Government and Nonprofits Work to Stop Sex Trafficking

Sarah Torre / May 12, 2011

Every month, 400 adolescent girls are sold on Internet sites, on street corners, and in the backroom deals of sex traffickers. An estimated 300 such transactions occur every day. The girls come from every socioeconomic background: Many are runaways or abused children; some are kidnapped. The average age of entry into the local sex market is between 12 and 14 years old.

This heartbreaking reality is not a story from a red-light district in a third world country. Shockingly, these statistics describe the daily plight of hundreds of children right here in America in the state of Georgia.

Recognizing the unique needs of sexual abuse victims, one organization in the state is helping girls and young women rescued from the sex trade begin healing. Wellspring Living focuses on restoring women’s dignity and purpose by providing intensive therapy to promote emotional and relational recovery. The organization offers a residential treatment center for adult women escaping violence and abuse, providing a safe environment where victims can become survivors through counseling and education. (more…)