Sex trafficking in Portland
UP students take action to help reduce growing problem in Portland
Hannah Gray
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
By the time you finish reading this article, about 12 children or young teens will have been victims of sex trafficking: forced into prostitution, strip clubs and/or child pornography.
In the United States, 300,000 American children are sex- trafficked every year, according to the Transitions Global, a nonprofit organization that houses victims of sex trafficking, teaches the victims job skills and provides mental, dental and medical care.
In Portland, local law enforcement believes it encounters three to five girls per week who are currently victims of sex trafficking, according to the Transitions Global.
Furthermore, in an FBI series of child prostitution raids last February, Portland ranked number two out of 29 cities.
UP junior Brianna Hodge wants UP students to know about the problem so they can help.
"My intention is to create awareness that it is happening locally," Hodge said.
Hodge is in the recruiting and brainstorming phase of creating a committee on campus to plan a week of events focused on awareness of child sex trafficking.
"(Sex trafficking) is a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed by everyone," said Seth Johnson, the global advocacy director and a full-time volunteer for Transitions Global.
Freshman Shelby Lies gave a presentation on Transitions Global for her Persuasion and Leadership class.
Lies plans to be a part of the committee with Hodge.
"I feel like any help I do towards it will help even one person," Lies said. "It's got to start somewhere to help them."
The week, date unknown, would educate students and staff on the issue, as well as fundraise for Transitions Global.
"I want this to be very successful," Hodge said. "Our community is in desperate need of this shelter."
Establishing and operating the Portland house would cost at least one million dollars essentially, according to Johnson.
"It costs $60,000 to $70,000 to take care of one girl for one year in the U.S.," Johnson said.
In the United States, 300,000 American children are sex- trafficked every year, according to the Transitions Global, a nonprofit organization that houses victims of sex trafficking, teaches the victims job skills and provides mental, dental and medical care.
In Portland, local law enforcement believes it encounters three to five girls per week who are currently victims of sex trafficking, according to the Transitions Global.
Furthermore, in an FBI series of child prostitution raids last February, Portland ranked number two out of 29 cities.
UP junior Brianna Hodge wants UP students to know about the problem so they can help.
"My intention is to create awareness that it is happening locally," Hodge said.
Hodge is in the recruiting and brainstorming phase of creating a committee on campus to plan a week of events focused on awareness of child sex trafficking.
"(Sex trafficking) is a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed by everyone," said Seth Johnson, the global advocacy director and a full-time volunteer for Transitions Global.
Freshman Shelby Lies gave a presentation on Transitions Global for her Persuasion and Leadership class.
Lies plans to be a part of the committee with Hodge.
"I feel like any help I do towards it will help even one person," Lies said. "It's got to start somewhere to help them."
The week, date unknown, would educate students and staff on the issue, as well as fundraise for Transitions Global.
"I want this to be very successful," Hodge said. "Our community is in desperate need of this shelter."
Establishing and operating the Portland house would cost at least one million dollars essentially, according to Johnson.
"It costs $60,000 to $70,000 to take care of one girl for one year in the U.S.," Johnson said.
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Hannah
posted 11/28/09 @ 9:38 PM PST
I have been researching sex traffiking all over the world and have become painstakingly aware of the fact that it is a big problem in my own city. I was wondering if there is any way that volunteers can help to stop it, or help spread awareness. (Continued…)
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