Despite Tough Laws, Few Are Arrested For Sex Trafficking (click for NY Times article)

Child sex trafficking cries for a sea change in tactics

By Elizabeth Hovde, Oregonian columnist (October 31, 2009, 7:23AM)

A decade ago, Annette served 13 months in jail for lighting her pimp on fire.

But that’s not the most interesting thing about her. Years after escaping her past life — a rarity for sex-trafficking victims — Annette is a successful adult running a recovery home for prostitutes.

Annette was lured into prostitution right here in Portland as a 14-year-old girl. Like a lot of child sex slaves in the United States, she ran away from an abusive home and the man who found her gave her shelter and care before he started beating and raping and trapping her in what many victims and prostitutes call “the life.”

Annette’s story is devastating. But the life she lived is one that too many girls — American girls, local girls — are experiencing.

Sex trafficking of minors isn’t just a problem in countries such as India and Nepal. It’s a problem here. Right here. (read the full article on Oregonlive.com)

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