Sexual slavery is the exploitation of people for the purpose of forced sex work. This modern form of slavery is a global problem, there is an estimated 4.5 million people trapped in forced sexual exploitation according to International Labor Organization. Sex slaves fall victim because of violence, threats, debt bondage, lies and other forms of coercion to compel victims to engage in commercial sex acts against their will. Others are tempted with false promises of a job, such as modelling, acting or dancing. Some are forced into commercial sex by their parents or other father family members. Some victims become romantically involved with people who forces or manipulates them in slavery. They may be involved this situation for a few days or weeks, while some remains in the same situation for years. Some of the reasons that keep people in sexual slavery are fear for their life or love ones, others for material gain and the lifestyle that comes with it.
Sexual slavery not only happen in faraway places like Asia, Africa or Eastern Europe but it happens everywhere. Women make up the largest group of sex slavery victims, followed by youths, and a small percentage of men and boys. The average age of girl victims is 12 to 14. Boys and transgender youth often fall victim between the ages of 11 and 13 on average. Commercial sexual exploitation occurs in a range of venues including massage parlours, spa, residential brothels, escort services, strip clubs, hotels, motels and truck stops. Some sexual slavery is highly visible such as the case of street prostitution but many remain unseen, operating out of illegal brothels located in unsuspecting neighbourhood.
The adult industry is at risk for exploitation by the growing business of organized crime. Adult industry workers are the primary target of sexual slavery because of the nature of their job. Victims of sexual slavery are often found working in the adult industry establishments that offer commercial sex such as strip clubs, bars, brothels and pornography production houses operating in the guise of massage parlours, escort services, modelling studios, spas or adult bookstores.
Michael Ocello, owner of several adult nightclubs founded COAST Club Owners Against Sex Trafficking) to help stop sex trafficking by educating people to recognize sex slavery victim. A number of New York escorts decided to follow suit and work together to help stop sexual slavery. This inspired nightlife websites to connect globally in anti-sexual slavery campaign. Escorts, adult agencies, porn stars, brothels and strippers from around the world are joining together in an effort to try to reduce sexual slavery in the adult industry. To ensure the success of this undertaking, adult industry stakeholders like Perth brothels working together in unity to attain this global objective is important. Visibility is also vital since sexual slavery is illegal and hidden from view. It is imperative to employ the help of trained professionals to work behind the scenes to address the many root cause of the problem – such as poverty, gender inequality, corruption and political will to implement solutions.
Soroptimist, Polaris Project, BEST Employers Alliance, Breaking Free and Pandora’s Project are just some of the movements that aim to eradicate sexual slavery and human trafficking. Sexual slavery movements like these are pushing hard to make every effort to persuade the world that sexual slavery can be eradicated. There are different strategy used by each organisation but all of them are making substantial progress in ending sexual slavery and human trafficking.