My most recent encounter was with this older gentleman. I was getting up-to-date on all my mandatory shots because I'll be out of the country many times while in school. Because of this fact, which apparently was put into my "chart" at the doctor's office, the first question the older gentleman asked me while giving me my Hep A shot was, "What are you going to school for?"
My response was very robotic because I've been asked the same question a billion times. I simply said, "Social Justice. Such as sex trafficking, child soldiering, etc... mainly with the focus on childhood injustices." I figured that would be where the conversation ended. Honestly, I figured this man was just making small talk to make it less awkward between us. He just wanted to get the shots in my arm so he could be done for the day. I was fine with that though, I felt the exact same way!
To my surprise he kept on asking me questions. His next one, "Where are you planning on going?" This is the typical follow-up question once I've expressed what I'm going to school for. So, I wasn't shocked or blown away by this question, I just answered it as I always did when talking to other people, "Germany actually. That's my first planned spot, though I know plans can change. But I really want to move to Germany for a couple of years to work with sex trafficked girls." I was caught off guard when his jaw practically hit the floor at my response.
I just stared at him, awkwardly, because that's what I do. I really wasn't sure why he was so shocked. It was just Germany, not a super dangerous place or anything like that. Finally, after a long awkward pause, he managed to pick his jaw up off the ground and said, "Sex trafficking goes on in GERMANY?!?!?" Okay, now it's my turn to be shocked. I had to then pick up my jaw off the ground, but once I did I managed to calmly reply, "Yes, Sir. Sex trafficking happens everywhere. Even in this beautiful State we so happily call home." After this, all bets were off. I couldn't stop talking about sex trafficking with this guy. He asked questions and couldn't wait to hear about all the things I was planning on doing with my life and through my studies.
After I left, as happy as could be that I informed someone else of the statistics of sex trafficking, I couldn't help but stop and wonder why everyone was SO shocked about the stats I brought to their attention in regards to this subject. The most common response when I'm telling someone about sex trafficking is, "I didn't know it was THAT bad!" It shocks me every time I hear someone say those words. I then must remember that it's not a common "dinner table" conversation topic. People just simply need to be informed. It's really that plain and simple.
This led me to write this post. When you're faced with someone who doesn't know a thing about sex trafficking, but wants to be further informed, it's really nice to have some good stats under your belt so you can answer their questions accordingly and correctly. Here are some that are my favorites, because they inform people on how bad sex trafficking is, and tend to answer the many questions I've been asked in my past "sex trafficking information" conversations:
-There are approximately 27 million boys and girls that are currently victims of sex trafficking all over the world.
-1 in 5 pornographic photographs on the internet are of a child.
-Between 14,500 and 17,500 girls are trafficked into the U.S. Yearly. That's not including the girls that are trafficked within the U.S. itself.
-The average global cost to buy a sex trafficked girl/boy for a "trick" is $90.
-1.2 million people globally fall into sex trafficking, each year.
-The U.S. is a destination country for thousands of people trafficked from East Asia, Mexico, and Central America for sexual/labor exploitation.
-The U.S. is one of the top 3 countries of destination for sex tourism.
-The average victim involved in sex trafficking can be forced to have sex 20-48 times a day.
-More then 50% of sex trafficking victims are under the age of 18.
-In 2011, 94% of sex trafficking victims were females, 6% males. This is from a case study that the Department of Justice did of 389 cases of sex trafficking involving 460 victims.
-It's reported that in the past 30 years 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation.
-There are girls as young as 6 and 6, in the U.S., that are forced to do sexual acts for an economic gain, by pimps.
These are just a FEW facts. You can find many more on our twitter (AMAsexTfacts) or by searching the internet. But, I hope the next time you are faced with questions about sex trafficking these statistics help you to be confident in your answers and in the information you wish to share with those around you.
I also love to be informed on new stats that I don't know. So if you know more or you think we forgot any that should definitely be in this post, please comment, email, or somehow contact Nicole and I and we would love to add your new stats to this post to contribute to the information that others, including myself, might use to confidently inform someone on the subject of sex trafficking.
Sincerely,
Janice and Nicole
hello was a victim of slavery and I thank you for giving education or being involved in sex trafficking which is illegal, and is raping children and woman man. Thank you djsangelsinthefield.com
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