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:
-
AGE of victim
-
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
