Texas ALP's 59th Annual Education Conference May 3, 2014 Sarah Gunter

 Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery.  Defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act  Two Primary Forms

 Movement  Nationality  Socioeconomic Levels  Gender  Choosing prostitution

 Survivors  Traffickers

 27 MILLION  Second largest and fastest growing illegal activity in the world.  Potential profits are estimated in the BILLIONS  It is estimated that 26% of all trafficked people in the world are children.  Over 100,000 US children are at risk of sexual exploitation  Average age of entry into prostitution is for girls and for boys and transgender youths.

 Texas is home to major human trafficking corridors.  20% of all U.S. human trafficking have been transported through Texas  10-12% of national hotline calls originate in Texas  Houston and El Paso are named the most intense trafficking jurisdictions in the country by the DOJ

 Basic Economics  Lack of Awareness/Education  Victims do not self-identify

 Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000  Subsequent Reauthorizations  2003  2005  2008  Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 2013  Passed by both the Senate and the House earlier this year

 Texas has criminal laws on the books governing both Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking.  Legislature has also:  Created Human Trafficking Task Force  Required posting of the National Hotline  Provided for victim assistance  Has made other Civil Remedies available for victims.

 Legislative Priorities  Ways you can help  Talk about the issue  Educate yourself and others  Work with current anti-trafficking advocacy organizations  Increase and encourage political will