What is Child Trafficking?

Child predators use a process called “grooming” to coerce the child into submission. This can happen gradually with promises of a better life, financial gain, protection, fame, or other attractive offers.

The predator will assume a position of power and authority in order to gain trust and unsupervised access to the child. This may be a stranger, but most often it’s someone the child knows, such as a teacher, counselor, coach, religious leader, boy scout leader, family member, or friend.

Predators will target vulnerable children from abusive households or broken families who are often unsupervised and easily manipulated. Once the predator gains the child’s trust, they will use psychological, emotional, and physical abuse to ensure the child is submissive. 

Whether it’s for financial gain, survival, threats, persuasion, or false promises, some parents willingly give or sell their child. As unthinkable as it sounds, some parents believe the traffickers will give the child a better life, opportunities, or protection. Some parents are so abusive that they allow others to abuse their child for the parent’s financial gain.

In many cases the parents are negligent and oblivious to what’s happening with their child, whether or not the parents are the instigator or have knowledge of the abuse.

In some cases, parents get wrapped up in a religious organization or cult that requires them to give up their child and/or allow them to be abused. 

Most reported trafficking cases were instigated by the child’s family member(s) or family friend(s).

“More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way.”

- Vermont Department for Children and Families

Children who are forcibly taken from their homes or parents, live on the streets, or who become “lost” in the foster care or CPS systems are prime victims for trafficking.

Awareness reduces predator’s ability to operate. 

• Internet Safety Tools
• How to Safeguard Children
• Signs of Child Trafficking
• How to Identify and Report a Victim
• What You Need to Know About Child Predators 
• Watch CONTRALAND: a shocking documentary exposing child trafficking and predators in the USA

• Attend local events, school board meetings, elections, and get to know who is running your town.
• Write your elected officials and demand harsher punishments for predators, laws to protect children, and support for victims and survivors. 
• Volunteer at shelters, after school programs, and community events.

• Connect us with donors, District Attorneys, elected officials, media, and any businesses, groups, or entities willing to stand with us.

• Purchase V4CR merchandise – guaranteed conversation starters! 100% of the proceeds support our mission.
• Shop on Smile.Amazon.com and choose “Veterans For Child Rescue” as your charity. Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to our cause.⁣⁣