Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

Public awareness of the human trafficking epidemic in East Tennessee has been on the rise in recent years. Local task forces have been formed, and citizens are more aware of the specific issues involving commercial sexual exploitation. However, the tendency has been to focus on female victims, as females are more commonly victims in human trafficking cases. What are the issues faced by males who are trafficked, assaulted and abused for commercial sexual exploitation? Males make up nearly 20% of all human trafficking victims in Tennessee and nationwide. Based upon national numbers, a child is sold for commercial sex every two minutes. While twenty percent may seem inconsequential, when considering the staggering number of victims affected, a significant number of males are exploited and victimized by human trafficking each year. Reports published by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation suggest that the human trafficking epidemic is just as prevalent in Tennessee as it is in other parts of the nation. In fact, within the East Tennessee region, Knox, Sevier, and Carter Counties have reported the highest number of human trafficking/incidences of commercial sexual exploitation.

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