Human trafficking is a global problem in which human beings are bought and sold for profit or forced to work through unwilling prostitution, involuntary domestic servitude, and bonded labor.[1] Human trafficking is a problem that has come to public attention in Montana.
According to the Polaris Project, in 2013 in Montana there were 44 calls made to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, 1 online tip, and 8 emails. 10 calls were from potential victims of trafficking (7 sex trafficking and 3 for labor exploitation [including both involuntary domestic servitude and bonded labor]) and 3 from family members of potential victims. From the demographics that could be collected (not complete), 8 were adults, 1 was a minor, 4 were females, and 5 were males.
These numbers represent only a small portion of the individuals impacted by the issues because there are so few reports made and cases of human trafficking are so difficult to identify. The problem of human trafficking is a global problem affecting the United States and the entire world.
[1] Trafficking in persons report 10th Edition, 8. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/
142979.pdf; What is Trafficking in Persons, Fact Sheet, Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (July 9, 2012). Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/fs/2012/194732.htm.
[2] UN News Centre. UN and partners launch initiative to end ‘modern slavery’ of human trafficking. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22009#.U9qwyGPTWy0 (Mar. 26, 2007).
[3] Adams, A., Owens, C., and Small, K. Effects of Federal Legislation on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Juvenile Justice Bulletin (July 2010). Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/228631.pdf.
[4] Estes, Richard J. and Neil A. Weiner. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work: 2001. Retrieved from http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/restes/CSEC_Files/Complete_CSEC_020220.pdf.
[5] U.S. Justice Department, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131757019/youth-radio-trafficked-teen-girls-describe-life-in-the-game.
[6] Polaris Project. Residential Brothels. Retrieved from http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex-trafficking-in-the-us/residential-brothels.
[7] Human Services Department, Seattle.gov (citing National Runaway Hotline). Commercially Sexually Exploited Children. Retrieved from http://www.seattle.gov/humanservices/domesticviolence/prostitutedyouth/nationalperspective.htm
[8] Belser, P. Forced labor and human trafficking: Estimating the profits, p17 (2005). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/forcedlabor/17).
According to the Polaris Project, in 2013 in Montana there were 44 calls made to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, 1 online tip, and 8 emails. 10 calls were from potential victims of trafficking (7 sex trafficking and 3 for labor exploitation [including both involuntary domestic servitude and bonded labor]) and 3 from family members of potential victims. From the demographics that could be collected (not complete), 8 were adults, 1 was a minor, 4 were females, and 5 were males.
These numbers represent only a small portion of the individuals impacted by the issues because there are so few reports made and cases of human trafficking are so difficult to identify. The problem of human trafficking is a global problem affecting the United States and the entire world.
- Human trafficking entraps an estimated 27 million people at any given time in a market valued at $32 billion.[2]
- Approximately 300,000 children are commercially sexually exploited or prostituted in the United States annually.[3]
- The average age of entry into prostitution for a child victim in the United States is 12-14 years old.[4]
- A pimp has on average 4 to 6 girls and can make $150,000-$200,000 per child each year.[5]
- The average victim may be forced to have sex up to 20-48 times a day.[6]
- One out of three teens on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.[7]
- Human trafficking is the second most profitable criminal activity in the world after illegal drugs trafficking.[8]
[1] Trafficking in persons report 10th Edition, 8. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/
142979.pdf; What is Trafficking in Persons, Fact Sheet, Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (July 9, 2012). Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/fs/2012/194732.htm.
[2] UN News Centre. UN and partners launch initiative to end ‘modern slavery’ of human trafficking. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22009#.U9qwyGPTWy0 (Mar. 26, 2007).
[3] Adams, A., Owens, C., and Small, K. Effects of Federal Legislation on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Juvenile Justice Bulletin (July 2010). Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/228631.pdf.
[4] Estes, Richard J. and Neil A. Weiner. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work: 2001. Retrieved from http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/restes/CSEC_Files/Complete_CSEC_020220.pdf.
[5] U.S. Justice Department, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131757019/youth-radio-trafficked-teen-girls-describe-life-in-the-game.
[6] Polaris Project. Residential Brothels. Retrieved from http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex-trafficking-in-the-us/residential-brothels.
[7] Human Services Department, Seattle.gov (citing National Runaway Hotline). Commercially Sexually Exploited Children. Retrieved from http://www.seattle.gov/humanservices/domesticviolence/prostitutedyouth/nationalperspective.htm
[8] Belser, P. Forced labor and human trafficking: Estimating the profits, p17 (2005). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/forcedlabor/17).