Efforts underway to combat human sex trafficking in Arizona ahead of the Super bowl in Glendale in 2015 are heating up because the sports event is one of the largest drivers of the sex-trade industry.
Unfortunately there hasn’t been much media attention on this issue, who seem more concerned over underinflated footballs than human trafficking victims.
The Super Bowl is an annual football game which is among the most-watched sports events in the world and draws tens of thousands of people to its host city. State attorneys generals in Texas and Indiana, where recent Super Bowls were held, and other experts, have said the event creates an ideal setting for traffickers because they easily can go unnoticed in the influx of people.
Over 400,000 men from all over the country, including small town and major cities are expected to attend the Super bowl event this year. They will all converge in Glendale and Phoenix during the event. The men who engage in such activities by the way are not your stereotypical male sex predators – they are your next door neighbors, fathers, husbands. Many hold positions of respect and responsibility within their communities back home, they represent all demographic types including school teachers, doctors, lawyers, coaches, paraprofessionals and executives of major corporations representing the fortune 500 top companies in America.
A U.S. State Department report shows 7,705 prosecutions and 4,746 convictions in human trafficking worldwide in 2012, which represented 46,570 victims – this is only a drop in the bucket.
The issue of human trafficking affects both Mexico and the US, especially in Arizona, where many women, girls (and boys) are kidnapped or sold by “family members” into the sex-trade industry by drug and sex cartels who operate clandestinely in almost every major city in the Americas.
Sadly this issue is not getting much attention because officials are concerned it might adversely effect the National Football League and give Arizona a bad name.
Undeterred, groups of activists are passing out hundreds of flyers and cards trying to bring awareness to this issue.
This effort to combat human trafficking is being tolerated by the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police, who are allowing activists to pass out materials relating to human trafficking without fear of intimidation and harassment, as was commonplace in years past.
See video: 2015 Super Bowl XLIX (49) in Phoenix Arizona Human Trafficking Security concerns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpdA2RDEE7g
If you think you see signs of human trafficking or you need help, please call 2-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Resources Center at 1-888-373-7888.
To learn more and join the fight to end human trafficking text ENDSLAVERY to 51555 or visit Call211.org
Just because you don’t see Human Trafficking doesn’t mean it’s not here!
There are a number of indicators you want to watch out for which can otherwise alert you to potential victims of human trafficking including:
* Is not free to leave or come an go (as he or) she wishes.
*Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or nervous.
*Shows signs of abuse, confinement, or torture.
*Is not in control of his or her own identification documents.
* Lack of knowledge of whereabouts.
Note: No single indicator is necessarily proof of human trafficking. Do not directly approach a trafficker. It could result in harm to you or the victim. Call the cops instead!
ANY MINOR UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ENGAGING IN COMMERCIAL SEX IS CONSIDERED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM BY US LAW.
Pimps use craiglist and social media to facilitate sex trafficking.
See video: Teens as Young as 13 Rescued From Super Bowl 48 Sex Trafficking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOF9cYSS014
Look again!
Human Traffickers is modern day slavery, and it happens right here in America.
See related article: See related article: Superbowls are “magnets” for human sex traffickers https://groundreport.com/superbowls-are-magnets-for-human-sex-trafficking/