Why we care and cannot turn a blind eye to this modern day slavery:
Shocking Facts:
- Florida Ranks 3rd in the country for Human Trafficking calls.
- Human trafficking is a $150 billion per year industry and is happening in every city.
- The average age of trafficked victims is 12 – 15 years old.
- Typically only 1% of victims are rescued, giving traffickers a 99% “success” rate.
Sex Trafficking Defined - Florida Statute 787.06
The action or practice of illegally recruiting and transporting people from one country or area to another for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Involves the use of force, fraud, threats, & coercion, which results in commercial sex acts, abuse, and slavery.
The Impact of Technology & Social Media
Technology has become more affordable for the average American, because of this, most households have access to the Internet, social media, and gaming devices. This plays a HUGE role in perpetuating this crime. Traffickers are trained and highly organized, and they are using social media to “hide”, as they recruit, and then “groom” their potential victims.