Today I heard a presentation by an FBI Victim Specialist.
These are some statistics she shared:
- It is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 child victims of human trafficking in the U.S. alone (Ernie Allen, President of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reported in the LA Times)
- 2.8 million children live on the streets (Shared Hope International)
- Within the first 48 hours of being on the street, 1 in 3 children are lured into commercial sexual exploitation (National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrown-away Children)
- 75% of minors engaged in prostitution have a pimp (Shared Hope International)
- Pimps can earn up to $632,000 per year by selling 4 women or children (Shared Hope International)
- The average age of entry into human trafficking for girls and boys ranges from 11-14 years old. (Ernie Allen, President of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, July 21, 2009
- 90% of all children trafficked for sex in the USA are American citizens.
- 70-90% of child sex trafficking victims were sexually abused before running away or being thrown out.
The problem is real. The consequences are horrific.
The problem is worse here in Reno for many reasons. We have a huge interstate running through town. We have tons of cheap motels downtown. We have legal prostitution 20 minutes out of town, so "selling sex" is pretty much accepted and ignored.
I nearly vomited when thinking about this topic. The presenter asked us: "how many of you ask your patients about prostitution? (I've asked very few)
How many of them were sexually abused and have ever run away from home? (way too many)
I've been missing it. Please help stop this horrific enslavement and abuse of our children.
Visit: http://www.couragetobeyou.org/ to find out how.
She showed this video, it is not for the faint of heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment