The Issue
The Fight Against Sex Trafficking
What is Sex Trafficking?
Sex trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex work —such as prostitution. Any time that a minor engages in a commercial sex act, it is considered sex trafficking. In 2015, the federal definition of sex trafficking expanded to include sex buyers, so anytime a person purchases sex, that is considered sex trafficking.
Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking. It is the second largest criminal enterprise in the entire world.
Global Statistics
An estimated 4.8 million people globally are victims of sex trafficking.
Women and girls are disproportionately impacted. For every 10 trafficking victims detected globally, 5 are adult women and 2 are girls.
Human trafficking victims are exposed to unbelievably high levels of violence and trauma at the hands of pimps and sex buyers. 84 percent of people in the sex trade are controlled by a third party, and 89 percent of women in the sex trade say that they wish they could get out.
Washington Statistics
Washington was the first state to make human trafficking a crime at the state level in 2003.
Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has received 9,080 signals from Washington, resulting in 2,599 cases of human trafficking, with 4,562 victims being identified in these cases.
Washington is ranked 11th in the nation for the number of human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline each year.
Risk Factors Reported by Survivors
1. Child Abuse and Neglect
2. Homelessness
3. Runaway
4. Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault
5. Domestic Violence
6. Poverty
7. Involvement in the Child Welfare or Juvenile Justice System
8. Mental Health Concerns
9. Substance Use
10. Other Type of Trauma
An Unseen Crisis
FRONTLINE tells the unimaginable stories of young women coerced into prostitution – and follows one police unit that’s committed to rooting out sexual exploitation. This film shines a light on the hidden reality of sex trafficking in America.
Originally aired 05/28/2019.