Human trafficking occurs in all parts of the world. Areas that are known for sex trafficking include Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. Labor trafficking is highly prevalent in poorer areas such as India and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In the United States, people are trafficked from other countries into the U.S. for sex work and labor, but there are also domestic victims of trafficking. Large cities with international airports such as Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta experience higher rates of trafficking, but it also occurs in small towns and rural areas.

While human trafficking does occur in illegal and underground markets, it can also occur in legal and legitimate settings. For example, common locations of human trafficking include private homes, hotels, nail salons, restaurants, bars, strip clubs, and massage businesses.

While poverty is not the only factor, people can be vulnerable because of desperation for income or a job. Disaster situations, personal crises, and civil unrest can leave people vulnerable to trafficking. Other factors that increase vulnerability can include a history of abuse or neglect, alcohol or drug addiction, homelessness, or lack of legal documentation. Certain population groups are also especially vulnerable, including children, women, and migrant populations.

No. Human trafficking victims can come from a range of backgrounds and some may come from middle and upper class families. Poverty is one of many factors that make individuals vulnerable to exploitation.

Prostitution over the age of 18 is legal in Costa Rica. Because of this, the sex industry thrives in the cities and tourist areas of the country. People from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries have been identified in Costa Rica as victims of sex trafficking. Child sex tourism and sex trafficking is particularly prevalent in the provinces of Guanacaste, Limón, Puntarenas, and San Jose.

No. Forced prostitution is a form of sex trafficking, but prostitution is also a choice of employment for some men and women. People who choose prostitution as a form of income may say that they enjoy their work and freely choose to participate in it.

Yes. Pornography creates a psychological addiction that gives viewers unrealistic expectations about sex and leaves them desiring more. Over time, desensitization to soft core pornography leads to a desire for hard core or fetish pornography. As these acts lose their shock value, viewers of pornography may have an increased tendency to act out behaviors that they see. This can result in a demand for younger prostitutes, more dangerous activities, and thus higher demand for trafficking victims.

Within the past two decades, governments have started to create and implement laws that prohibit all forms of trafficking. While some countries still need to strengthen these laws, the UN and the United States continue to put pressure on governments to enforce laws against trafficking. There are also many international non-governmental organizations that are working to promote awareness and put an end to trafficking.