Over the past year sex-trafficking has received a lot more attention in the world, but it is long overdue. Why have there been so many years of silence? Wouldn’t anyone want to do something about an injustice that almost everyone can agree on?
It is easy to lose sight of what God calls us to when we see the darkness of the world. It is easy to question and it is even easier to do everything to forget about it. No one wants to think about the millions in sexual servitude. It rises up feelings of anger, frustration, sorrow… it reminds me of how Jesus looked upon Jerusalem and wept for His people. The difference though is that Jesus didn’t just weep, He responded (Luke 19:41-42).
I was convicted that I have believed lies or misconceptions in order to ignore the problem. We are tempted to stifle feelings because heart change leads to life change which leads to loving-sacrifice. Stifling feelings is not the right way to respond and we must quickly break the power of lies, pray and take action. Below are just five of the common lies or misconceptions. Please read the facts below and allow them to move you to a place where Jesus was; looking upon Jerusalem. Allow God to work on your heart. Weep, pray, and then do something.
Misconception #1: Sex-Trafficking isn’t that big of a problem.
Sex Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and the second largest after the drug trade (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The sex-trafficking market value exceeds $32 billion (U.N.).
Misconception #2: Sex-Trafficking only happens in third world countries.
It is estimated that 14,500 slaves are trafficked into the U.S. each year and of those trafficked in the U.S. a large amount are from the U.S. The United States is number two on the reported country of origin (Free the Slaves). Not only are people trafficked, but minors as young as 12 years old are trafficked in the United States (Polaris Project).
Misconception #3: Porn and strip clubs have no connection to sex-trafficking.
Strippers are often trafficked to work a different job or were never told they would be sold as prostitutes. This leads to illegal sex-trafficking “behind the scenes” at strip clubs. Consumers are not always buying illegal sex blindly. Consumers at strip clubs were asked if they thought the girls were under 18 in a survey and 49% of them believed they were. (Polaris Project) “Without the demand the supply would dry up” (Unearthed). There are 116,000 searched for “child pornography” every day (A Spiritual Awakening, Desiring God). Porn feeds a demand for sex.
Misconception #4: The trafficked want to be or are willing to sell themselves.
The average work day for someone in a brothel in the U.S. is 12 hours with up to 48 men a day (Polaris Project). No one would want to do that! Often girls are recruited to be prostitutes, but soon find themselves in slavery to a pimp who takes all their identification and creates an environment of forced dependence. Pimps will often inflict repeated rapes and confinement to make the girls submit to them. 59% of women sex workers in the U.S. say they have been coerced (Polaris Project).
Misconception #5: Those trafficked are mostly adult women.
There are 2 million trafficked children victims worldwide (UNICEF). Of all those trafficked 80% are women and 50% are minors (U.S. Department of State). In 2008, the FBI found that 2,800 ads of prostituted children were posted on Craigslist (Polaris Project).
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
Carly Winterstein
Resources
Polaris Project, Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
IJM, Sex-Trafficking Fact Sheet
Free the Slaves
A Spiritual Awakening, Living in a Sex World
Women at Risk
It is easy to lose sight of what God calls us to when we see the darkness of the world. It is easy to question and it is even easier to do everything to forget about it. No one wants to think about the millions in sexual servitude. It rises up feelings of anger, frustration, sorrow… it reminds me of how Jesus looked upon Jerusalem and wept for His people. The difference though is that Jesus didn’t just weep, He responded (Luke 19:41-42).
I was convicted that I have believed lies or misconceptions in order to ignore the problem. We are tempted to stifle feelings because heart change leads to life change which leads to loving-sacrifice. Stifling feelings is not the right way to respond and we must quickly break the power of lies, pray and take action. Below are just five of the common lies or misconceptions. Please read the facts below and allow them to move you to a place where Jesus was; looking upon Jerusalem. Allow God to work on your heart. Weep, pray, and then do something.
Misconception #1: Sex-Trafficking isn’t that big of a problem.
Sex Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and the second largest after the drug trade (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The sex-trafficking market value exceeds $32 billion (U.N.).
Misconception #2: Sex-Trafficking only happens in third world countries.
It is estimated that 14,500 slaves are trafficked into the U.S. each year and of those trafficked in the U.S. a large amount are from the U.S. The United States is number two on the reported country of origin (Free the Slaves). Not only are people trafficked, but minors as young as 12 years old are trafficked in the United States (Polaris Project).
Misconception #3: Porn and strip clubs have no connection to sex-trafficking.
Strippers are often trafficked to work a different job or were never told they would be sold as prostitutes. This leads to illegal sex-trafficking “behind the scenes” at strip clubs. Consumers are not always buying illegal sex blindly. Consumers at strip clubs were asked if they thought the girls were under 18 in a survey and 49% of them believed they were. (Polaris Project) “Without the demand the supply would dry up” (Unearthed). There are 116,000 searched for “child pornography” every day (A Spiritual Awakening, Desiring God). Porn feeds a demand for sex.
Misconception #4: The trafficked want to be or are willing to sell themselves.
The average work day for someone in a brothel in the U.S. is 12 hours with up to 48 men a day (Polaris Project). No one would want to do that! Often girls are recruited to be prostitutes, but soon find themselves in slavery to a pimp who takes all their identification and creates an environment of forced dependence. Pimps will often inflict repeated rapes and confinement to make the girls submit to them. 59% of women sex workers in the U.S. say they have been coerced (Polaris Project).
Misconception #5: Those trafficked are mostly adult women.
There are 2 million trafficked children victims worldwide (UNICEF). Of all those trafficked 80% are women and 50% are minors (U.S. Department of State). In 2008, the FBI found that 2,800 ads of prostituted children were posted on Craigslist (Polaris Project).
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
Carly Winterstein
Resources
Polaris Project, Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
IJM, Sex-Trafficking Fact Sheet
Free the Slaves
A Spiritual Awakening, Living in a Sex World
Women at Risk