Alice Leuchtag

About the author: Freelance writer Alice Leuchtag has worked as a social worker, counselor, college instructor, and researcher. Active in the civil rights, peace, socialist, feminist, and humanist movements, she has helped organize women in Houston, Texas, to oppose sex trafficking.

Poor women and children throughout the world are deceived into accepting job offers that turn out to be forced sex work. Victims are made to have sex with hundreds of men to repay pimps for their transportation costs, housing, food, and medical care. Under pressure from human rights organizations, world leaders have drafted international legislation that will punish people who traffic in humans and protect trafficked prostitutes. Human rights groups also propose increasing punishments for people who are caught buying sex from enslaved sex workers. Although some nations have sought to address the problems associated...