Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion; for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Such force or coercion can be subtle or overt and tend to highlight the vulnerabilities of potential victims. This crime has been identified as modern-day slavery, where its victims lose even their most basic human rights.
Juvenile human trafficking involves any person under the age of eighteen. Most commonly, these children are used in either sexual or labor exploitation including child pornographic exploitation, live or online sex shows, and commercial sexual exploitation; or in instances of labor trafficking, juveniles are commonly found being forced into domestic work, agricultural, or service industries.
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Children & Youth who are at risk for trafficking:Â
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• Youth in the foster care system
• Youth who identify as LGBTQ
• Youth who are runaways, throwaways, or other unhoused youth
• Youth with disabilities physical or mental disabilities
• Youth with mental health and/or substance abuse disorders
• Youth with a history of sexual abuse
• Youth with a history of being involved in the child welfare system
• Youth with family dysfunction