Light Under The Bridge Transforming Tomorrows
Human Trafficking in FL
Every 10 minutes, one person is trafficked into the U.S.
Around the World, a victim is exploited every minute.
Mission: To form and implement strategic outreach methods to minister and help prostitutes and human trafficking victims. To offer a way out to safe houses for these women in modern day slavery and to help them rebuild their lives.
Interested in Volunteering? Contact Us for More Info
Around the World, a victim is exploited every minute.
:Mission: To form and implement strategic outreach methods to minister and help prostitutes and human trafficking victims. To offer a way out to safe houses for these women in modern day slavery and to help them rebuild their lives.
Interested in Volunteering? Contact Us for More Info
Florida: A Modern Slavery Hub
Florida
is commonly known amongst law enforcement personnel to have one of the
highest incidences of human trafficking in the country. In fact,
Florida is commonly cited along with New York and California as being
one of the top three destinations for trafficking victims in the United
States. Victims of sex trafficking typically wind up in large cities,
vacation and tourist spots, and near military bases, where the demand
for sex trafficking is incredibly high. Additionally, labor trafficking
victims are typically utilized in areas where there is a demand for
unskilled labor, which is present in sectors such as seasonal
agriculture, garment manufacturing, construction and domestic
servitude. Florida’s economic climate, largely dependent on agriculture
and tourism, renders it an ideal destination for human trafficking
victims. Additional factors creating a high demand for victims of human
trafficking include Florida’s eight military bases along with South
Florida's geographical location, which makes it a strategic entry point
for traffickers bringing victims from Latin America and the Caribbean
into the United States. In fact, Miami International Airport is ranked
as one of the top entry points in the United States for foreign human
trafficking victims. Finally, the rich demographic composition of
Florida, ranking third for the number of immigrants living within its
borders, provides a steady supply of vulnerable victims for traffickers
to prey on. From prostitution to indentured servants to migrant farm
workers, Florida exhibits a uniquely high demand for traffickers to
profit from. In January 2008, Shared Hope International conducted a comprehensive assessment of domestic minor sex trafficking in Clearwater, Florida. Their key findings were as follows:
“In
the Clearwater/Tampa Bay area, domestic minor sex trafficking victims
are rarely identified and often misidentified. There is an acute lack
of awareness about the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST),
and professionals seldom identify its victims.”
“Estimates
suggest that more than 400 DMST victims have had contact with
professionals in Florida in the past six years but were not identified
as victims of sex trafficking. Significant barriers exist preventing
professionals from identifying DMST victims. Specific barriers include:
lack of training in identifying DMST victims, the hidden nature of sex
crimes, the inability or unwillingness of victims to self-identify, and
the lack of systematic data tracking of DMST victims, which makes it
difficult to establish an accurate estimate of the total number of
victims.”
Read the entire report here.(.pdf)
