A nationwide series of protests against child prostitution will kick off this week in Sacramento and in San Diego. Sex trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world and San Diego is considered a top destination for sexual predators.
Sex trafficking is a $19-billion industry. Nationally, San Diego is the eighth largest high-intensity child prostitution area according to the inspector general. Nikki Junker, who is with the organization With More Than Purpose, says the public knows little about child prostitution. With More Than Purpose advocates for victims of child prostitution.
"It's modern-day slavery, I think is the best way to put it," Junker said. "There's 100,000 children this year which will be commercially, sexually exploited."
Junker says the average age of entry into prostitution in the United States is 12. The girls' youth makes them easy prey for pimps.
"They stalk these younger girls, and they want them younger and younger and younger, to not only satisfy these clients to make sure that the girls are vulnerable enough or naïve enough to trick them or coerce them into doing whatever they need to do," Junker said.
The protests this week launch a nationwide campaign slated to end November 20 in Washington.
