Child sex trafficking is not a new problem in the United States. But it has evolved dramatically over the past 30 years, embracing technology to scale faster and hide deeper. The tools we use to stop child sexual exploitation are evolving, too, however. Looking back at the history of this grave injustice, we inform our strategy to outpace it — and put a stop to child sex trafficking for good. Trafficking in a Pre-Digital World Before the internet, trafficking was a physical c

When the World Cup comes to town, so does risk. Learn how concentrated crowds and demand create cover for child sex trafficking — and what we can do about it.

When 16-year-old Tanya* vanished alongside a peer after a suspicious phone call, NCMEC analysts turned to Spotlight a tool that helps investigators identify and recover child sex trafficking victims. Search results revealed ads featuring Tanya across two states, and a second missing child, Veronica*. Ten days later, Veronica was recovered. Two days after that, Tanya was found safe and her trafficker arrested.

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act just passed the House, a major step toward removing criminal records tied to survivors’ exploitation. These records block access to jobs, housing, and stability. We celebrate this milestone and urge the Senate to pass the TSRA so survivors can finally rebuild without the weight of crimes they were forced to commit.

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a remission process for individuals who were trafficked and advertised on Backpage or CityXGuide. This long-awaited step offers survivors a path to restitution, supported by free, confidential legal help through NCMEC’s Backpage Survivor Remission Network. Learn how to check eligibility and access support.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces play a critical role in identifying children impacted by online sexual exploitation and connecting them to safety and support. Right now, the federal funding that sustains their work is at risk. Learn how your voice can help ensure the Protect Our Children Act remains in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

After nine years working in the anti-human trafficking field, I’ve seen firsthand how different the fight looks depending on where you are. I’ve met incredible people building prevention programs from the ground up in their communities, oftentimes with limited resources but unwavering commitment. And I’ve also seen what happens when jurisdictions fail to prioritize this work: victims remain unseen, justice delayed or denied, and communities left vulnerable. That’s why the lat

FAIR Girls empowers youth with tools to prevent trafficking, because awareness, education, and support can break the cycle.