January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It focuses attention on one of the worst assaults against Personhood, sex trafficking. In fact, the buying and selling of people is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world.
Sex trafficking preys on women, young girls, and boys enslaving them in a nightmare situation often with little hope of escape.
The tragedy is made worse by COVID lock-downs, which force school children to spend more time online, a favorite site for sex traffickers.
Because it operates in the shadows accurate numbers are impossible to obtain, but it is estimated that nearly 25 million men, women, and children around the world are the victims of this evil. The total includes 1.5 million in the U.S.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888 or text 233733) reports it received 955 “substantive” contacts reporting instances of trafficking in Georgia during 2020. This represents the 7th highest number of contacts among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Sex abuse represented 78% of those contacts.
Since 2007, the hotline estimates there have been nearly 4,500 victims of trafficking in Georgia. In addition, Atlanta is ranked second in the nation, behind Washington, D.C., among cities with the highest number of trafficking cases.
One report indicates that more than 7,000 men purchase sex from a minor every month in Georgia. This tragedy is no doubt being made worse by the wave of immigrants being forced into abusive situations.
The following is additional national information about sex trafficking:
- The average age of entry into the sex trade is 15 years old, with 1 in 6 being under the age of 12.
- Of the federally prosecuted sex trafficking cases in 2019, only 2.1% of the victims were males.
- 42% of survivors report being placed in the foster care system at some point.
- 61% of victims were asked to recruit other girls for their trafficker.
The risk of pregnancy is a stumbling block to the sex trafficking industry. Pimps and sex traffickers are most concerned about profits. When their victims become pregnant, they usually force them to abort their child so they can get back on the street as soon as possible.
A ground breaking study by the Beazley Institute found 66 human trafficking survivors had a total of 114 abortions. Nearly 30 percent went to Planned Parenthood.
One survivor described her situation: “I got pregnant six times and had six abortions. Several of them were from a doctor who was a client…. At least one of my abortions was from Planned Parenthood because they didn’t ask any questions…”
The woman incurred severe infections from scar tissue which necessitated a hysterectomy making it impossible for her to ever have children.
Signs to look for if you suspect a person is a victim of sex trafficking:
- They are used like brands to mark the individual so that other traffickers know they are taken. The tattoo may be a crown, a rose, a dollar sign, or the traffickers’ name.
- Inappropriate dress for their age or weather conditions.
- A young person may have unexplained cash, jewelry, nice clothing, or a fake ID.
- A victim may have trouble telling you where they have been.
- Abuse is a common form of control. Victims may have bruises, cuts, or other signs of abuse.
Human trafficking victims who are also used in forced labor is a problem. Last year the U.S. Department of Justice arrested 24 defendants charged with trafficking and brutally treating more than 100 Mexican and Central American agricultural workers in Georgia. Victims were forced to work for little or no compensation and lived in crowded and unsanitary housing. At least two workers died under these conditions.
Whether forced labor or sex, it’s slavery—an ancient curse that’s still flourishing in America and throughout the world.
The link between the sex trafficking, the attack on personhood, and abortion is undeniable. Pro-life supporters should be alert for signs of abuse in anyone they know and lovingly encourage them to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888, or text 233733).
Sources: humantraffickinghotline.org; guardiangroup.org. nealdavislaw.com; frc.org; holidayscalendar.com; ifapray.org;
By Wayne DuBois
Georgia Right to Life
Media Relations Advisor