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The United States is primarily a destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation. Victims often come from Mexico and Central America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. In addition to being a recipient of trafficking victims, the best data suggests that at least 100,000 American children are being commercially sexually exploited in the United States.
The U.S. has taken many steps to combat these issues. The PROTECT Act focuses on protecting children from sexual predators such as American child-sex tourists and foreign nationals who traffic children into the United States. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations include provisions targeting
demand for trafficking victims and issuing more protective T-Visas to victims.
The Restorative Shelter Initiative (RSI) is a national network of experts on service and shelter provision to U.S. citizen and permanent resident victims of sex trafficking. RSI acknowledges the critical importance of survivor leaders working in conjunction with other subject matter experts, such as child trauma experts, psychologists, forensic pediatricians, social workers, and victim advocates to deliver the highest quality care, enabling victims to be restored and reach their full potential.
SHI partners with organizations across the United States that fund outreach and shelter options for at-risk and trafficked women and children in the U.S. These programs offer girls refuge, clothes, food and the support they need to escape. Because of these partners and compassionate individuals like you, young girls like Cara and Stacy and Yolanda are given dignity and hope.
We currently support four restorative shelter partners in their efforts:
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