A One Day Conference: The Exploitation of Our Society

Sex trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years. It is estimated that there are between 100,000 – 300,000 children being forced into commercial sexual exploitation in the United States each year; the average age is between 12 and 14 years old. 

Although enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) made sex trafficking a serious violation of Federal law, every year human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people domestically and internationally.  Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world, surpassing arms trade and rapidly closing the gap on drug trafficking. 

The Women's Center of East Texas is hosting a one day conference exploring the exploitation of our youth and young adults focusing on: what trafficking looks like and who is it affecting, the glamorization of the pimp culture, the subculture of prostitution as portrayed throughout today’s media and culture and what is fueling of the creation of a society that not only tolerates but perpetuates this ongoing and growing problem in our nation.  

The keynote speaker is Det. Christopher Baughman, head of the Human Trafficking Task Force for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and author of “Off the Street”. 

The Women's Center of East Texas is a non-profit agency based in Longview that serves Gregg, Upshur, Harrison, Marion, Rusk and Panola counties.  The center is dedicated to providing a safe haven, crisis intervention and comprehensive support services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.  The Women's Center is further committed to breaking the cycle of violence toward victims and assisting them in their transition to a more stable and self-sufficient life. The Women's Center of East Texas Hotline number is 1-800-441-5555.  Interested persons may also visit our website at www.wc-et.org.  All services are confidential.

Who

Women's Center of East Texas Presents:

Det. Christopher Baughman, head of the Human Trafficking Task Force for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and author of Off the Street (Behler Publications, 2011)

And

Steven Goff was formerly with CHILDREN AT RISK as the Assistant Director of the Center to End Trafficking and Exploitation of Children.  He has worked with nonprofits attempting to connect the victims leaving the commercial sex industry with appropriate services and assistance since 2006

What
 A One Day Conference: The Exploitation of Our Society

When

Friday August 3rd, 2012

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Where

Fellowship Bible Church

4600 McCann Rd, Longview, Texas

Why

Our goal is to frame the progression of our community’s “next steps” to prevent the shattering effects of the exploitation of our youth and young adults into commercial sexual exploitation.  We will look at: What trafficking looks like and who is it affecting The glamorization of the pimp culture  The subculture of prostitution as portrayed throughout today’s media and culture

 What is fueling of the creation of a society that not only tolerates but perpetuates this ongoing and growing problem in our nation.  

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