Behind the Numbers are Real People

One of the most important parts of the fight to eradicate human trafficking is educating the public on what they are fighting. Behind these numbers are real men, women, and children who need the knowledge that equips us to fight. These are some of those numbers: 

IDENTIFICATION

• Of an estimated 300,000 children being trafficked in America, only 1% are ever identified. Source.

• According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in 2020, out of nearly 26,500 runaways, 1 in 6 were likely to be victims of child sex trafficking. Source: NCMEC

• The National Human Trafficking Hotline received reports of 22,326 victims trapped in trafficking rings across the U.S. Source: Polaris

• In 2020 alone, NCMEC’s CyberTipline received over 21.7 million reports involving child abuse material, online enticement, molestation, and trafficking. Over 300,000 of those were tips from the public. Source: NCMEC

Child Victims Facing Legal Ramifications 

• According to federal statutes on sex trafficking, a minor cannot consent to a commercial sex act and is a victim of trafficking, regardless of force, fraud, or coercion. Source: (22 U.S.C. § 7102)

• In 2019, 214 juveniles were arrested for prostitution and commercialized vice. Source: FBI

• Black children make up nearly 51% of all juvenile prostitution arrests, the most of any racial group. Source: FBI

• Over 300,000 American Children are trafficked for sex in the U.S. each year.

   

  Traffickers typically aren’t strangers abducting children. 40% of trafficking victims are first trafficked by a family member or someone they are close with. The average age when a child is first trafficked is only 12 years old. Traffickers employ a variety of control tactics, the most common include physical and emotional abuse and threats, isolation from friends and family, and economic abuse. They make promises to fulfill their target's needs with the motive to impose control. As a result, victims become trapped and fear leaving for myriad reasons, including psychological trauma, shame, emotional attachment, or physical threats to themselves or their families (Human Trafficking Hotline) (Administration for Children and Families).

Treating Survivors of Child Sex Trafficking

• In 2018, 75% of states did not have restorative care facilities. Source.

• Without a safe place to go, 80% end up being re-victimized. Source.

• In 2018, there were less than 100 beds in long-term safe house programs for child survivors of trafficking across America. Source.