The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of commercial sex acts.
When we talk to our friends about sex trafficking, it is important to understand the definition.
The most commonly used is from the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). This was a cool thing that was put together to make sure trafficked victims were protected by the federal government. This is how the TVPA defines it:
The most commonly used is from the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). This was a cool thing that was put together to make sure trafficked victims were protected by the federal government. This is how the TVPA defines it:
There are a lot of big words in there. So what does this really mean? Let's break it down:
Harboring: To conceal or hide. To house or contain.
Transportation: Means of conveyance or travel from one place to another.
Provision: The act or process of supplying or providing something.
Something that is done in advance to prepare for something else.
Something that is done in advance to prepare for something else.
So if someone is doing any of the above for the purpose of commercial sex by means of force, fraud, or coercion.......
Taken from http://love146.org/slavery/.
....than that person is engaging in sex trafficking.
An important thing to understand is the difference between adults and minors in these situations. United States' law claims that anyone under the age of 18 legally cannot consent. We see this usually applied to sexual encounters between a legal minor and an adult. It is considered statutory rape because the law sees the minor as unable to consent to sex, and therefore a victim of sexual abuse by the adult. Minors also cannot consent to a contract. Prostitution of a minor includes both sexual encounters with adults and a contract. This means that legally, a minor is always considered a sex trafficking victim if engaging in any form of commercial sex. Force, fraud, or coercion does not need to be proved for the minor to be a victim.
An adult, however, is legally capable of consenting to contracts and sexual encounters. This means that unless it can be proven in court that the adult engaged in commercial sex because of force, fraud, or coercion, that adult is NOT viewed as a victim.
But what is commercial sex?
Commercial Sex: any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.
This includes: prostitution, stripping, and pornography.
In conclusion, when anyone engages in these things under force, fraud, coercion, or if the individual is a minor, they are a victim of sex trafficking.
The most simple definition we can come up with?
An important thing to understand is the difference between adults and minors in these situations. United States' law claims that anyone under the age of 18 legally cannot consent. We see this usually applied to sexual encounters between a legal minor and an adult. It is considered statutory rape because the law sees the minor as unable to consent to sex, and therefore a victim of sexual abuse by the adult. Minors also cannot consent to a contract. Prostitution of a minor includes both sexual encounters with adults and a contract. This means that legally, a minor is always considered a sex trafficking victim if engaging in any form of commercial sex. Force, fraud, or coercion does not need to be proved for the minor to be a victim.
An adult, however, is legally capable of consenting to contracts and sexual encounters. This means that unless it can be proven in court that the adult engaged in commercial sex because of force, fraud, or coercion, that adult is NOT viewed as a victim.
But what is commercial sex?
Commercial Sex: any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.
This includes: prostitution, stripping, and pornography.
In conclusion, when anyone engages in these things under force, fraud, coercion, or if the individual is a minor, they are a victim of sex trafficking.
The most simple definition we can come up with?
Rape for profit.
Resources for this post:
TVPA: http://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/
Definitions: dictionary.com and love146.org
TVPA: http://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/
Definitions: dictionary.com and love146.org
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