Sept. 22, 2010
Portland is often voted one of the most livable places in the country but, police say, the Oregon city hides another distinction: It has become a national hub for child sex trafficking.
Oregon police believe more than 100 underage girls are being deployed to hotel rooms, sent to work on the streets and dance in the strip-clubs.
They are a few of the nearly 200,000 U.S. children at high risk for being trafficked into the sex industry each year, according to the anti-trafficking organization Polaris Project. The average age of entry into prostitution is between 12 and 13, the project says.
If you are a victim of trafficking or want to help those who are, here are some resources:
Polaris Project: This national organization works at the international, national and local levels to combat trafficking. It trains leaders on how to combat trafficking and even writes policy aimed at curbing what it calls the second largest crime in the world.
Related
National Human Trafficking Resource Hotline: This hotline allows you to report a tip if you think that trafficking has occurred in your neighborhood. If you are a victim of trafficking, the hotline will connect you to help in your area. You can also call and receive information about trafficking and where to go to train in counter-trafficking.
Department of Homeland Security: This government agency has a link to a state and local database of anti-trafficking groups. There is also information regarding immigration status if you are undocumented and a victim of trafficking. Concerned citizens can click on this link to request assistance for child victims of trafficking.
Portland is often voted one of the most livable places in the country, but police say this Oregon city hides another distinction. It's become a national hub for child sex trafficking.
(AP)Oregon police believe more than 100 underage girls are being deployed to hotel rooms, sent to work on the streets and dance in the strip-clubs.
They are a few of the nearly 200,000 U.S. children at high risk for being trafficked into the sex industry each year, according to the anti-trafficking organization Polaris Project. The average age of entry into prostitution is between 12 and 13, the project says.
If you are a victim of trafficking or want to help those who are, here are some resources:
Polaris Project: This national organization works at the international, national and local levels to combat trafficking. It trains leaders on how to combat trafficking and even writes policy aimed at curbing what it calls the second largest crime in the world.
Related
National Human Trafficking Resource Hotline: This hotline allows you to report a tip if you think that trafficking has occurred in your neighborhood. If you are a victim of trafficking, the hotline will connect you to help in your area. You can also call and receive information about trafficking and where to go to train in counter-trafficking.
Department of Homeland Security: This government agency has a link to a state and local database of anti-trafficking groups. There is also information regarding immigration status if you are undocumented and a victim of trafficking. Concerned citizens can click on this link to request assistance for child victims of trafficking.
No comments:
Post a Comment