Legal Definitions - Sex trafficking

Sex trafficking is a type of human trafficking where people are forced or exploited to perform sexual acts. According to the U.S. Code, sex trafficking involves recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting a person for a commercial sex act. A commercial sex act is any sexual activity where something of value is given or received by any person.

For example, if someone is forced to have sex with others in exchange for money, that is considered sex trafficking. Similarly, if someone is lured into a situation where they are forced to perform sexual acts for others, that is also sex trafficking.

It is important to note that sex trafficking can happen to both adults and children. However, if an adult is trafficked for commercial sex acts, it is only considered sex trafficking if it is done through force, fraud, or coercion. On the other hand, if a child is trafficked for commercial sex acts, it is always considered sex trafficking, regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion was used.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sex trafficking, there is a national human trafficking hotline that you can contact for help.