PROSTITUTE or SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIM?

90%

OF ALL STREET PROSTITUTES IN ALBUQUERQUE FIT THE FEDERAL DEFINITION OF CURRENT OR FORMER SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIM

30%

are current trafficking victims who at this moment are being forced by another person to sell sex

60%

are former trafficking victims meaning that in the past someone has forced them to sell sex or they started selling sex while underage

What is the federal definition of a sex trafficking victim?

In determining if someone is a sex trafficking victim, the federal government looks at two things:

1. AGE of victim

2. If they are being FORCED to sell sex

   • The “force” used by another person can include emotional manipulation, threats, lies and violence

This results in two "categories" of victim:

CATEGORY 1:

UNDER AGE 18

AND

NOT FORCED

to sell sex

CATEGORY 2:

ANY AGE

AND

FORCED

to sell sex

An adult who sells sex voluntarily is NOT a sex trafficking victim