NEWSBYMELISSA SNOW

Portland, Oregon, often referred to as “Pornland”, has earned a reputation for having the largest legal sex industry per capita in the nation, even compared to Las Vegas. One Portland directory lists 40 erotic dance clubs, 47 all-nude strip clubs, 35 adult businesses and 21 lingerie modeling shops and most of these businesses are stacked conveniently on 82^nd Avenue.  Numerous child victims have revealed they were groomed by their pimps and ultimately advertised for purchase through these legal sex markets. In 2009, the Sexual Assault Resource Center served at least 75 victims of trafficking. Is Portland one of the most dangerous cities for children in America?

Despite the mounting negative press, the leadership of Portland is confronting this issue head on.  Mayor Sam Adams recently stated

“Human trafficking, and especially juvenile human trafficking, goes against everything this city believes in and stands for, and we must do much more to combat the causes and symptoms of this problem.”

And it’s not all talk.  City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, recently sponsored a resolution that was approved by the council to dedicate assets seized from pimps and their customers to shelter and services for victims.  In a downtrodden economic environment, it’s a brilliant and fitting idea to make pimps and buyers foot the bill for the victims they create.

However, according to the Protected Innocence Oregon Report Card, which landed Oregon with a “D”, there is clearly more work to be done.  Launched by Shared Hope, the Protected Innocence Legislative Framework outlines six areas of law critical to protecting and responding to child sex trafficking. The Report Card identified several areas of Oregon law that should be applauded for its strength such as the strong investigative tools provided to law enforcement to combat the crime of trafficking.  This lightens the responsibility of the child victim as the primary witness in a case.  Additionally, Oregon’s broad child abuse and neglect statues allows for a child protection response rather than a delinquency response.  The Report Card provides legislators, community advocates, students, and professionals with a road map of the changes necessary to ensure protection for the victims and punishment for the criminals who exploit them.

Today, Washington State Attorney General McKenna is joined by Shared Hope International to release the first Protected Innocence Report Card - Washington.  The Report Card is based on the Protected Innocence Legislative Framework and sets a national standard of protection against domestic minor sex trafficking. Washington State is blazing a path to protect their children from child sex trafficking. First, bi-partisan leadership from across the state came together to amend the Promoting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor law, which significantly increased penalties for traffickers and buyers of children.  Additionally, YouthCare opened the state's first shelter specifically funded and programmatically designed as a safe haven for child victims of sex trafficking.  However, despite these strides forward, Washington received a “C”, indicating that Washington still has significant legislative gaps to close in an effort to create safe environments for Washington’s children.

The embracing of the Report Card by Attorney General McKenna, in spite of the mediocre grade, shows his commitment to advancing Washington’s efforts in strengthening laws that would protect children from traffickers. In December at the National Association of Attorney’s General, Attorney General McKenna challenged his colleagues to take Protected Innocence Initiative back to their states and to make combating child sex trafficking a top priority in 2011.

Several months ago, nearly two dozen of the 69 child victims recovered in a national crackdown on child sex trafficking were from Washington state.  Additionally, nine pimps were arrested.  While this highlights the severity of the issue for Washington it also shows that law enforcement agencies are taking aggressive action toward combating the crime.  In a report on sex trafficking in Spokane, WA, one service provider stated child sex trafficking was a big problem in the area.  Spokane was documented as an entry area for the recruitment of children by pimps – that children are initiated and groomed there before being moved into the larger metro areas or into other states. 

The Protected Innocence Legislative Framework outlines six areas of law critical to protecting and responding to domestic minor sex trafficking. The Report Card identified several areas of Washington law that should be applauded for its strength such as the high penalties for those who buy and sell children and significant impact on trafficking operations through asset forfeiture.  Additionally, it provides a road map in the necessary legislative and policy changes necessary to ensure protection for the victims and punishment for the criminals who exploit them.

Child sex trafficking is the only sex abuse crime where an adult man can rape a child and the child is the one arrested.  It’s well documented that the child often sits behind bars while those responsible for the abuse walk free.  It is time that we take responsibility for the legislative gaps and systemic failures within our communities that allow child victims to continue to fall through the cracks.  How do you think your state would rank if their efforts in preventing, investigating and responding to child sex trafficking were graded?

Well get ready because Shared Hope International is doing just that – grading states based on a holistic legislative strategy to promote “zero tolerance for child sex trafficking.”  Today Shared Hope is launching the Protected Innocence Initiative, which aims to apply a 40-point legislative framework to each state’s current laws which holistically evaluates the existing structures in place that create safe environments for children.  The 40-point legislative framework is based on years of field research, interviews with survivors, over 400 interviews with professionals working in the field, and a top-notch vetting committee.  The Protected Innocence Legislative Framework includes the following categories:

• Criminalization of domestic minor sex trafficking
• Criminal provisions for demand (buyers)
• Criminal provisions for traffickers (pimps)
• Criminal provisions for facilitators (hotels, transports, websites, etc.)
• Protective provisions for the child victims
• Criminal justice tools for investigation and prosecutions

The Super Bowl is a great American pastime. Fans travel from the corners of the nation to enjoy the camaraderie and sportsmanship that football offers thousands. Unfortunately, beyond the beer, nachos and hotdogs another product is being prepared and brought to the Super Bowl – American children. The Super Bowl Host Committee, comprised of local Texas leaders, have the power to stand up and protect children. So why are they ignoring the calls from anti-trafficking advocates across the country and choosing to turn a blind eye to the selling of kids at their event?

As previously reported on Change.org, the Super Bowl is a prime money-making event for traffickers.  Girls are brought in from across the country to be bought and sold by the hour.  Many of these victims are children – innocent lives brutally stolen as their young bodies are converted to cash.  This knowledge has empowered several anti-trafficking organizations, law enforcement, and advocates to take a stand in their communities.  Last year at the Super Bowl in Miami, over 160 outreach workers hit the streets, raising awareness with local business and tourists to send a loud message that men who purchase sex with children are criminals.

Building on the momentum of Super Bowls past, Texas Attorney General Abbott is leading the charge to put out the “Not Welcome” mat for traffickers who plan to attend Super Bowl 2011 in North Texas.  Abbott has publically stated that “The Super Bowl is one of the biggest human trafficking events in the United States,” and in response, his office is coordinating with local law enforcement and victims' advocacy groups in preparation for game day.

Another key leader is Texas-based anti-trafficking organization Traffick911, which has launched the “I’m NOT Buying IT” campaign, aimed at deterring the demand for paid sex surrounding the Super Bowl.  This awareness campaign features a PSA with former New England Patriot Devin Wyman, taking a stand to defend the thousands of child victims and asking other men to join him.  The campaign also offers free posters, banners, and informational cards – all items that can help prevent the victimization of children by raising awareness.

Hundreds of thousands of tireless advocates and Change.org members were holding their breath waiting to hear whether The Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010 would pass before Congress adjourned.  Supporters and local coalitions rallied in hope that services and shelter for U.S. citizen victims of trafficking would finally become a reality. Meanwhile, Concerned Women for America (CWA) issued a letter to the House of Representatives urging them to oppose this important piece of legislation. Why is Concerned Women for America against sheltering child sex trafficking victims?

As previously reported by Amanda Kloer on Change.org, The Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010 is the first piece of federal legislation that recognizes the over 100,000 American children sex trafficked in the U.S. Local, state and federal law enforcement constantly lament the lack of shelter options for victims of trafficking, which often forces them to arrest and detain victims in juvenile facilities. This bill, which was stalled when Congress adjourned last week, could have provided important resources to establish the much needed specialized services for child victims of sex trafficking. But CWA was working against that goal.

CWA sent a letter to the House of Representatives stating “CWA believes in keeping the prostitution laws in place, even for minors.” They argued that it is necessary to criminalize the child victim of sex trafficking because “…we must leave the laws in place to create another layer of protection for victims and the bill does not do so. The laws enable police to investigate these crimes and intercede.”  CWA is advocating for accepting a broken system, for accepting injustice based on the continued failure to fund and provide services to child victims of sex trafficking. Ironically, fixing this broken system was the focus of the legislation they opposed.

For many Americans, the holiday season is filled with excitement and fun.  However, for the thousands of victims trapped in sexual slavery, the holidays are a crushing reminder of their lack of freedom.  In response, Kristy Childs, Founder of Veronica’s Voice and survivor of domestic minor sex trafficking has created the You are NOT Forgotten Holiday Walk in Kansas City to send a loud message of support to those still trapped in bondage.

Kristy was in 6^th grade when she was trafficked out of Kansas City by truckers. Her victimization lasted years because when she reached out for help, the only thing she received was time in jail.  In 2000, she turned her tragedy into triumph and opened the doors to Veronica’s Voice, a non-profit organization aimed at providing assistance, opportunity and empowerment to women exploited through commercial sex.

It has taken the bold and courageous voices of survivors like Kristy to change the way victims of child prostitution are viewed and treated.   As a result, Kansas City is finally starting to recognize and address this issue.  Last December, a sting dubbed Operation Guardian Angel resulted in guilty pleas by six men who answered Internet ads for sex with underage girls.  Additionally, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cordes (from the Western District of Missouri) was the first in the country to use the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act to prosecute buyers of children for sex.   Aggressive action by law enforcement to arrest traffickers and the men who fuel the demand is critical to ending sex trafficking.  The other imperative part to this equation is having survivor-informed intervention and restoration for victims once they’ve been rescued.

Are American kids really being sold for sex in Arizona? According to a new report on domestic minor sex trafficking released by Shared Hope International, they sure are. But despite significant problem, anti-trafficking advocates are tackling child sex trafficking in the Grand Canyon state with innovative techniques. And you can support their efforts by telling Arizona lawmakers to stop letting men who buy sex with kids off the hook.

In 2006, the horrifying exploitation of one Phoenix girl, now commonly known as the “dog crate case,” prompted community members and city leaders to rally against those selling children for sex.  The 15-year-old girl was found after being held captive for 42 days in a Phoenix apartment. She was repeatedly forced to have sex with buyers, tortured by threats of violence and gang rape, and imprisoned in a dog cage. Her innocence was sold for $100 to buyer after buyer who responded to ads posted on the Internet.  When police officers discovered the victim, she was stuffed into an 18-inch wide by 18-inch deep hollowed out box spring beneath a bed frame.  Six individuals were sentenced to prison for their involvement her victimization.

Unfortunately, this shocking level of victimization is not an isolated incident. The report documents story after story of young girls targeted and victimized by traffickers. Sergeant Chris Bray of the Phoenix Police Department Vice Unit estimates there are approximately 100-150 traffickers in the greater Phoenix area who have victimized at least one underage girl each.  According to a study conducted by researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) in conjuncture with the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office and Catholic Charities, the average age of entry into prostitution in Phoenix is 14 years old.

Phoenix is not happy that they are considered to be one of the worst cities for child sex trafficking in America, and they are striking back aggressively against the pimps.  The report states, since 2005 the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has tried over 90 cases of traffickers.  However, due to a lack of protective shelter options, the victims continue to be arrested and detained.  There are two shelters in the works, Streetlight and Natalie’s House, but a lack of finances is delaying the opening of both facilities.

Guest blogger Melissa Snow of Shared Hope International discusses their new public awareness campaign to address child trafficking in street prostitution in Washington, DC.  Child sex trafficking happens all over our nation's capitol, sometimes only steps from the White House and blocks from a symbol of the end of slavery -- the Lincoln Memorial.

The words ‘sex', ‘children' and ‘13' are an unlikely combination for a campaign message, but this month in Washington, D.C., Shared Hope International confronts a shocking reality; American children are sold for sex in Washington D.C. This September, in collaboration with the D.C. Human Trafficking Task Force, we're unveiling End Child Sex Trafficking: Kids are NOT for Sale in D.C., an awareness campaign to shed light on child sex trafficking in Washington, D.C. In Metro stations near hot tourist spots, on over 200 metro buses, within the Adult Classifieds and Erotic Sections of CityPaper, and on a bus shelter on 14^th and K streets, bright yellow advertisements catch the eyes of D.C. residents and visitors that scream messages such as "13 is the average age children are forced into prostitution".

These advertisements, although shocking, reveal that human trafficking is not just an international issue -- it occurs in our nation's capital. Along intersections such as 14^th and K Streets, famously populated by lobbyists during the day, and along New York Avenue, young American girls are exploited by a pimp and sold for sex many times a night. These young girls' lives are risked every day when they take to the streets to earn money for their pimp. The advertising campaign, Kids are NOT for Sale in D.C., will make D.C. residents and tourists aware of sex trafficking in Washington D.C. and warn off potential buyers of sex, that buying a child for sex can result in a life sentence.

The Kids are Not for Sale Campaign will run throughout the month of September and is in timing with D.C. Human Trafficking Awareness month. Sponsored by the D.C. Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaboration of local governmental and nonprofit organizations, the Task Force hopes to engage the local community to stop Washington D.C. from becoming a breeding ground for traffickers.

The Washington D.C. area has been identified as a sex trafficking hub, and the D.C. Human Trafficking Task Force is aggressively tackling predators who attempt to buy or sell children in the District. Just last week, Shelby Lewis was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. and charged with five counts of Sex Trafficking of Children and four counts of Interstate Transportation of a Minor for Purposes of Prostitution. Lewis, a Maryland resident, brought underage girls - including a 12 year old - into D.C. where he forced them into prostitution. If convicted, Lewis faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Shelby Lewis' case proves that human trafficking is occurring in Washington, D.C.; however, his arrest proves that human trafficking is not tolerated in our Nation's capital.

Although sex trafficking is a difficult topic to face, for the young girls and boys who are trapped in this modern day slave trade we must confront and overthrow this organized crime. American kids are being victimized in our nation's capitol and we need your help to stand up to sex trafficking in Washington D.C. Not on our streets, not in our city, not in our Nations' capital - Washington D.C. will not allow the sale of American children for sex.

Photo credit: Ed Yourdon

This was the topic of an unprecedented congressional briefing on capitol hill that took place yesterday.  Co- sponsored by the Caucus on Victims' Rights and the Caucus on Human Trafficking, Congressman Chris Smith, Congressman Ted Poe, and Congressman  Jim Costa were attentively listening to the challenges and recommendations of the panelists in addressing child sex slavery in America.  In addition to the Congressman in attendance - the room was packed with nearly 80 congressional staffers and professionals.  A clear message was sent that we are concerned about every victim exploited through the crime of human trafficking and that includes hundreds of thousands of American kids - every year. 

The congressional briefing was spurred by the National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America's Prostituted Children written by Shared Hope International.  The report reveals the shocking findings of three years of intensive research on the issue of child sex trafficking in America from ten locations across the U.S.  While the research locations ranged from areas as diverse as Salt Lake City, Utah to Clearwater, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada the findings were hauntingly similar - underage American girls are the bulk of victims in commercial sex markets and are too often being arrested rather than rescued.  Additionally, nearly every interview revealed that American child sex trafficking victims were being misidentified or not identified at all by Child Protective Services and social service providers who are responsible for providing proper treatment and care.  The arrest and lack of specialized services for these children is causing revictimization. 

Important key findings:

• At least 100,000 children are used in prostitution every year in the United States.
• The average age of entry into prostitution is 13 years old.
• Prostituted girls are often controlled by a pimp who recruits them into sex trafficking by posing as a boyfriend, caretaker, and protector.
• The 3 primary manifestations of child sex trafficking in America is: pimp-controlled prostitution, familial prostitution, and/or survival sex.
• The business of sex trafficking of America's youth is flourishing as demand for commercial sex with young, innocent girls and boys continues to occur with little and low punishment.
• Child sexual slavery is fueled by a cultural of tolerance which glorifies pimping and normalizes the sexual exploitation of children.

Domestic minor sex trafficking is a serious problem in the U.S., and one that will not be solved overnight.  But the first step is admitting to ourselves that it's not just foreign kids who are vulnerable- it's our kids.  And this report is the first step to learning to admit that.

Shared Hope International has conducted field research on child sex trafficking across the U.S.  This research found underage girls are the bulk of victims in commercial sex markets - this includes pornography, stripping, escort services, and prostitution.  There are three main manifestations of child sex trafficking in America: pimp-controlled prostitution, familial prostitution, and "survival" sex.  Melissa Snow, Director of Programs for Shared Hope International, will be bringing you periodic updates from the field: the reality of child sex trafficking in America.

It's happening across the U.S.- from Maryland to Minnesota, Iowa to Utah, American children as young as 12 years old are being sold by pimps in prostitution.  By law, any child in prostitution is a victim of human trafficking.  And how can such rampant sexual exploitation of America's youth exist? Pimp control. We use "pimp control" to refer to the targeting, recruiting, and maintaining of a person for commercial sexual exploitation- in many cases, a child.

Here in America, the average age a child is targeted and recruited into sex trafficking is 13 years old.  Pimps prey on the innocence of youth because it provides them with a target that can be romanced, tricked and then brutally forced into the sex trafficking market. Pimps use a variety of techniques to target and recruit a child into prostitution, from immediate force and violence as demonstrated in the case of two underage girls from Toledo, to the more common "loverboy" or boyfriend approach.

With either approach, pimps prey on and target girls who project a low self-esteem, or who have run away from home due to familial physical or sexual abuse.  This provides the pimps with the opportunity to fill the gap of the lover or caretaker role as both "daddy and boyfriend". The pimp will invest as much time as necessary into securing the trust and loyalty of his victim.  He will fulfill all his promises, buy her nice things and say all the caring words that she has been longing for -  biding time to turn the seemingly caring relationship into one of sexual exploitation and torture.

Mickey Royal, a self-proclaimed pimp who has written a book "The Pimp Game: Instruction Guide" explains the process:

"This is the first step in getting her to totally depend on you.  You'll start to dress her, think for her, own her.  Her family will become her No. 1 enemy and she'll attack them with all she has because they are trying to keep her from that which brings her joy - You.  If you and your victim are sexually active, then slow it down.  Once a week is fine.  After sex, take her shopping for one item.  Hair and/or nails are fine.  She will develop a feeling of accomplishment.  The shopping after a month will be replaced with cash.  The love making turns into raw sex.  She'll start to crave the intimacy and be willing to get back into your good graces.  After you have broken her spirit she has no sense of self-value.  Now pimp, put a price tag on the item you have manufactured."

Once she is locked in to this exploitation, it is extremely difficult to get out.  The pimp controls every movement both physically and psychologically.  He tells her what to wear, how much to charge, and who to serve.  She is often not allowed to come home until the full quota of clients is met.  All of the money is handed over to the pimp each night.

While the statistics of child sex trafficking in America are daunting it is clear from the recent arrests of child sex traffickers that awareness is leading to victim identification and response.  We must applaud this aggressive action and encourage more awareness.  Sex trafficking of children in America is real.  It's happening here, and we can take action to stop it.