The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office organized an outreach campaign that aims to raise awareness of the exploitation of boys by sex traffickers, and improve support services for male victims.
The campaign includes messaging on social media, radio, billboards, and bus transit posters. It was made possible with the help of the County Health and Human Services Agency and Child Welfare Service.
It is also aimed at improving screening, identification, and services for boys who are sex trafficking victims, according to the D.A’s Office.
"The commercial sexual exploitation of children in our region is a hidden crisis and one we are proud to raise up and combat in partnership with the District Attorney's office," said Nick Macchione, director of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.
"Girls are well-known targets, but so are an astonishing number of boys and LGBTQ+ youth. All human trafficking is despicable, and we look forward to this creative campaign saving young boys from tragedy."
San Diego is one of the country’s hotspots for trafficking – the FBI has ranked San Diego as one of the 13 worst regions in the United States with up to 8,000 victims per year. Sex trafficking isn’t always obvious.
According to national studies, as many as half of commercially sexually exploited children in the United States are boys, which oftentimes goes unreported.
"To truly address the needs of all sex trafficking survivors, we must recognize the reality that the trafficking of boys is more common than the public may realize," San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said.
"We have a responsibility to protect all children who are being trafficked. This latest outreach is an extension of our work to increase awareness, improve identification and reporting, and develop specialty services for survivors who are boys."
Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are particularly vulnerable. An astonishing number of hidden victims are boys and youth who identify as LGBTQ+. According to the D.A’s office, the average age of entry into sex trafficking for boys is between 11-13 years old, and youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are 7.4 times more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.
Anyone who is seeking help from themselves or someone they know was encouraged to call 800-344-6000 or visit www.ProtectSanDiegoKids.org.
