Presented by Meceola Human Trafficking Task Force Bringing Awareness to Mecosta and Osceola Counties United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime Blue Heart Campaign Against Human Trafficking For more information about our Task Force, please contact Dee Van Horn at

SEX TRAFFICKING- IS IT HERE? Estimates are there 100, ,000 youth at risk daily in the United States. Michigan is ranked in the top 10 for trafficking and Western Michigan has an estimate 2400 youth trafficked daily. So…….. Do you know what sex trafficking is? Does it happen in your community? Who are the traffickers? How do they find their victims? Who is most at risk? What signs should you be looking for? What should you do if you suspect a victim? Contact the Meceola Human Trafficking Task Force to schedule a program to answer these questions and more. Call Dee VanHorn at to schedule.

Human Trafficking Worldwide Worldwide, nearly 21 million people are victims of forced labor [human trafficking] …bringing in profits of over 150 billion dollars (ILO).

Trafficking Victims Protection Act Sex Trafficking The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for a commercial sex act, in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. Labor Trafficking The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. 22 USC § 7102

Child Trafficking in the U.S. (12/2007 – 9/2014) Source: Polaris Project, National Human Trafficking Resource Center

What about Michigan? * Michigan has the one of the highest rates of child trafficking as well as one of the highest overall rates for all human trafficking in the nation. * Michigan has had cases of traffickers prostituting minors to Michigan truck stops and then over to hotels in Toledo. * Michigan’s proximity to the Canadian border and waterways increases likelihood of trafficking in the state.

Cities in Michigan with the most calls received by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and reported by the Polaris Project include: Detroit Grand Rapids Ann Arbor Kalamazoo Lansing Mackinac Island Major gathering places, such as the North American International Auto Show or major sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and Art Prize are prime target areas for human trafficking. Western Michigan has 2400 youth trafficked daily Source: Rebecca McDonald, Women at Risk International (WAR)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING It is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Second only to the drug industry. You can sell a package of cocaine once. You can sell a girl or boy over and over again. Between 100,000 and 300,000 children are at risk for sexual exploitation in the U.S., with an average age of 11 to 14 years old. Source: U.S. Department of Justice, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children As many as 2.8 million children run away each year in the U.S. Within 48 hours of running away, one third of these children are lured or recruited by traffickers.

Who are most vulnerable? Victims of Prior Abuse/Violence Youth living in Poverty Runaway and Homeless Youth Youth Lacking Strong Support Networks Unaccompanied and/or Undocumented Foreign Youth Youth with Special Needs LGBTQ youth Victims of Prior Abuse/Violence Youth living in Poverty Runaway and Homeless Youth Youth Lacking Strong Support Networks Unaccompanied and/or Undocumented Foreign Youth Youth with Special Needs LGBTQ youth

What do we know about the victims? 3% - Kidnapped by strangers 35% - Trafficked by Family Members 62% - Tricked by friends, “Romeo” boyfriends, others Source: Presentation by Theresa Flores on 10/6/2014 Average age of entry into prostitution and pornography – boys – girls It is estimated that 76% of transactions for sex with underage girls start on the internet Source: U. S. Department of Justice, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Who are the Traffickers ? Traffickers are people who exploit others for profit Pimps Gangs Criminal Networks Intimate Partners Family Members Businesses

Where Does Recruitment Occur? Party Stores and grocery stores Libraries Online and social media Social hang outs Schools Neighborhood Bus stops

Where Does Trafficking Occur? Sex TraffickingLabor Trafficking * Private Residences * Online Exploitation * Hotels & Motels * Truck Stops * Street Prostitution * Escort Services * Strip Clubs and Bars * Domestic Servitude * Agriculture * Traveling Sales Crews * Factories * Construction * Service Industries * Small Businesses * Restaurants and Bars

What are the signs of a person being trafficked? Fearful or submissive behavior Untreated medical problems such as bruising and broken bones Poor hygiene, malnutrition, and dehydration Wearing “gifts” of expensive jewelry or clothing Person doesn’t know their address Has no privacy and is never alone

What can we do? Get educated. * Read Literature * Explore websites * Watch the news * Attend workshops, seminars or meetings to learn more * Review the checklists for potential indicators

Protecting the children in our life: * Learn about what they are experiencing or their challenges * Check out the internet resources they are using * Learn the names and phone numbers of their friends and family * Work to build resiliency factors with our children* Mentor. * If you don’t mentor the children in our communities, the pimps, dealers and other negative members of society will.

Spread the word. Tell others about this atrocity Encourage them to get involved Text BeFree (233733)