The NET, a non-profit organization in Fort Worth, is taking on the human trafficking epidemic in Texas by educating the public on the ramifications of being willing to pay for sex while also giving the victims a pathway to a better life.
Data support the mission of The NET, including a study by the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (IDVSA) at the University of Texas at Austin, which brings into focus just how big the problem is. The study found that there are more than 300,000 victims of human trafficking in the state.
John Nehme, president and CEO of Allies Against Slavery, noted in a release that the study is important for the state for many reasons.
“This research helps bring human trafficking out of the shadows: the men, women and children who are victims of trafficking in Texas are no longer invisible,” he said. “The report will be a significant resource for policymakers, professions, survivor leaders and community members as we continue to work together to end human trafficking.”
The NET FW and other groups have brought attention to the issue, and lawmakers in Austin earlier this year responded, passing House Bill 1540. Signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, it took effect on Sept. 1 and makes buying sex a felony.
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-D-141) told Click2Houston that demand is a key factor in human trafficking.
“We are so proud of Texas for taking this huge step forward and working to make our great state a place where girls are not for sale,” The NET said in an Instagram post after Abbott signed the legislation into law.
The IDVSA study also found that an estimated 79,000 victims of sex trafficking were minors, and figures also could not factor in any increase in trafficking in Texas as a result of emerging developments at the southern border. Noël Busch-Armendariz, who led the study, noted that it offers a window into the magnitude of human trafficking in the state.
“Few states have this kind of insight into the numbers being exploited,” she said in the release. “And more importantly, each count reflects a human being living among us in slavery-like conditions. Our findings certainly give us a call to action.”
The NET also works to help the victims of human trafficking make the leap from victim to survivor. On its website, it notes that it offers mentoring and a supportive community to help them rebuild their lives.
On its website, The NET notes that it has three key projects aimed at working with victims, including the Purchased project to establish advocacy for victims, including jail outreach. Its Men Against Sexual Exploitation (MASE) project is led by men for men to focus on the problems of commercial sex. The third project is The Worthy Co., which offers job training, professional development and a path toward employment for trafficking survivors.
According to its website, The NET was founded in 2010 by Melissa Ice, who worked with college students to help homeless people, learning that human trafficking was a key thread among those experiencing homelessness. The organization has volunteer opportunities in each of its projects, and it hosts training sessions twice a year to help educate the community and instruct volunteers.
