A common misconception about human trafficking is that it only happens in foreign countries, to girls from those foreign countries. Instead, we have come to find it in our own backyard. The reality is that many of the victims of sex-trafficking in San Diego are not foreign women, but are in fact American women.

In every city there is a population of girls who are uniquely vulnerable to sexual exploitation and enslavement. Runaway, throw-away, and homeless children are propositioned for sex within 72 hours on the streets. With the rise of modern technology, the internet has made it increasingly easier, safer, and more convenient for sexual predators to satisfy their sexual desires. With the inherent secrecy of the internet, the public scrutiny/stigma is not present in the way that it was before the world wide web became such a dominant cultural force. This increased demand provides significant economic motivation for individuals to provide these men with victims–often homeless, runaway children, or simply women who have left a hard life for what they perceive to be a better one. (more…)