What Is Sex Trafficking?

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, sex trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years.

Prostitute is the term most often used to describe sex-trafficked girls and women. The problem with the term is that is connotes a person – usually a woman – who wants such a life and has chosen it freely.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead these are people who want out and are trapped. Such an egregious misunderstanding of their situation leads many victims to be treated like scum or criminals by the very people who should be rescuing them, like law enforcement.

Ninety-eight percent of those trafficked are female. Traffickers, or pimps, look for girls and women who are beaten down by life circumstances and whose desperation can be used to their advantage. The traffickers tell them everything they want to hear: they are beautiful, they will be free from their current circumstances, they will be loved, sheltered, fed, and given material goods including drugs and alcohol. The trafficker often first plays the role of loving boyfriend before switching over into their pimp role. The relationship swings back and forth between abusive and attentive. Pimps will use addictions to drugs and alcohol, violence, sexual assault, and threats to control their victims. Trafficked girls and women are sold repeatedly, from 10 to 25 times a day. Even more horrifying, a rising trend in the industry is the selling of children by their own parents.

Sex trafficking is an uncomfortable and unacceptable topic for many. We want to live in a bubble where such an evil does not exist. Just the thought of it stirs up emotions of horror, shame, fear, anger, and deep despair. Unfortunately, that kind of mindset helps to perpetuate this very real, very destructive modern-day slavery. A slavery that crosses all boundaries, reaching every economic level. It's presence is in the city, suburbs, and countryside. It affects boys, girls, and the transgendered. It’s sold to members of every walk of life -- including law enforcement, church leadership, and others who should be protecting children. Even though it is an ugly truth, we need to spread awareness as the first step in eradicating it from society.

We'd like to think, "Not in my hometown," yet as of 2017, Arizona was third in the nation for sex trafficking. On average, one child and two adults are rescued from sex trafficking in Arizona every day. Keep in mind also that these statistics represent only the ones who are found and rescued. Because of its clandestine nature, it is hard to know exactly how many are still to be found. Our proximity to the Mexican border also is relevant, because one in three minors who cross the border illegally will be sex trafficked.

Once rescued, the victims begin the process of healing and rebuilding their lives. In order to move from victim to victor, they need the support of compassionate people like you. They need, first and foremost, a safe place to live, food, clothing, ongoing therapy, an education, life skills, and community dedicated to their success. And once they have rekindled a dream for a new life, they need support transitioning to independence.

Applejack's Ranch is being established to accomplish those goals for teenage girls rescued from trafficking. We will be a resource and firm foundation for them. If learning about their plight has stirred your heart, help us by being part of the solution. Consider donating, volunteering, or becoming a business sponsor.