Sex trafficking

Sex trafficking is composed of two key aspects: human trafficking and sexual slavery. The two represent the supply and demand side of the sex trafficking industry, respectively. This exploitation is based on the interaction between the trafficker selling a victim (the individual being trafficked and sexually exploited) to customers to perform sexual services. These sex trafficking crimes are defined by three steps: acquisition, movement, and exploitation. The various types of sex trafficking are child sex tourism (CST), domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) or commercial sexual exploitation of children, and prostitution.

According to a UN report from 2012, there are 2.4 million people throughout the world who are victims of human trafficking at any given moment. In this annual US$32 billion industry, 80 percent of victims are being exploited as sexual slaves. Unfortunately, in the United States, because of “The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act” any prostitution with a woman under the age of 18 is now considered sex trafficking so accurate numbers are no longer available from the FBI.