2. What? Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Under federal law, any minor under the age of 18 years induced into commercial sex is a victim of sex trafficking—regardless of whether or not the trafficker used force, fraud, or coercion.

3. Who? U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, women, men, children, and LGBTQ individuals can be victims of sex trafficking. Runaway and homeless youth, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, war or conflict, or social discrimination are frequently targeted by traffickers.

4. Where? Sex trafficking is a form of modern slavery that exists throughout the United States and globally. It exists within diverse and unique sets of venues and business including fake massage businesses, escort services, residential brothels, in public on city streets and in truck stops, strip clubs, hostess clubs, hotels and motels, and elsewhere. No country is free from trafficking. It can happen ANYWHERE.

6. Why? Individuals may be promised with a high paying job or a romantic relationship, where they first establish an initial period of false love and feigned affection. After they are showered with gifts, affection, fast money, physical and emotional affect, etc., traffickers employ control tactics Control tactics include: physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, confiscation of identification and money, isolation from friends and family, and even renaming victims. This is when victims becomes trapped.

7. The facts At least 20.9 million adults and children are bought and sold worldwide into commercial sexual servitude, forced labor and bonded labor. Women were referenced as victims in 85% of sex trafficking cases, and men in 40% of labor trafficking cases. Between 70–90 percent of commercially sexually exploited children in the United States have been sexually abused prior to entering ‘the life’ and are runaways with a history of complex trauma that usually begins with a dysfunctional or neglectful family. The number one state for sex trafficking in the US is California.

8. Trafficking Around the globe

9. Recognizing the signs Living and work conditions: high security measures, are they free to come and go as they please, is unpaid or paid very little, have a large debt they are unable to pay off Poor mental health or abnormal behavior: fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid, avoids eye contact Lack of control: has few or no personal belongings, not in control of own money or personal identification documents, is not able to speak for themselves Other: unable to clarify his/her address, lack of knowledge or whereabouts of what city they're in, loss sense of time, numerous inconsistent stories

10. Need to talk to someone? Are you, or do you know of someone who is, or has been a victim of human trafficking? Call the trafficking hotline open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ask questions or report a trafficking situation. 1-888-373-7888 Support is provided in more than 200 languages.

12. Resources http://sharedhope.org/learn/what-is-sex-trafficking/ http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex- trafficking-in-the-us http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org/type- trafficking/sex-trafficking http://www.polarisproject.org/human- trafficking/overview/human-trafficking-trends http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/10-surprising- and-counterintuitive-facts-about-child-sex-trafficking http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org/what- human-trafficking/recognizing-signs