University Professor Raises Awareness of Human Trafficking

Professor Alavi Roksana spoke to students at the University of Oklahoma about human trafficking in the state.  Human trafficking is the illegal trade of humans for use of sex, labor or slavery.

The United States is ranked the number one country in sex trafficking in the world and eighty percent of those are women and half are children.

“300,000 of our own children in the United States are in danger of getting into the sex trade,” said Professor Roksana, “and seventy percent of homeless or runway children come into contact with traffickers in the first 48 hours.”

Oklahoma has the fourth largest number of trafficking cases in the United States. Roksana told stories of trafficking in Tulsa and a nineteen year old in Mustang.

            “So it is happening in our backyard, you might even know some of these people,” Roksana said, “it is very disturbing.”

Roksana encouraged students to look for human traffickers in Oklahoma because they are in the area. She said they could be at a local nail salon, grocery store, or working at a convenience store. In the cases of sex trafficking, they are more difficult to find than others.

 “There is visually no difference between what we would call a willing prostitute for someone who is being trafficked. No difference,” said Roksana, “So it is really convenient for those who use them that say they’re using the ones who choose to be there.”

Roksana reminded students to be aware of the psychological and physical damage that victims have suffered from before trying to help.

“Remember they have been scarcely betrayed and their trust is gone and they really have no trust in anyone,” said Roksana.

Visit oathcoalition.org or call (918) 855-1764 for more information on human trafficking in Oklahoma.