ShareThisOur country, the United States has become one of the top destinations in the world for child sex trafficking. Florida, California, New York and Texas are cited as being the top destinations in the U.S. for trafficked victims.
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor; a modern-day form of slavery. It is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest, after the drug-trade. It is estimated that trafficking generates 32 billion annually.
Because of their vulnerability homeless youth are a large target for traffickers. It is estimated that up to 90% of homeless teens will be forced into prostitution within 48 hours to a week of being on the street.
- Each year, an estimated 600,000 – 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders (some international and non-governmental organizations place the number far higher), and the trade is growing. (U.S. Department of State. 2004. Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State.)
- Of the 600,000 – 800,000 people trafficked across international borders each year, 70% are female and 50 percent are children. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade. (U.S. Department of State. 2004. Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State.)
- Each year, an estimated 14,500 –17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. (U.S. Department of Justice. 2004. Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Fiscal Year 2003. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice.)
- According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 2005 an estimated 300,000 children in the United States are sexually exploited annually.
One of the underlying issues to this problem is Child Pornography, which is now a 3 billion dollar a year industry. (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
Children are NOT FOR SALE, yet right here in our own backyards even in the most rural locations they are being sold as commodities.
Human rights investigations by Shared Hope International discovered that minors were sold on an average 0f 10-15 times per day, 6 days a week, totaling between 9,360 and 14,040 sex acts a year. The trafficked girls kept none of the money. Also according to the study, pimps will sell minor girls for $400.00 an hour on American streets.
What is Freedom Walk?
On a day when our nation celebrates their freedom, the first annual 4th of July Freedom Walk will offer a sober reminder that hundreds of thousands of children right here in the United States are not free. They are slaves being held against their will. Bought and sold as commodities.
WE NEED YOU! We need you and your friends to build the masses and strengthen our voice. We are encouraging individuals and organizations nationwide to be a part of this event that will set the stage for a movement in our country. A movement to free these children who are victims of this horrific crime. The following cities currently have walk sites planned, we will add more as they sign up. Don’t see your city? Start one!!! Jacksonville, FL; Jacksonville Beach, FL; Atlanta, GA; Salt Lake City, UT; Denver, CO; Auburn, NY; Essex, MD; San Diego, CA Visit Freedom Walk on FACEBOOK or click on the name of your city above to visit the Facebook page for your cities event. Together we can end child sex trafficking.
i went to the same school as patrick. i remeber those girls from my school who wrote in. they were white trash...i always felt so bad for them.
Posted by: mulberry outlet | December 11, 2011 at 12:27 AM