Child Prostitution: Thailand
Thailand is known as one of the sex tourism capitals of the world. Although commercial sexual exploitation of children is technically illegal in Thailand, it is a widespread practice. Poverty is the principle reason why children in rural communities in Thailand are driven into the sex trade. For survival, children from impoverished families are forced to drop out of school in order to help their parents earn a living. Due to lack of education, many children end up in a life of exploitation. Without an education, it is extremely difficult to break this cycle of poverty.
To learn more about why The SOLD Project believes that education is the key to prevention, download our SOLD Scholarship Overview Paper. Please note that this paper is not necessarily reflective of our groundwork in Thailand. It's main purpose it to educate the reader on the root causes of child exploitation and the power that education can play in prevention.
Child Prostitution: America
National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) Hotline: 1-888-3737-888 [Call Toll Free to report Human Trafficking]
Human trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. With reports by the U.S. State Department estimating that between 14,500 and 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked annually into the U.S. and the University of Pennsylvania assessing that 200,000 to 300,000 children are at high risk for sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in the U.S. every year, human trafficking is an urgent human rights issue that is happening in our midst.
Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 states and in a variety of environments, including: legal and illegal settings; cities, suburbs, or rural areas; and wealthy or low income areas. Often, community members come across labor and sex trafficking situations in their day-to-day routines.
Raising public awareness about how to recognize and report a potential trafficking case is essential. Most victims do not self-identify as victims or are not aware that help is available. By taking action and calling the NHTRC Hotline – and encouraging others to do so - you can help provide crucial information about a trafficking case. As a result, more victims will receive help from law enforcement and social service providers to get out of exploitative situations and into safe environments where they have access to services and resources.
PDF Resources
- Common Myths and Misconceptions about Human Trafficking in the US
- Potential Trafficking Indicators
- Types of Trafficking Cases in the US
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