Human trafficking is a widespread and insidious crime that affects millions of people worldwide, causing profound harm to individuals, families, and entire communities. Gathering accurate data on human trafficking is challenging due to victims’ fear, coercion, or lack of opportunity to report their experiences. Nevertheless, understanding the available information can better equip us to identify potential cases, support survivors, and work toward preventing future exploitation.
THE SCOPE OF TRAFFICKING
- Human trafficking is a rapidly growing criminal industry, generating a staggering $150 billion in annual profits worldwide.
- At any given moment, approximately 27.6 million people are trapped in exploitative situations due to human trafficking.
- In 2023, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline received reports of 16,999 individual victims, with Texas alone accounting for 1,723 cases.
Every two minutes, a child is trafficked to be exploited in the U.S.
VICTIM DEMOGRAPHICS
- Women and girls are most at risk, making up 3 out of 4 of all detected trafficking victims globally.
- Boys are more likely to be unreported than girls. Recent studies suggest they may account for over 30% of child victims, highlighting a critical gap in reporting and awareness.
- The average age of entry into the commercial sex trade is alarmingly young: 12-14 for girls and 11-13 for boys.
TRENDS AND VULNERABILITIES
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified online sexual exploitation, particularly affecting vulnerable children. Lockdowns led to a surge in commercial sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and child sexual abuse material distribution. While all children are at risk, certain groups face heightened vulnerability in this evolving landscape of human trafficking:
- Children in Foster Care
- Runaway and Homeless Youth
- LGBTQ Youth
- Those with a History of Trauma
- Children of Color (4X more likely to be trafficked than white children)
- Children with Disabilities
FORMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The United States recognizes two primary forms of trafficking as outlined in the 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report:
- Forced Labor (Labor Trafficking): Using force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or services from another person.
- Sex Trafficking: Compelling another person to engage in commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion. For cases involving children, these elements are not necessary to prove trafficking.
RECENT LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IN TEXAS
Child sex trafficking in Texas is defined as knowingly engaging a person under 18 in commercial sexual exploitation. This includes:
- Trafficking a child by any means for sexual exploitation
- Benefiting from participation in such activities
- Engaging in sexual conduct with a trafficked child
Trafficking is not limited to transport; it can also involve enticing, recruiting, harboring, or obtaining a child by any means. Unlike in adult trafficking cases, proof of force, fraud, or coercion is not required for minors.
To report a human trafficking tip or for immediate assistance, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888.373.7888. For additional resources and details on how to help combat child trafficking in Texas, visit www.traffick911.com.
