Community discussion aims to make parents aware of sex trafficking threat

The billion-dollar sex trafficking industry threatens the most vulnerable members of society throughout the world — and perhaps in your neighborhood.

“This is modern-day slavery,” said Christen Cappatt, director of communications for The Asservo Project. The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit will hold a community-wide presentation on human trafficking and child exploitation at 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North, 12330 PerryHighway,Wexford.

According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, Pennsylvania is ranked ninth in the nation for reported human trafficking cases. The average age of entry into thesex trade is 11 to 14 years old.

Ms. Cappatt, 26, of Cranberry said the child sex-trade is a thriving industry where anyone can “order” a child through several online services and actually have them “delivered” to any location – including the house next door.

“Two million children are subjected to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade every year,” she said. “The United States is the number one producer and consumer of child pornography in the world, which directly fuels the demand for sex trafficking. The purpose of this event is to educate the public on the problem; how to prevent it and how report it.”

Ms. Cappatt said those who engage in sex trafficking find it lucrative. “One girl can bring in an average of $10,000 a month,” she said.

Heather Shriver, 30, and her husband, Jacob, are raising their young children in rural Zelienople.