for children at risk: 119
  • Hotline for women victims of violence: 3919

Germany

Greece

  • Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors (SSPUAM) 24/7 Tracing Line: +30 213 212 8888
  • Human Trafficking Resource Line – A21: 1109 (24/7, in all languages)
  • SOS Hotline on Violence Against Women – General Secretariat for Demography and Family Policy & Gender Equality: 15900 (24/7)
  • Emergency Social Helpline -National Centre for Social Solidarity: 197 (24/7)
  • National Child Protection Helpline – National Centre for Social Solidarity: 1107 (24/7)
  • European Hotline for Missing Children – NGO “The Smile of the Child”: 116000 (24/7)
  • Hellenic Police: 100

Ukrainian citizens can request information:

Hungary

  • National Crisis Management and Information Telephone Service for victims of THB and domestic violence: +36 80 20 55 20
  • Victim Support Hotline for victims of crime: +36 80 225 225

Ireland

  • To report suspicions of human trafficking: 1800 666 111
  • Contact Crimestoppers (Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation: 1800 250 025
  • Garda dedicated phone line for reporting child abuse: 1800 555 22
  • Dublin Rape Crisis Centre – support and information related to rape and sexual violence: 1800 77 8888
  • Red Cross Ireland – coordinating response to refugees of war: +353 1 6424600
  • Helpline for war refugees: +353 1 9131528

Italy

  • Anti-trafficking toll-free number, h24: 800 290 290 (free calls from Italy)
  • Helping line violence and stalking, h24: 1522 (free calls from Italy)
  • Listening and Counselling Helping line for children, h24: 1 96 96 (free calls from Italy)

Latvia

  • MARTA Centre, Monday to Friday 10h – 18h: +371 67378539
  • Sanctuary Reliable Home Society 24h: +371 28612120
  • Crime Victim Support Phone Line, Monday to Friday 07h – 22h: +371 116006

Lithuania

  • National Association against Trafficking in Human Beings 24/7: +370 61691119 (calls from abroad)
  • 8 800 91119 (free calls from Lithuania)

Luxembourg

  • Services d’assistance INFOTRAITE: (+352) 27 36 56 46, Mobile: (+352) 621 351 884 / (+352) 621 316 919
  • Service de Police Judiciaire, Cellule recherche fugitifs et protection victimes (www.stoptraite.lu): (+352) 24 460 3220 or 113 (24h/24)

Malta

  • National Supportline: 179
  • Malta Police Force for THB +356 22942000

Netherlands

  • Police (coercion and exploitation): +31 34 357 8844
  • CoMensha (coercion and exploitation): +31 33 448 1186
  • Labour Agency (calling from within the Netherlands): (+31) 0800 5151
  • Labour Agency (calling from outside the Netherlands): +31 70 333 4444
  • Fairwork: +31 20 760 0809

Poland

  • National Information and Consultation Centre (NICC): +48 22 628 01 20, +48 47 72 56 502
  • Office for Foreigners hotline: 112 or +48 47 721 7575

Portugal

  • Reporting situations of THB, Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) 24 h: +351 924 190 232
  • Helpline for Victims of THB, Specialized Multidisciplinary Team for Assistance to Victims of THB, 24 h: +351 964 608 288
  • Migrant Helpline, Telephone translation |High Commissioner of Migrations Monday to Friday 09h – 20h Saturday 09h – 17h: +351 218 106 191
  • Ukraine Children’s Helpline 8h – 20h: +351 300 511 490

Romania

  • Emergency number for child-related issues, also available in Ukrainian: 119
  • Information number of the Romanian Border Police, also available in Ukrainian: 0219590
  • Helpline of the National Agency against Trafficking in Persons – available only in Romanian and English: 0 800 800 678 (available only from Romania), +40 21.313.31.00 (available from any country)

Slovakia

  • National Helpline for Victims of Human Trafficking : 0800 800 818 (calls from Slovakia) +421 800 800 818 (calls from abroad)
  • Police: 158
  • Emergency hotline: 112
  • Slovak Catholic Charity +421 254 431 506, +421 917 350 657

Slovenia

  • Police (available only from Slovenia): 113, 080 1200
  • CARITAS SLOVENIA (available 24/7): +386 31 470 151
  • SOCIETY KLJUC (available only from Slovenia): 080 17 22
  • Slovene Philanthropy: +386 1 430 12 88

Spain

  • Policia Nacional 24 hours specialized THB helpline: 900105090
  • Guardia Civil – General police emergency telephone number of the Guardia: 062
  • Civil Society Organisations:
    • APIP-ACAM Foundation: +34 638 942 994
    • Cruz Roja Española (CRE): +34 900 221 122
    • Diaconía: +34 670 337 153
    • Fiet Gratia: +34 603 244 214
    • Fundación solidaridad Amaranta: +34 681 202 080
    • Proyecto Esperanza – Adoratrices: +34 607 54 25 15, +34 91 386 06 43

Sweden

National VAW hotline: +46 20-50 50 50

Sexvictims.com

 A safe space for healing and support

The term “victim” means a person who has suffered direct physical, emotional, or pecuniary harm as a result of the commission of a crime.

In the United States, in Europe, in Australia, in Asia and in more countries “victims” are expressly afforded certain rights and services to assist, during and in the aftermath of the commission of that crime. For these reasons, within this site, authors still make extensive use of this term.

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