New York Sex Trafficking Attorneys
The U.S. government has taken steps to combat human trafficking through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA). The TVPA has three main components known as the “three P’s”: Protection, Prosecution, and Prevention. It provides protection to victims of trafficking and establishes the T visa, which offers temporary U.S. residency and a path to citizenship. The act also expands the crimes and penalties available to federal agents pursuing traffickers and enhances U.S. international efforts to prevent trafficking. The TVPA has mandated the creation of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking within the State Department, as well as public awareness campaigns and federal task forces to implement its programs.
What Is Considered Sex Trafficking?
The TVPA outlines distinct forms of human trafficking as follows:
- Commercial Sex Act: This refers to any sexual activity where something of value, such as money, drugs, food, clothing, or shelter, is given or received by an individual.
- Slavery: A form of exploitation in which people are treated as personal property under the law.
- Involuntary Servitude: This involves a plan, scheme, or pattern that compels an individual to believe that if they do not participate in or continue with a labor obligation or situation, they will experience severe harm, abuse, or other negative consequences.
- Peonage: Involuntary servitude that is based on an actual or alleged debt.
- Debt Bondage: This is comparable to peonage, where a debt that appears to be unpayable forces the victim into exploitative labor indefinitely.
Who Is Responsible?
While the majority of sex traffickers are male, research has shown that a notable minority (15-32%) are female. Shockingly, many trafficking victims actually know their traffickers. Sex traffickers typically seek to establish relationships with their targets, whether through virtual or in-person means, as a way to systematically groom them for exploitation.
Tragically, many of the perpetrators of sex trafficking involving minors are parents, other family members, or caretakers. Studies have documented that anywhere from 3% to 44% of survivors were trafficked by their own parents, highlighting the significant role that family members can play in this form of exploitation. In cases where familial sex trafficking was reported, almost 60% of victims had ongoing contact with their trafficker, making it extremely challenging for children and young people to extricate themselves from harmful situations and safeguard themselves both physically and emotionally.
According to a review of active federal sex trafficking cases in 2019, 23.3% involved a pre-existing relationship, whereas only 3.5% were organized crime-directed. Moreover, many individuals are also trafficked by their romantic partners.
Human trafficking victims are transported through various modes of transportation, including commercial flights, buses, trucks, taxis, and trains. Hotels and motels are often the preferred locations for sexual exploitation, making them one of the most common sites for such activities, second only to brothels.
It is important to note that human trafficking involves all forms of forced labor, including domestic, sweatshop factory, construction, restaurant, and hotel work, as well as sexual exploitation and forced marriages.
Contact a Sex Trafficking Lawyer for Help
At Hach & Rose, LLP, our compassionate team of attorneys is dedicated to helping victims of trafficking pursue legal action against their abusers and anyone who enabled their heinous acts. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that trafficking abuse can take on victims and believe that no one should face such horrors. If you or someone you know has been the victim of sex trafficking, contact us right away for a free and 100% confidential consultation with one of our compassionate and knowledgeable lawyers.