Modern Day Slavery
Is it Happening Next Door?
Human Trafficking is considered Modern Day Slavery.
Human Trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world (drug trafficking is the largest).
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is the exploitation of another human being for the purpose of commercial sexual services or labor services through force, fraud, or coercion. Any child or youth under the age of 18 involved in the commercial sex industry is legally defined as a victim of human trafficking regardless of force, fraud, or coercion. Human Trafficking is NOT smuggling and is NOT prostitution. It can happen to anyone.
Fresno Police Dept. & Fresno EOC
The Fresno Police Department and Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission are teaming up to raise awareness about human trafficking. They want you to report suspicious circumstances that include people:
- Who are not free to come and go as they wish
- Forced to work against their will
- Recruited to work through false pretenses
- Forced into the sex trade
Help stop human trafficking.
Call the anonymous tip line at (559) 621-5950.
Central Valley Against Human Trafficking has identified two cases of forced labor in traveling door-to-door sales crews involving 18-19 year old youth from across the country. California has 9 regional anti-human trafficking task forces, including Fresno Police Department. CVAHT has identified and/or provided services to 144 victims of human trafficking. 34 of those victims were under the age of 18; with the age of 12 as the youngest. (Age 50 was the oldest) Five of the victims were men. 42 victims were foreign nationals representing countries: Mexico, China, Pakistan, India, Russia, Philippines.
Any youth is vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking
An estimated 70% of street youth are victims of exploitation or human trafficking. The average age a girl is first forced and exploited into the commercial sex trade is 12-14. The average age for a boy is 11-13.
National Hotline
To report a tip or request resource information anywhere in the United States, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888.
