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Types of Sex Trafficking

Counter Trafficking

Victims of trafficking are forced into various forms of commercial sexual exploitation including prostitution, pornography, stripping, live-sex shows, mail-order brides, military prostitution and sex tourism.

Victims trafficked into prostitution and pornography are usually involved in the most exploitive forms of commercial sex operations. Sex trafficking operations can be found in highly-visible venues such as street prostitution, as well as more underground systems such as closed-brothels that operate out of residential homes. Sex trafficking also takes place in a variety of public and private locations such as massage parlors, spas, strip clubs and other fronts for prostitution. Victims may start off dancing or stripping in clubs and then be coerced into situations of prostitution and pornography.

Trafficking vs. Smuggling
Trafficking is not smuggling. There are several important differences between trafficking and smuggling:

Human Trafficking Vs.

Migrant Smuggling

Victims either do not consent to their situations, or if they initially consent, that consent is rendered meaningless by the actions of the traffickers.

Ongoing exploitation of victims to generate illicit profits for the traffickers.

Trafficking need not entail the physical movement of a person (but must entail the exploitation of the person for labor or commercial sex)

Migrant smuggling includes those who consent to being smuggled.

Smuggling is a breach of the integrity of a nation’s borders.

Smuggling is always transnational.

Trafficking in persons is a heinous crime and human rights abuse. The most vulnerable members of the global community, those who have limited access to social services and protections, are targeted by traffickers for exploitation. Steps have been taken, however, to locate victims, reinstate their inherent rights, provide them with protection and services, and prosecute offenders.

No country is immune from human trafficking. Victims are forced into prostitution or to work in quarries and sweatshops, on farms, as domestic servants, as child soldiers, and in many forms of involuntary servitude. Traffickers often target children and young women. They routinely trick victims with promises of employment, educational opportunities, marriage and a better life. (U.S. Dept. of State, June 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report, Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of State)

Human trafficking is the third most profitable criminal activity, following only drug and arms trafficking. An estimated $9.5 billion is generated in annual revenue from all trafficking activities, with at least $4 billion attributed to the worldwide brothel industry.

Source for information: Department of Health & Human Services, “Rescue & Restore: Victims of Human Trafficking”

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