Volunteers try to help young sex workers on Super Bowl weekend
source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/06/florida.superbowl.sex.trafficking/index.html?hpt=C1
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- Future_America
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Volunteers are taking to the streets of Miami, Florida, this weekend to provide alternatives for teenage girls working the streets as prostitutes on Super Bowl weekend.
Just as Miami's hotels, restaurants and retail stores are seeing a bump in business for one of the biggest sporting events of the year, law enforcement and social service agencies say they are also witnessing a spike in trafficking of underage sex workers.
"Many social service agencies and law enforcement agencies recognize that there was an increase of victims of trafficking during last year's Super Bowl," said Regina Bernadin, Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
"That correlates with research that whenever there's a convention, a concert or a large event, traffickers will bring girls to the area to serve the influx of visitors," she added.
Girls and young women, as well as their pimps, come from as far as New York and Texas to meet the increased demand, says Brad Dennis, director of search operations for KlaasKIDS Foundation, which is spearheading the outreach effort.
"It's just that party culture," Dennis said. "Super Bowl is an entertainment event and everyone wants to come down and party and when you throw that mix into an area with lots money to spend, it's a traffickers' playground."
More @ link
Just as Miami's hotels, restaurants and retail stores are seeing a bump in business for one of the biggest sporting events of the year, law enforcement and social service agencies say they are also witnessing a spike in trafficking of underage sex workers.
"Many social service agencies and law enforcement agencies recognize that there was an increase of victims of trafficking during last year's Super Bowl," said Regina Bernadin, Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
"That correlates with research that whenever there's a convention, a concert or a large event, traffickers will bring girls to the area to serve the influx of visitors," she added.
Girls and young women, as well as their pimps, come from as far as New York and Texas to meet the increased demand, says Brad Dennis, director of search operations for KlaasKIDS Foundation, which is spearheading the outreach effort.
"It's just that party culture," Dennis said. "Super Bowl is an entertainment event and everyone wants to come down and party and when you throw that mix into an area with lots money to spend, it's a traffickers' playground."
More @ link
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ryan8566
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any one willing to work with the teenage males who are also working out there? the throw-aways? the runaways? in stories of street prostitution, and craigslist 'escort services', and newspaper 'adult services'...why are only females mentioned/covered/etc.? or given any attention to. these kids need help.
- 2 years ago
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ryan8566
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bailey78
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ryan8566:
Yea! why is that ?
- 2 years ago
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bailey78
