The Problem Is Real

Sex trafficking is a type of human trafficking and is a form of modern-day slavery. It is a serious public health problem that negatively affects the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker exploits an individual with force, fraud, or coercion to make them perform commercial sex or work.

Sex trafficking is defined as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.”
- National Center for Child Exploitation

Sex trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to make an adult engage in commercial sex acts. However, any commercial sexual activity with a minor, even without force, fraud, or coercion, is considered trafficking. Understanding the shared risk and protective factors for violence can help us prevent trafficking from happening in the first place. The consequences of sex trafficking are similar to the consequences of sexual violence. Consequences can be immediate and long-term including physical and relationship problems, psychological concerns, and negative chronic health outcomes.

The Guardian Program will equip you on how to protect your children and combat the actions of these predators before they have a chance to traffic your children.

Grooming is defined by when an adult forges a relationship with a child by filling a need in their life or take advantage of a child’s vulnerabilities. This process typically happens over a period of time to ultimately exploit targeted children through sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or trafficking.

Grooming can occur both in-person and online. In the latter case, an online groomer will often hide their identity, posing as someone younger and contacting many children at once. Contrary to popular belief, child sexual abuse seldom happens at by a stranger. As a matter of fact, most child sexual abuse victims are actually abused by a person they know.

According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), of the sexual abuse cases reported to law enforcement, 93% of juvenile victims knew the perpetrator. Of this percentage, 59% of perpetrators were acquaintances and 34% were family members. Perpetrators are often “familiar” to a child victim, where often they are trusted individuals like family friends, neighbors, teachers, faith leaders, coaches, and as stated above, family members. Over time, the groomer builds trust, then gradually normalizes sexual and intimate conversation thus making it acceptable to take actions they normally would not.

The Guardian Program sheds a lot of light on the grooming behaviors that perpetrators often use to target and prey on children. Take the pledge to join the Guardian Program today to learn how to protect your children and others by combatting the actions of these predators before they create more victims.