Human trafficking happens "anytime and anywhere" impacting more than 12 million children and adults worldwide, according to the 2010 U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report. The International Labour Organization and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) estimate that 1.2 million of these victims are under the age of 18. As many as 17,000 to 20,000 foreign national victims may be lured and exploited here in the United States each year and, with the recognition that any child or youth victimized thorugh commercial sexual exploitation is a victim of a severe form of human trafficking, the number of US citizen victims coud be in tens of thousands.
Children twelve years old and younger (as young as babies) are included in the numbers exploited and abused by traffickers. When children are trafficked, their right to develop in a nurturing and loving environment is stolen from them. Their right to be free and protected from sexual, physical, and emotional abuse is also stolen. At times, individuals whom they perceive as their protectors and caregivers are the ones that prey on them. The consequences--particularly of sexual trafficking--are far-reaching, extending to an inability of the youngster to ever develop the capacity to trust others and the development of mental and behavioral health issues. Children come into contact with sex traffickers and can remain in human bondage through a variety of mechanisms: These include organized groups regularly interfacing with foreign national children, peers whose purpose is to serve as an intermediary to gain the trust of a teen who may not have positive community and family connections, pimps, and even family members.
Protecting children from this horrendous reality starts with awareness. While some trafficked youngsters are already protected through national programs and some are in public child welfare programs, dioceses have a key role to play in helping identify and protect child victims of trafficking.
These indicators were compiled through joint efforts of The Anti-Trafficking Program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) staff and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime:
In recent years, transnational criminal organizations and affiliated domestic gangs have expanded from drug and firearm trafficking to the trafficking of human beings. In the past, the U.S. Department of State has estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year. This figure does not include victims who are trafficked within the country each year.
California – a populous border state with a significant immigrant population and the world's fifth largest economy – is one of the nation's top destination states for trafficking human beings. In California, 1,656 trafficking cases were reported in 2018, the majority of them involving commercial sexual exploitation. The FBI has identified California as one of the top four states for trafficked persons according to the mayor’s office, and the Bay Area in general is a national hotspot.
Senate Bill 1193 (Steinberg) In 2013, the State enacted the bill which added Section 52.6 to the California Civil Code. Section 52.6 mandates that specified businesses and other establishments are required to post a human trafficking model notice created by the Attorney General's Office. This model notice must include information related to support and services available to human trafficking victims and be posted in a conspicuous place in full view of the public.
Senate Bill 225 (Stern) In 2017, required the model notice to include a specified number that victims can text for help.
Assembly Bill 260 (Santiago) In 2017, required that hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns be added to the list of businesses required to post the model notice.
Assembly Bill 2034(Kalra) In 2018, increased access to human trafficking resources by allowing local agencies and school districts to seek reimbursement for certain costs mandated by the model notice posting requirement.
Senate Bill 630 (Stern) In 2019, helped provide additional clarity on the role of local governments in adopting and enforcing rules at the local level to prevent slavery or human trafficking.
All other California Legislation found here: https://oag.ca.gov/human-trafficking/legislation
Our most Recent Human Trafficking Webinar can be viewed on our Youtube Channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xSDx4CBYv0
If you are interested in getting involved please contact: Prolife@sfarch.org
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is part of the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking