Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery where people, mostly women and girls, are forced into labor or commercial sex acts against their will. Sex trafficking generates $32 billion in revenue annually and takes various forms like prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. Poverty, violence, and false promises of good jobs are among the root causes that leave many vulnerable to trafficking. Victims subjected to abuse, debt bondage, and health risks. Corruption in governments and among UN officials also enables trafficking. National and international efforts aim to support victims and combat trafficking through hotlines, benefits, investigations, and awareness programs.

1. Sex TraffickingBy: Douglas Norton

2. Human TraffickingHuman trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which people, mostly women and girls, are abducted, deceived into situations of forced labor. Human trafficking includes buying, selling and moving people from one location to another against their will.Trafficking occurs in unregulated and unprotected labor sectors including agricultural and industrial production, domestic service and sex work.

3. Types of Sex TraffickingProstitutionPornographyStrippingLive sex showsMail order bridesMilitary prostitutionSex tourism

4. Human TraffickingThe U.N. estimates that one to four million people are trafficked worldwide each year. Human trafficking wasthe third most lucrative criminal activity in the world. It is now emerging as the number one in 2010Sex Trafficking generates 32billion in revenue

5. The root causes of traffickingViolencePolitical conflictPovertyA promise of a good job in another country• A false marriage proposal turned into a bondage situation• Being sold into the sex trade by parents, husbands, boyfriends• Being kidnapped by traffickers

6. PovertyWomen constitute 70 percent of the world's 1.3 billion absolute poorMaking less then 1$ a day.Families living in absolute poverty can not afford to support all children. -sell a child to support family. -In many places, girls are considered less valuable than boys, and are more likely to be sold.Women are promised high wages and suitable working conditions.

7. The great majority understand they will be prostitutes, but believe they will earn $ 1,000 to 2,000 per week. 20 to 40 times more than they can earn at home.Inna Shvab, la Strada Ukraine's manager of social assistance and victim support reports the harsh reality of sex trafficking.- Usually found living with 10 women in one bedroom apartment. 5 or less beds. - 20 to 50customers a day.- unsanitary conditions, without water. They are forced to have sex without a condom, because then, the price is two to three times higher."

8. Sex traffickers frequently subject their victims to debt-bondage.The trafficker tell their victim that they owe them money ( Living expenses, transport into the country)Must pledge their personal services to repay the debt.

9. Variety of methods to condition their victims.StarvationConfinementBeatings Physical abuseRapeGang rapeThreats of violence against the victim or victims families.Forced drug use(VIDEO)

10. Health RisksDrug and alcohol addictionSTDsBroken bones, head drama.Menstrual problemsForced abortionsPsychological drama

11. Ukraine: CorruptionThe Interior Ministry reported that the number of prosecutions for labor trafficking increased from 3 in 2006 to 23 in 2007.The prosecutions were usually dismissed or punishment was done with probation.

12. Corrupt Government95 cases resulting in 83 convictions of trafficking offenders- A judge ordered probation rather than jail time.The percent of human traffickers receiving jail time has decreased in 2007 from 44 percent to 36 percent. “Ukraine failed to demonstrate any efforts to vigorously investigate, prosecute, convict, or sentence government officials complicit in trafficking this year.” VIDEOFrom Bosnia to Israel, women are sold for anything from $800 to $15,000, depending on the quality of the "product.“ The UN has been known to help and support these transactions.Kathryn Bolkovac, an American women working for the UN in Bosnia won a case on trafficking and prostitution racketing involving other service members.Tip off brothels of police raids. Help export and import women.

13. Health Human Services(HHS)trafficking victims who are non-U.S. citizens to receive Federally funded benefits and services to the same extent as a refugee. Victims of trafficking who are U.S. citizens do not need to be certified to receive benefits.

14. National Human Trafficking Resource Center NHTRCtoll-free hotline, available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

15. Every 2 minute a child is being prepared for sexual exploitationAverage victim forced to have sex over 40 times a dayAverage age of traffic victim is 14The total market value of illicit Sex Trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion

16. http://www.crisisaid.org/traffickstats.htmlhttp://www.globalfundforwomen.org/cms/hot-topics/trafficking/trafficking---grants--resources.htmlhttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/fact_sex.pdfwww.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/sex_traff_us.pdfwww.soroptimist.org/trafficking/trafficking.html