Victims of Human Trafficking in U.S. Reaches 17,500 People Per Year

Former victims of trafficking from Indonesia , Shandra Woworuntu ( right ) , accompanied by members of the U.S. Congress , Carolyn Maloney speaks to the media in New York ( 22/3 ) .

Victims of Human Trafficking in U.S. Reaches 17,500 People Per Year

During this time many Americans think of human trafficking as a problem to be away overseas , such as the case of kidnapping the girls Nigeria by Boko Haram .

 Many Americans think human trafficking as a problem to be away overseas , such as the case of almost 300 Nigerian girls are kidnapped by Boko Haram and has yet to be found . But the U.S. government says about 17,500 people , mostly women , are trafficked into America each year , and that figure does not include those who were abducted and forced to become sex slaves in America .

A victim of trafficking , Shandra Woworuntu , located in the Capitol Hill Capitol building on Tuesday ( 20/5 ) to campaign for restitution or compensation and a variety of other services from the government to help the victims .

Shandra Woworuntu from Indonesia . He is college educated and worked as a financial analyst in Indonesia until the moment he lost his job because of political instability . Shandra Woworuntu came to America in 2001 with the mistaken belief that he had been offered a job in the hospitality industry , but in fact he was kidnapped at the airport in New York and forced to become sex slaves .

Shandra explained his story to VOA .
" When I got someone to pick me up and carry me into the van. They took my passport , they took my ticket , and on the same day I plunged in the sex trade underground , " he said .

Shandra Woworuntu traffickers managed to escape and he is now in jail . He received help from a nonprofit organization and has now become penggalak campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking .

Democrat congressman and GOP join creates a bill to help state and local governments to develop programs that focus on victims and train law enforcement officers to rescue the victims and not treat them as prostitutes .

Faction leader of the House Republican Eric Cantor said , " We have to confront this issue directly , not just as members of the Republican faction or factions Democrat , but as a father , a mother , a sister , a brother and sister . We must protect our children . "

Members of the House of Representatives Carolyn Maloney has tried to combat human trafficking internationally for more than a decade .

" There is no evil in the world more disgusting , nothing all that terrible crime , there is no act of depravity is all that is harmful to the people of a nation and of course for the individuals concerned , " said Maloney .

The fifth bill, which must be approved by the Senate , is also trying to reduce human trafficking by encouraging police and judges to treat those who commit illicit sexual activity with minors as human traffickers , not small-time criminals . In general , the average age girls are forced into sex slavery is 13 years old , and the average age of boys is 12 years .VOA