A representative of Shared Hope International is now on island to do a study on human trafficking in the CNMI as part of a larger study on child sex trafficking and exploitation in 10 sites across the United States. The study is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. <\/p>\n
SHI director of programs Samantha Vardaman will meet with agencies that deal with juvenile welfare issues to get a handle on the number of victims by nationalities, ethnicities, or groups and then identify why it is happening to certain groups more than others.<\/p>\n
Vardaman said that statistics do not exist right now and part of SHI\u2019s assessment is to come up with numbers.<\/p>\n
SHI is doing the assessment in 10 areas: the CNMI; Clearwater, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; City of Independence; Las Vegas, Nevada; Buffalo, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah; City of Fort Worth, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Dallas, Texas. <\/p>\n
Vardamn said one of the reasons why the CNMI was selected as one of the 10 locations is because \u201cthe CNMI has had extensive experience with human trafficking prosecutions.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThe CNMI has had a number of successful investigations leading to convictions and prosecutions for sex trafficking,\u201d Vardamn said. <\/p>\n
She said that as part of the assessment, statistics on the number of prostitution and consumers in the area are gathered and that the demand factor is often looked at. <\/p>\n
In August 2007, a karaoke establishment on Saipan was found operating as a commercial sex house where women were recruited from China on promises of legal jobs. <\/p>\n
The case against Phoenix Karaoke prompted enforcement to raise more awareness of human sex trafficking occurring in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
Vardamn said the CNMI has an issue that larger cities do not have such as the ease of transportation among the islands. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe FSM [Federated States of Micronesia] is not far from here and it is happening. Women and girls from the FSM are coming to Guam and Saipan and are being exploited. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know this, there are cases that prove this out and that are being pursued. It\u2019s something to keep aware of a whole community,\u201d Vardamn said. <\/p>\n
According to research, 12 is the worldwide average age of entry into prostitution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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