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Heather’s Story

On October 22, 2013, by Shayla Wakumoto

At the age of thirty-six, Heather, a survivor of the sex trade, shares her story. By working with Selah Freedom, a nonprofit organization focus on working with sex trafficking victims, she is now working towards her future goals and dreams. Though free from the sex trade, she continues to struggle finding jobs because of her […]

Intervention Models: A Comparative Approach

On October 22, 2013, by Hannah Kim

This article will introduce three intervention models for commercial sexually exploited youth. Each model simultaneously addresses the complex needs of the youth while remaining flexible enough to accommodate the children’s ability to engage. While each model stresses different approaches, it is possible to integrate these models through a collaborative approach. First, the Stages of Change […]

Banning Pornography at the Hotel Level

On October 15, 2013, by Shayla Wakumoto

According to Robert W. Peters, co-author of The Slave and the Porn Star: Sexual Trafficking and Pornography, states, “The relationship between, pornography, sex trafficking, and prostitution is real and cannot exist without one or the other”. Pornography is an advertisement for prostitution. It degrades, dehumanizes, and corrupts not only our views on women but it […]

Florida’s Safe Harbor law is good, but needs more provisions for services.

On October 2, 2013, by Shayla Wakumoto

In Florida, children can no longer be prosecuted for prostitution. With the Safe Harbor Act implemented in January, children should be sent to safe houses where they will receive treatments and protection from previous pimps. Though the Safe Harbor Act is a positive measure, there is a need for more safe houses for trafficked children. […]

Zero Tolerance for City Officials

On September 11, 2013, by Ian Kitterman

City officials are expected to work for the betterment of citizens; instead there have been many city officials caught for sexually exploiting citizens see 1 2 3 4. They are not always arrested for their conviction, but instead received minimal to no punishment for their crime. The Renewal Forum advocates for zero tolerance for these […]

Operation Cross Country Rescues 105 Children

On July 31, 2013, by Ivan Lu

Operation Cross Country, a FBI-led three-day operation, is excellent news for anti-trafficking organizations everywhere. The FBI rescued 105 children who were victims of trafficking and made 150 arrests against pimps and johns. The battle against human trafficking has been difficult: the problem is global, the perpetrators are many, and the fighters are few. Looking at […]

And Boys Too…

On July 23, 2013, by Sarah Lachman

What do you picture when you hear “human trafficking victim?” For the majority of us, we see a young girl, probably weak and fragile, maybe from a foreign country. We often forget that young boys are often victims of the same tragedy. A recent study from ECPAT-USA looked at the boys who become victims of […]

Response to Rubio’s Questioning of the State Departments Enforcement of Human Trafficking Laws

On May 24, 2013, by Hannah Kim

Recently Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the State Department for not heavily enforcing human trafficking provisions against foreign dignitaries. In the current news cycle there have been several high profile investigations into foreign dignitaries and their use of non-nationals for forced labor. The most recent scandal involved a Saudi diplomat in Northern Virginia and two […]

ABC’s of Human Trafficking Who it Affects and What Now?

On January 22, 2013, by MHeffern

Who is Affected by Human Trafficking? All of us. The United Nations reports: Human trafficking affects every country of the world, as country of origin, transit, or destination. Victims from at least 127 countries have been found to be exploited in 137 states. At 79% of identified trafficking victims, sex trafficking is particularly a harsh […]

ABC’s of Human Trafficking: Sex Trafficking, Travel, and TVPA of 2000

On January 4, 2013, by MHeffern

Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking is the most prominent from of human trafficking. Because it is so prominent people often use the term “sex trafficking” interchangeably with the term “human trafficking”. Though sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking, it is not the only form (for more information on human trafficking refer to the durr […]