LEARN
Help people understand human trafficking, recognize its forms and warning signs, and understand the vulnerabilities that can lead to exploitation. Scroll below to see our growing list of tools and resources.
WHAT IS SEX TRAFFICKING?
The U.S. Congress has defined and classified human trafficking into two categories – sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person forced to perform such an act is younger than age 18. A commercial sex act means any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person. Types of sex trafficking include prostitution, pornography, stripping, live-sex shows, mail-order brides, military prostitution, and sex tourism.
COMMONALITIES AMONG SURVIVORS
Men, women, and children of all ages can fall prey to traffickers for purposes of sex and/or labor. However, survivors typically share characteristics that place them at higher risk for being trafficked such as poverty, young age, limited education, lack of work opportunities, lack of family support (e.g., orphaned, runaway, homeless, family members collaborating with traffickers), history of previous sexual abuse, health or mental challenges, and living in vulnerable areas. Traffickers target those who struggle with disadvantage and use threats, intimidation, and violence, as well as deception and trickery (e.g., promise of well-paying job and better living conditions) to force or lure their survivors to into slave-like conditions.
Statistics
28M people are being trafficked globally right now—more than ever in history.source
132M child sexual exploitation incidents have been reported in the U.S. since 1998, the majority of them being toddlers.source
1% of child sex trafficking victims are identified.source
+95% of people buying illegal sex are men. source
20-25% of men have purchased illegal sex. source
The average age a victim begins being trafficked for sex: 12. source
$250B projected to be spent on illegal sex in 2026.
In one study, 84% of child survivors said they wanted help when they were being trafficked (and that the majority of them were in school). source
Pornography is the 3rd-most common form of sex trafficking, after escort services and elicit massage businesses. source
A person who watches porn contributes to sex trafficking. source
How to know you are in the right place
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Rescuing Hope
A practical 10-step guide to helping parents protect their children and create safer online habits at home.
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10 Things Everyone Should Know About Human Trafficking
An informative guide covering 10 essential facts everyone should know about human trafficking, from how it occurs to how we can help prevent it.
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Conversations to Have With Your Kids About Online Safety
Age-banded conversation guides with real scripts and questions, not just warnings.
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Understanding Digital Trafficking
How online recruitment actually works today, and how it connects to the survivors House of Cherith serves.
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Warning Signs & Red Flags: Quick Reference
A one-page printable card with red flags and the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
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Talking With Kids About Sex Trafficking
A parent-focused guide for starting age-appropriate conversations with children about sex trafficking, online safety, warning signs, and healthy boundaries.
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App Safety Guide
A guide for parents outlining potential safety risks associated with popular messaging, social media, live-streaming, meeting, and anonymous apps used by youth.
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Impact of Pornography
An educational resource highlighting statistics on pornography use and its potential effects on teens, relationships, and society.
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Title
Channel
FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
Warning: Graphic content
High Class is a feature-length investigative documentary exposing the realities of the escort industry and the links between prostitution, exploitation, and sex trafficking in one of America’s most iconic cities. Through firsthand survivor accounts, this documentary reveals the human cost behind the fantasy—and the systems that keep it hidden. Watch and share to help expose the truth.
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Someone being actively forced, frauded, or coerced to provide commercial sex acts.
Many people in active sex trafficking situations do not recognize themselves as being victims because they have been expertly groomed by a trafficker to believe they have chosen to participate in commercial sex. (source)
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A person who was a victim, but is now free to make their own decisions & heal from what they endured.
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U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. The one exception involves minors and commercial sex. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion. (source)
Human trafficking includes forced labor as well as sex trafficking.
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Sex trafficking is a category of human trafficking. You can learn more here about the most common types of sex trafficking.
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Someone who induces, recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains through force, fraud, or coercion other humans to provide commercial sex acts. (source)
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Using the term “rescue” or “rescuer” in the context of human trafficking is controversial. As one survivor put it, “Words like ‘rescue’ turn people off from getting help. It’s too dramatic… You don’t think you are being trafficked; you just think this is your life. So you don’t recognize yourself.”
Glossary
This website is a growing, constantly evolving resource designed to equip you with trusted tools and practical ways to join the fight against human trafficking. Enter your email to be notified when new resources, guides, and updates are added.