Introduction to Human

Trafficking

Presented by

Pamela J. Pillsbury

1

What is Human Trafficking?

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

3

An estimated 12.3 million victims of forced labor in the world today

Generates over 20 billion dollars every year.

2008, TIP Report

4

The Trafficking Of Victims Protection

Reauthorization Act of 2008(TVPRA) defines severe forms of human trafficking.

5

Action

Induces

Recruits

Harbors

Transports

Provides

Obtains

The AMP Model

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

7

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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Labor Trafficking

Domestic servitude Janitorial services

Agricultural labor Food service industry

Dishwashers, busboys, servers, cashiers

Begging Sweatshop labor

Nail Salons

10

Labor Example

Ukrainian Nationals

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The Traffickers

• 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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Sex Trafficking

• 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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Misconceptions of Prostitution

• 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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Sex Trafficking Examples

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

Sex Trafficking Examples

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

.

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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Where are they from?

Why should we be concerned?

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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How can communities help???

• 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

Pam Pillsbury pjpillsbury@prcpi.org