Getting Proactive
Reaching vulnerable girls with a message of empowerment before they are sexually exploited is not just strategic—it’s essential. Exploitation thrives in silence, shame, and low self-worth. Girls who are isolated, undervalued, or struggling with poverty, abuse, or instability are more likely to believe the lies that traffickers and exploiters tell them. But when girls are seen, heard, and equipped with truth about their value, potential, and power—they become far less vulnerable.
Empowerment interrupts the cycle before it begins.
Proactive engagement—especially through relationships, community support, education, and identity formation—can rewire the story before it gets hijacked. Prevention is not just about avoiding harm; it’s about igniting purpose. Every girl deserves to know she is more than her circumstances, and when she does, she becomes her own fiercest protector and a powerful force for change.
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The details
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Sexual exploitation of girls in the United States is a pervasive and deeply concerning issue, affecting thousands of minors annually. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in recent years, over 2,500 minors were identified as victims of human trafficking, with females comprising approximately 85% of these cases. The average age of entry into sex trafficking is between 12 and 14 years old, and many victims are recruited through online platforms, with 65% of reported cases in 2021 involving online recruitment. Read more here.
A significant proportion of these victims come from vulnerable backgrounds. Studies indicate that between 60-70% of trafficking victims have histories in the child welfare system, and many have experienced prior sexual abuse. Runaway and homeless youth are particularly at risk, with one in seven reported as victims of sex trafficking.
Racial disparities are also evident in the demographics of sex trafficking victims. A review of suspected human trafficking incidents revealed that 94% of survivors were women of color. Read more about this at Rights4girls.org
These statistics underscore the critical need for early intervention and targeted support for at-risk girls. Empowerment programs, education, and community support can play pivotal roles in preventing exploitation and aiding survivors in their recovery.
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Sexual exploitation of girls in Canada is a critical concern, with data indicating that girls aged 12 to 17 are particularly vulnerable. Between 2014 and 2020, 73% of victims in police-reported online sexual offences against children were girls in this age group, and an additional 13% were girls under 12 . In 2023, there were 19,516 police-reported incidents of online child sexual exploitation, translating to a rate of 262 incidents per 100,000 children and youth—a 59% increase from 2022. read more here
The majority of these offences involve online child pornography, accounting for 87% of incidents in 2023, with 87% of those involving the making or distribution of such material . Notably, 93% of individuals sex trafficked in Canada are Canadian citizens, and nearly 30% of police-reported human trafficking victims are under the age of 18. read more here