When you hear the words sex trafficking, you might think about just another bad thing happening in a country with no money and a greedy president. Although sex trafficking is more common in parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the United States has its own share of this horrific crime. The United Nations estimates that at least 700,000 to four million women and children are trafficked each year throughout the world.

While many families were on their way to support the Packers or the Steelers at the 2011 Super Bowl on Feb. 6, many traffickers were most likely out on the prowl. The 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida led to at least 24 children being kidnapped and trafficked right there in the Sunshine State. Yet a person does not have to be in a busy place to become a victim of trafficking; you can also be kidnapped in your own home.

According to an ABC News article, Debbie* was the typical Phoenix, Arizona, 15-year old: sleepovers, friends and a little Jesse McCartney; but all of that innocence was ripped from her hands one September evening. As she was walking in her driveway to give her friend Alicia* a goodbye hug, she was pushed into a black car, bound and terrorized.

Debbie had her eyes and mouth closed with duct tape and was told that if she tried anything she would be shot and killed. Out of fear she did not fight back. Debbie was taken to a motel where she was forced to commit sexual acts with as many as 50 men. Afterwards, Debbie was locked in a dog cage for 40 days and fed dog biscuits.

While Debbie was kidnapped from her own driveway with her mother right inside the house, Maya was lured with hope of "making it big." Maya* was a 19 year old, hardworking girl. She worked three jobs to save up for college.

 One day, late at her shift in the mall, Maya was approached by a sleek-looking couple. They told her that they were modeling agents and that they wanted to recruit her. The idea of extra money coming in led Maya to meet the couple for dinner. Dinner was no chicken parmesan and Pierre sparkling water; instead Maya was taken to California for her first and high paying "photo shoot." It was not until later that Maya realized what was going on when she saw an ad with her herself for an escort service on Craigslist.

Human trafficking laws in the United States are more enforced, leaving traffickers to usually kidnap females or lure them by using excuses about show business. Laws in places such as Cambodia, Nepal, West Africa and Russia do not protect women as much.

Former St. Joseph religion teacher Mr. Marinelli is active in anti-trafficking in Nepal, as well as in New York City. He said, "Sex trafficking is illegal everywhere; some places enforce it more than others."

Due to rising poverty in many Asian countries, females are told that they will be getting domestic work only to be taken and locked in a brothel. A brothel is a house of prostitution, normally in small poorer countries. In some West African countries voodoo is used to threaten girls.They are forced to swear to secrecy and they are later trafficked to the United States.

Many girls and women will refuse to do such a shameful thing as committing sexual acts, and they will endure starvation, gang rapes and beatings to stand by their values; but after months or years they begin to lose faith, just as Tamang did. Tamang, a Nepali girl who lost her mother at 12, was sold by her brother for 40,000 rupees; that is only about 88 dollars in US currency.

Sex trafficking victims experience more than betrayed trust. They l are at risk of contracting STDs such as AIDS, HIV and Syphilis. Victims also experience mental trauma leading to drug/alcohol addiction, fear of men and an inability to feel emotion.

The author of SOLD, Patricia McCormick, is an active leader for anti-trafficking. Mr. Marinelli is also a part of numerous anti-trafficking non governmental organizations, such as Maiti Nepal, an organization to prevent sex trafficking in Nepal and India. "If I had stayed at St. Joseph, I would have liked to get connected with GEMS," he said. GEMS is a local anti-trafficking organization that also helps this cause. UNICEF, a program of the United Nations also works for anti-trafficking.

Our very own Sisters of Saint Joseph have done some work related to the prevention of this crime. Also, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore have started their own "Real Men Don’t Buy Girls" campaign, dealing with the same topic.

As youth, we must try harder for our voices to be heard. If you are interested in stopping sex trafficking you can visit The International Justice Mission website at www.ijm.org or simply start campaigning or raising awareness in school.

*Name has been changed for confidentiality.