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Human Trafficking, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and Systems of Prostitution: Introduction

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Introduction

Introduction

This Research Guide is designed to aid researchers in understanding and dealing with the social problems and crimes related to Human trafficking, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and Systems of Prostitution. 

Human Trafficking:  "Human Trafficking" is a broad category of crimes that involves the threat or use “force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, slavery” or commercial sex acts.[1] It is a multi-billion-dollar criminal industry that oppresses millions of people around the globe.[2] Despite its prevalence, human trafficking is often misunderstood due to popular media misrepresentations and misinformation spread through news and social media. Understanding the law of human trafficking requires a close analysis of complex state and federal laws.

Commercial Sexual Exploitation:

Systems of Prostitution:

            This guide is intended to help researchers and practitioners find primary and secondary legal sources, along with other informational resources, on the topics of human trafficking law, commercial sexual exploitation, and systems of prostitution.  It is designed to supplement the Library at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and is not intended to constitute legal advice.  This Guide also includes parallel citations to a source’s location within the library, where possible.


[1] 22 USC § 7102(11)  

[2] https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/

Guide Author

Institute to Address Commercial
Sexual Exploitation