Human Trafficking in
Kentucky: What are we
missing? Part 3
An ongoing series from the Partnership to Eliminate Child Abuse
Erin Frazier, MD, Gretchen Hunt, JD, Brittney Thomas, MPH
M
ary is a 16-year-old girl brought into the emergency
department with a threatened miscarriage by her
20-year-old brother, George. George does all the
talking for Mary and explains both of their parents died in a car
accident, and he has taken responsibility for her. He does not
know who the father of the baby is. Mary is scared, exhausted,
withdrawn, and has poor eye contact. George explains she has
mental illness and has not taken her medications. George never
leaves her side and no one ever questions Mary alone. Could she
be a victim of sex trafficking? Could Mary’s health care providers be missing this opportunity to save her from her captor?
Human trafficking is modern day slavery. Victims are subjected to force (beatings, assault, physical restraint, rape or kidnapping), fraud (lies or deception), or coercion (threats, psychological games, humiliation/shame tactics). There are many
types of human trafficking including forced labor, sex trafficking, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child
labor, child soldiers, and child sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is
defined as a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud,
or coercion, or any act such as stripping, pornography, or prostitution even without force, fraud or coercion if the child is under
the age of 18.
Domestic minor sex trafficking has become a huge problem
nationally and in Kentucky. As many as 2.8 million children
live on the streets, and 450,000 children run away from home
each year. This results in 1 out of every 3 teens on the street being lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.
The longer they are gone, the more likely they are to engage in
“survival sex.” Ninety percent of children turn to sex for survival
within 3 months of leaving home. Statistically, up to 300,000
children are at risk of being exploited in commercial sex each
year. Unbelievably, the age of thirteen is the average age of entry
into pornography and prostitution in the United States.
Anyone can be a victim of sex trafficking including young
children, teenagers, adult males and females, foreign nationals,
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and United States citizens. There are no socio‑economic barriers
including education and affluence. The most common child victims are runaways, homeless youth, children in the foster care
system, children with prior histories of abuse, children with a
history of substance abuse, children with disabilities, youth in
the juvenile justice system, refugees, immigrants, and non‑English speaking persons.
Traffickers are extremely skilled at luring their victims. They
use warmth, gifts, compliments, and sexual and physical intimacy. Many victims refer to their traffickers as boyfriends or
daddies. They use affection, praise, money, luxuries, and the
promise of a better life. Some use other women or girls to help
recruit. They may offer shopping trips, modeling careers, or
adventure via the internet especially using Facebook and chat
rooms. Traffickers are constantly recruiting in junior and senior
high schools, bus stops, courtrooms, foster homes, restaurants,
bars, parks, and shopping areas. They target vulnerable minors
who are naïve with a youthful appearance. Once enslaved, they
are forced to work street prostitution, truck stop prostitution,
strip clubs, massage parlors, or escort services.
Is this really happening in the Commonwealth of Kentucky?
The answer is yes. Since its creation in 2008, Kentucky Rescue
and Restore has served over 151 individuals. 44% of them were
trafficked as children. Furthermore, each year thousands of people visit the Louisville Metro for the Kentucky Derby, creating
a perfect platform for sex traffickers. Advocates and elected officials have stated that large sporting events like the Derby often
increase the demand for prostitution and commercial sex services. Traffickers and pimps see these events as a way to double
or triple their normal profits in a short amount of time. In 2013
data collected from ads posted on Backpage.com during the
Kentucky Derby revealed that women, many of whom were suspected to be minors, were brought in from 31 states and 70 cities
for the purpose of prostitution. Many of the ads would use horse
language such as “young thoroughbred” or “Kentucky stallion”