Myths & Facts

Myths Facts
Myth: All Traffickers are male. Fact: Youth who Georgia Cares serves have traffickers that are both male and female.
Myth: Only girls are involved in sex trafficking/exploitation. Fact: Georgia Cares works with confirmed victims of exploitation that identify as female, male or transgender.
Myth: Human trafficking must include the transportation or travel of people across state or national borders. Fact: Human trafficking does not require transportation, travel or movement of youth. Sometimes, transportation of a youth across state and national borders is involved, but it is not an element of the trafficking definition. The exploitation of the person or youth is what makes the person a victim of trafficking. Remember, the crime of human trafficking is not synonymous with smuggling.
Myth: Youth who are sexually exploited or trafficked are "bad." Fact: The passing of Senate Bill 69 expanded the definition of child abuse to include abuse when a youth is a victim of commercial sexual exploitation. Georgia Cares supports that all youth who are victims of exploitation or trafficking are victims of abuse, and understands that these youth are not "bad," but have had bad things happen to them.
Myth: Sex trafficking is a foreign problem and doesn't happen in Georgia. Fact: Georgia Cares has received over 2,700 referrals for youth from Georgia that are victims of trafficking in Georgia. To date, we have received referrals from over 134 counties across the state.
Myth: Youth choose to enter into the sex trade. Fact: Youth who are victims of exploitation or trafficking are often seduced, coerced or forced into exploitation or trafficking. Traffickers often identify youth's vulnerabilities and prey upon normal desires for love, attention, material items, and the meeting of basic needs, such as shelter or food.