Special Report on Sex Trafficking

Over 3,000 girls bought and sold each year in DFW

Every day in DFW at least 9 female girls are bought and sold in sex trafficking. Many officials believe the number is as high as 18 a day, or between 256 to 512 a month. These numbers don't include girls sold on the streets, massage parlors or other means. According to the FBI, Dallas has one of the nation's highest statistics for sexually exploiting children.

Child exploitation experts, working with law enforcement will be out in full force, with local church groups assisting during Super Bowl week, to help rescue child victims. Special speakers, events, and rallies will be held throughout the metroplex as well.

The statics are alarming ...

Sex trafficking among girls under 21 occurs six times more than those of the same age killed by drunk drivers, more than twice the number of those under 21 who die by accidents, suicide, or murder. While by conservative estimates it is about the same as the number who die by AIDS in North Texas each year, it rarely receives the same public awareness. The upcoming Super Bowl is changing the face of child trafficking as law enforcement officials expect the numbers to increase dramatically.

This research, conducted by The Schapiro Group over a 30-day period in November, revealed that 35 percent of this horrific crime against our children in Texas happens in the DFW area, even though we have only 27 percent of the state's population.

Attorney General names special task force.

Recently, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced a new state task force that would take an aggressive stand against human trafficking. Texas is a hub for international and domestic forced labor and prostitution rings, with 38 percent of all calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center coming from Texas.

"We are not going to be defeated by human trafficking," Abbott said. "It is a horrific crime that affects far too many people."

Abbott spoke about the task force, which held its first meeting last month, at the Texas Summit on the Trafficking and Exploitation of Children organized by Children at Risk.

Last year, traffickers from as far away as Hawaii brought underage girls to the Super Bowl in Miami, where adult men paid to rape them. This year is shaping up to be more of the same. And cities that have hosted large sports events, have seen the numbers involving the sex trade increase, not decrease after events like the Super Bowl.

Church groups rally to confront sexual exploitation

Justice Revival Executive Director Randy Skinner, who served as the past director of the National Conference on Crimes Against Children in Washington, D.C. announced that the church has a critical responsibility to address these issues.

Skinner who has spent the past eight years working to reduce crime along the I-30 corridor where the Super Bowl will be hosted, and where a major portion of sex trafficking is expected, said: "A coalition of law enforcement, churches, and non-profits have worked hard to make violent crime drop to nearly 70 percent and overall crime to 40 percent in the West Dallas area. The threat to our children in our communities in the DFW area, must be met with an aggressive proactive stance."

"Considering that Texas has one of the biggest human trafficking problems in the country, and that last year's Super Bowl saw an increase in the amount of child trafficking around the event, the issue is potentially explosive" said Skinner.

Authorities have been concerned that local cab companies, who will be the major transportation source for child and sex trafficking, have not been cooperative. Skinner has asked that local citizens express their concern to hotel owners and cab companies where most of the offenses will occur.

The Greater Dallas Justice Revival is encouraging local churches, business leaders and concerned citizens to become involved in local opportunities to make a difference during the Super Bowl week. The Justice Revival will be hosting a outreach rally at Morningside Chapel near Sundance Square on Saturday before the Sunday Super Bowl event. Local youth and young adults will be sharing "I Am Second" tracts featuring…

To sign the petition with 30,000 other concerned citizens, asking the Super Bowl committee to help protect children, sign here:

To join local efforts to fight child trafficking, and attend key rallies, click here:

To make a donation to our organization work to fight trafficking, click here: