The Billion Dollar Industry We All Ignore: Youth Sex Trafficking

It is the unfortunate truth that even with our technological advancements and increased understanding of the world, slavery is still an issue that continues to exist. It is also the unfortunate truth that for most of us, we live our lives ignorant of such a humanitarian issue.

It is surprising, considering sex trafficking, a type of modern-day slavery, is a $65 billion industry. You’d think it would catch the world’s attention, but the very people at the head of such organizations hold insurmountable influence that while it’s been going on under the radar, it also occurs in established institutions and people are too afraid to speak up.

Unfortunate as it is, sex exploitation is an issue government officials have turned a blind eye to, especially in countries like the Philippines, Syria, and Venezuela, where vulnerabilities are easy to exploit. Approximately, as of 2017, there are 4.8 million victims of forced sexual exploitation worldwide. 99% of that increasing number is made up of women and young girls and 28% of victims identified are children. Still, the UNICEF strongly believes that the number is higher than what the current data suggests.

The reality is, so many children are infrequently identified as victims.

Few come forward for fear of their traffickers, mistrust of authorities, fear of stigma and the likelihood of being returned to a system that could only leave them more vulnerable to abuse.

In many contexts, there is a lack of sustainable solutions for child victims of trafficking; including long-term assistance, rehabilitation, and protection. Many child protection systems are still mortifyingly under-resourced, and there is an acute lack of guardianship and other alternative care arrangements.

The nearest help these children can get is to be placed in shelters; inadequate shelters where they risk further traumatization and re-victimization.

Keep in mind that although women and girls are intensely affected, there is also a rising population of boys becoming involved with sex trafficking. Most of the time, they face additional challenges such as stereotypes, preventing them from seeking the help they need.

And it goes without saying that all of them face a plethora of mental and physical problems.

Children who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation often have significant mental health difficulties; including high rates of depression, anxiety, dissociation, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. Not to mention the physical damage they are defenseless against such as STDs and AIDS.

And these children and youth, they often become dependent on alcohol and street drugs as a coping mechanism.

It is no wonder that their life expectancy should then be a mere seven years.

The truth is, not many care enough to stop it. Not many know enough that it is an ongoing battle.

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing and second-largest criminal industry in the world. It profits $99 billion every year and 66% of that money comes from the people who are sexually exploited on a daily basis.

As of 2016, there have only been 15 thousand prosecutions and only 9 thousand convictions made globally. And keep in mind, there are 4.8 million victims of sex trafficking and those numbers only take account of all legal actions taken under.

So as you can see, we’re still a long way off from solving this issue. We’re not even close as these numbers grow in thousands every year.

But we can begin with ourselves by becoming more aware and by helping spread the fact that SEX trafficking of children, women, and men is still a big human rights issue that remains unsettled. It is after all a trade that exploits the vulnerable, and what more can we do to strengthen ourselves but through education?