Human Trafficking is one of the gravest human rights abuses in history, and its effects are deeply shattering to the mind, body, and soul. Victims face brutal physical, sexual, and psychological violence every day.

US Law defines sex trafficking

as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts against their will. Trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, or trafficker, take an action (i.e. induces, recruits, harbors, transports, provides) and then employs the mean of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts.

 

Men, women, and children from every ethnicity and every fabric of society are victims of human trafficking. The International Labour Organization estimates that:

25% are children (10 million)

25% (10 million) of victims are men

75% are women and girls (30 million)

In the U.S., it is estimated that between 240,000-325,000 children are at risk for sex trafficking each year. Put another way, 1 out of every 6 children who are runaways are likely victims of sex trafficking.

Risk Factors

No community is immune. Human trafficking reaches every culture and demographic:
Common Risk Factors:

  • Marginalized Youth

  • Child Welfare

  • Mental Illness

  • Undocumented immigrant status

  • Family background of violence and abuse

  • Homelessness

  • Poverty

  • Sexual Minority

  • Drug Abuse

  • Need to be loved, low self-esteem, and desperation

The Commercial Sex Industry

Today, our society permits or advocates for a commercial sex industry that supports sex trafficking through its underlying attitude that it’s okay to buy women’s and men’s bodies for sex. We cannot hope to fight sex trafficking unless we fight the underlying mindset that permits and advocates for pornography, striping, and prostitution.

Prostitution

According to some studies, 89% of women enslaved in prostitution desperately want to escape. Often our society sees prostitution as a choice, but women and children are often compelled or forced to enter prostitution due to a lack of choice because of poverty or through coercion or abuse. Catalyst believes God sees all women and girls who are trapped in prostitution as equally valuable and precious. deserving of unconditional love and freedom from their bondage.

Pornography

Pornography and sex trafficking are inseparably linked. Pornography does not condemn sexual violence. Pornography does not condemn illegal, harmful sexual activity. Pornography does not condemn the sexual objectification and degrading of women.

Pornography normalizes all of these. And our American society is saturated in it.

 

Hope to Heal

Rescue is only the beginning of freedom for survivors of human trafficking. We believe survivors deserve the opportunity for restoration. Catalyst Ministries works to rescue and provide a safe haven for women who have been abused, exploited and enslaved.