Sex Trafficking

Polaris released its newest ground-breaking report on how human trafficking business models attempt to intersect with and use legitimate businesses like financial services, social media, hotels & motels, transportation systems, health care, and housing and homelessness systems to further their operations in very specific ways to recruit and exploit victims.

If you’re a fan of the Netflix series Ozark, you’re probably already very familiar with the dangerous art of money laundering. 

When was the last time you heard someone joke about a “happy ending” to a massage? Or walked past a massage business that seemed unusually unwelcoming — with covered windows, a locked door with a buzzer on it, maybe an “entrance around back” sign?

Human trafficking in massage parlors is the second most common type of trafficking reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. This is not surprising, given how ubiquitous these venues are. According to our recently published research, there are more than 9,000 illicit massage businesses (IMBs) — fronts for selling commercial sex — spread across every state in the United States.

Polaris applauded the U.S. Senate after the chamber passed the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), which helps hold websites like accountable when they knowingly facilitate sex trafficking. 

Polaris hailed passage of legislation in the U.S. House that fights sex trafficking being facilitated online by advertising websites.

Members of Congress looking to fight sex trafficking facilitated by online advertising sites like Backpage.com should unite around the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act of 2017, also known as SESTA.

"As a victim, survivor, and now, community member, I’m here to tell you that we can all join in the fight against human trafficking if we don’t stay silent." In the final part of her story, Carmen shares a message for survivors and community members. 

En ese momento, yo me encontraba en un punto en el que confiar y desconfiar era lo mismo. Ya no me importaba morir o vivir, ni tampoco lo que le pasara a mi familia. Tenía que arriesgarme. Entonces les dije un poco de lo que me estaba sucediendo, sin importarme si me creían o no, pero sí me ayudaron.  Lee la cuarta parte de la historia de Carmen.

Polaris applauded the Senate Commerce Committee for sending the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) of 2017 to the full Senate for consideration.