White Slavery

Trafficking in Children

The most pernicious form of sex trafficking, also included in the definition of white slavery, is something that has existed for centuries and seems to be proliferating in recent years. Millions of children, primarily girls, are being sexually exploited in the global sex trade. Sexual trafficking in children is difficult to quantify, but according to UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund), more than 1 million children are enslaved in the Asian sex tourism industry. There may be as many as 800,000 child prostitutes in Thailand alone, and 400,000 in India. The Philippines accounts for another 60,000.

A significant amount of exploitation of children is tied to international child pornography. In the United States, men have paid up to $800 for the opportunity to have sex with children as young as 8 years of age. The Internet has enabled pedophiles to have instant access to a “menu” of boys and girls from all over the world, available to satisfy their predilections.

In Japan, young virgin girls are sought out because it is deemed to enhance a man's virility to be the one to “take her virginity.” The challenge in Japan is compounded by the social attitude toward prostitution, evidenced by many young girls who use intermittent prostitution to augment their incomes in an increasingly materialistic environment. In Thailand, many men seek out prepubescent girls because of a belief that young girls are less likely to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV.

Profiles of Trafficked Women and Traffickers