The article Sex Trafficking in the U.S.

by Rachel Chinapen, is an
important read for anyone unfamiliar with the prevalence of Sex
Trafficking in our society, not only abroad, but also very close to home.
Many victims of sex trafficking have been exploited into servitude
under false pretenses, such as Shandra Woworuntu, who was lured into
the underground industry from Indonesia, under the impression she
would be working as a waitress at a hotel in America. However, once
she arrived in the states, she found herself stripped of her identity and
trapped, literally and figuratively, and found herself living a life of
forced prostitution. In some cases, children in the states are exposed to
the industry through boyfriends, older men and social media, whereby
individuals are lured through manipulation of traffickers who seek to
build trusting relationships and prey upon those who have a history
of trauma, abuse, and neglect. A big part of the problem is the ability
for police officers and government agencies being able to correctly
identify the difference between someone who is willingly in the sex
industry and someone who is being exploited. In recent years, many
organizations have risen, seeking to prevent, educate, and inform
individuals who are at risk of sexual exploitation. Laws and legislations
are also adapting to more effectively deal with understanding the
nature of the situations and backgrounds of victims, while also
enforcing stronger penalties to the traffickers or johns. It is agreed
universally that services for survivors and education for those at risk of
exploitation is key to abolishing the sex trafficking industry.
Prior to reading the article, I was under the impression that sex
trafficking, albeit real and troubling, was an issue half a world away in
countries less developed than our own. Its enlightening to hear about
how wide and far-reaching this criminal enterprise is, but also how
unaware most people are that this is occurring in their own backyards.
This is an issue that is critical for many youth in our nation, and
abroad, to understand their potential risk of exposure and how to reach
out to the proper authorities if found in such a position. In many
instances, it seems to me that the victims arent aware of the true
nature of the johns and find themselves in need-based
circumstances where they rely upon the traffickers. I believe there
needs to be more of an emphasis on understanding the prevalence of
sex trafficking and being able to identify it, especially for police officers
and those in our own government. Through prevention, education, and
awareness, we will be better suited to help those who are being
exploited and those at risk of exploitation.