Groundbreaking Case Opens Doors for Victims

There are many challenges which victims of human trafficking face. Frequently, victims  go unrecognized and the perpetrators of the crimes go unpunished. In a case last March, a pimp was convicted of sex trafficking and sent to prison for 7 years, the “john” or buyer walked away with just 2 misdemeanor charges resulting in probation. Earlier this year we were appalled by the outcome and implored readers to consider: Raping a 16 year-old is a crime. Why don’t we treat it like one?. On December 5, the victim invoked the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and sued Hall of Fame football star Lawrence Taylor for his role in the sex trafficking of a minor.

Under the TVPA, anyone under the age of 18 is not capable of granting consent thus will be seen as a victim of sex trafficking. This is the most publicized civil case of a sex trafficking victim suing the “john” or buyer, representing a crucial shift in perception. Rather than settling for just prosecuting the pimp, Christina Fierro wants retribution from the buyer as well. As Polaris Project’s Executive Director Bradley Myles put it, “men who buy sex from children have this sense they won’t be punished, that they’ll get away from it.” These types of cases, he said, are important because they “are creating a paradigm shift in how we think about children in the sex trade.”

Fierro’s case will send a clear message to solicitors that they will not be able to get away with raping a child without facing the consequences. This sends a clear message to “johns” that they can be prosecuted or even sued. Whether or not Fierro wins, she has laid the groundwork for change. Bringing an end to sex trafficking in the U.S. must start with supporting the victims of human trafficking, holding traffickers accountable, and ending the demand.