Welcome to Project S.O.S.
This is a resource to help young people understand the facts and figures of Human Trafficking and how to stay physically and emotionally safe from predators
Understanding Human Trafficking
U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. The one exception involves minors and commercial sex. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.
Most people think sex trafficking is something that happens in other countries, Movies and documentaries show scenes of foreigners or tourists being sold in far away countries.
A lot of people don’t know that human trafficking is a real and growing problem all over the United States, including here in your community.
Sex trafficking is a hard issue for most of us to grasp- partly because it’s so disturbing-and because it forces us to address some uncomfortable issues.
Teens can be commercially sexually exploited through prostitution, por)nography, stripping, erotic entertainment or other sex acts.
The commercial aspect-an exchange of money or something of value- is critical to separate the crime of trafficking from sexual assault, dating violence or rape.
Sex trafficking of minors is a severe form of child abuse, and victims endure significant trauma through repeated rape and physical violence.
(National Plan, 2012)
