Tulsa becomes crossroads for child sex trafficking
Jamie Reeves, News Editor
photo: Courtesy of www.OATHconference.us
America is now the number one destination in the world for child sex trafficking, according to the State Department Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Sex trafficking of modern-day slaves is at an all-time high and larger U.S. cities are major markets for this illegal sex trade industry.
On Oct. 21 and 22, specialists from around the nation will convene in Tulsa to hold Oklahoma’s first Human Trafficking Awareness and Training Conference.
Law enforcement experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Marshals from Texas and the Department of Justice Prosecutors from Washington D.C. will be on hand conducting workshops and panel discussions.
Additionally, experienced psychiatrists, social workers and case workers will address treatment and care for victims of sex trafficking.
Recent findings from Law enforcement agencies, non-profit anti-trafficking organizations and Shared Hope International indicate that Houston is now the number one city for child sex trafficking, with Las Vegas and Atlanta ranking second and third.
According to FBI experts, traffickers are known to move their victims from state to state to avoid being detected.
“Our highway systems have become the new slave trade routes of these modern-day sex slaves,” said Mark Elam, of Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans.
With Interstates 40 and 44 connecting the east and west coasts and I-35 connecting Mexico and Houston to northern cities, Oklahoma is right in the crossroads of this growing problem.
The conference, to be held at the Oral Roberts University Zoppelt Auditorium, will consist of a screening of “Call + Response,” a documentary created to expose the terrifying fact that there are more slaves today than ever before in human history.
The event will feature speakers like Theresa Flore, a victim who was sex trafficked while in high school, and sessions covering types of human trafficking in Oklahoma with FBI special agents discussing local problem areas.
Students seeking careers in social work and psychology can earn six hours of continuing education credits. The general public is also invited to attend so they can become aware of how traffickers are targeting American kids and grooming children online to become the next wave of victims.
Those interested should go to www.OATHconference.us to register.
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