Presented by
Pamela J. Pillsbury
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After drug trafficking, human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world, and it is the fastest growing.
Dept. of Health and Human Services
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An estimated 12.3 million victims of forced labor in the world today
Generates over 20 billion dollars every year.
2008, TIP Report
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The Trafficking Of Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2008(TVPRA) defines severe forms of human trafficking.
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Action
Induces
Recruits
Harbors
Transports
Provides
Obtains
Means
Force
Fraud
Coercion
Purpose
Commercial Sex Acts
Labor or Services
Force, Fraud and Coercion are not require for minors under the age of 18 induced into commercial sex acts
It is estimated that between 14,500 and 17,500
persons are being brought annually into the
United States for various avenues of exploitation including involuntary servitude and forced prostitution.
Data does not include the millions of individuals who are trafficked within their own country.
U.S. State Department
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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 in the sex industry.
(usimmigrationlawyers.com)
In 2007, 400 children were sexually exploited as child prostitutes in Las Vegas in ONE month.
(http://ag.state.nv.us/victims/comm/Victims%20of%20Crime%20draft%20minutes%202%201
0%2010%20FINAL.pdf
)
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Elements of human trafficking vs. human smuggling
Human Trafficking
No consent
Force, fraud, or coercion
Human Smuggling
Consent
Transnational travel not necessary Crossing a national border
Ongoing exploitation of victims Relationship between migrant and smuggler usually ends
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Domestic servitude Janitorial services
Agricultural labor Food service industry
Dishwashers, busboys, servers, cashiers
Begging Sweatshop labor
Nail Salons
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• Pimps posing as boyfriend /“daddy”
• Family members
• Business-owners
• Subcontractors of Human Trafficking victim laborers undersell legitimate labor subcontractors.
• Organized crime
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• Brothels
• Street Work
• In-side Prostitution
• Dancers
• Massage Parlors
• Pornography
• Spas
“The United States seems unwilling to recognize that the vast majority of victims of sex trafficking are not foreigners but girls from next door.” -
Julian Sher Somebody’s Daughter
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• 85-95% of prostitution is pimped-controlled
• Average age of entry is 12-13
• Drug addiction is a result of prostitution
• 90% have been sexually abused as a child
(http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/43/FileItem-150151-AM_Prostitution.pdf)
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Reading, PA June 2008-2010
• Paul S. Sewell, 46, pleaded guilty before Judge C.
Darnell Jones II to sex trafficking girls, ages 14 to 17, and women, and possessing child pornography.
• Called himself “god”
• Ronald Miko, former police officer from Reading, has been charged in connection to sex trafficking ring
February 2012
Whitehall, PA March, 2012
18 year old girl from Johnstown flagged down police stating she was held against her will in prostitution.
Jason Thomas, 32, was arrested.
Allentown, PA April, 2012
Vincent C. George, Jr & Sr., Father & son arrested for sex trafficking coming back from New York state.
First Convictions of Human Trafficking in PA
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Deryck Alston, 41, and Amanda Scott, 26, both of
Collingdale, each pleaded guilty to trafficking of persons and related crimes for pimping an underage female in online advertisements.
The economics of human trafficking
Supply Demand
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In 2011
7,208 prosecutions in the U.S.
4, 239 convictions
41,210 victims identified
There are an estimated
14,500 and 17,500 persons, NOT including domestic victims and
200,000-300,000 American children at-risk
The numbers do not match up!
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• Educate others
• Speak-out against myths that work to excuse using women and youth for sexual purposes, i.e. “they enjoy it, they need the money so I’m helping,”etc.
• Speak out about behaviors that supports marginalizing people from other countries.
• Report suspicions
• Support victims by not using them sexually and not funding traffickers
• Support victims of labor trafficking by noticing them, asking questions, being aware of possible signs of trafficking.
Important Resources
Immediate Danger:
Call 911 or local law enforcement
Stefanie Fritzges, Homeland Security: 215-768-5722
Angel Hernandez, SA,
FBI PA Division/Allentown RA, 610-782-8203 or 1 800-the
LOST
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST
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The National Human Trafficking
Resource Center Hotline (NHTRC)
1-877-3737-888
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VAST (The Valley Against Sex
Trafficking) Coalition
• Bi-monthly Coalition Meetings
• Unified response includes prevention, awareness, action & aftercare efforts www.thevast.org
To sign up for email updates: thevalleyast@gmail.com