Citation

Yen I. J. Crim. Law Criminol. 2008; 98(2): 653-686.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Northwestern University School of Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the last few decades, trafficking in humans for the purpose of sexual exploitation has exploded into a sophisticated industry that generates billions of dollars in profit every year yet devastates the lives of millions of innocent victims. Many of the trafficked victims are impoverished girls and young women from economically depressed countries who are forced to work as prostitutes under brutal conditions in a foreign country. To date, most of the scholarly, legislative, and law enforcement attention has focused on the "supply" side of the sex trafficking equation, namely the traffickers and the victims. This Comment focuses on the "demand" side of the problem, namely the male clients of the prostitutes. The Comment first explains how the male demand for commercial sexual services sustains and grows the sex trafficking industry, and then examines various demand-side educational programs and legislative approaches and assesses their impact on minimizing and eradicating the demand. The Comment concludes by suggesting a comprehensive, demand-oriented approach to fighting sex trafficking.

Keywords: Human trafficking