 DemandTracker.org is an innovation from YouthSpark, an NGO which provides support to juvenile victims of sex trafficking and exploitation, that aims to transform the culture around commercial sexual exploitation by attacking the demand-side of juvenile sex trafficking - The adult who purchase these services.  Currently, buyers know that purchasing commercial sex online is one of the least risky means to purchase adolescents and youth. DemandTracker.org is designed to deter buyers and prospective buyers from buying young people for sex, and encourages the community to take an active role in warning friends and colleagues against illegal sex purchasing. Demand Tracker is a simple tool - through its employees (mainly volunteers), it posts decoy advertistments offering juveniles up for sex on websites known to be frequented by predators. When a prospective buyer calls or texts the number in the ad, his or her number is recorded in a public, searchable, database. The caller also receives a text mesaage making him/her aware that the number hasd been flagged and made available to law enforcement. According to a report from The CNN Freedom Project the total number of unique phone numbers collected in the site's four-month history is 12,000. At DemandTracker.org you can search for any phone number to see if it has been used to call or text a decoy prostitution ad for a trafficked young person. They're also partnering with local companies, companies can check company-owned phone numbers against the database to identify potential predators in their ranks. Visit this link to learn more about how this tool can be used by businesses and concerned community members alike. Delkab County Assistant district attorney, Dalia Racine says the initiative sends a clear message to predators. "We are coming after the demand side just as hard as we are after the exploiters and the supply side of this issue. And you are no longer going to be safe behind those keyboards. We are going to find you and we are going to prosecute you." YouthSpark leaves the follow-up to law enforcement. To Report a case of human trafficking anywhere in the world, click here Source: CNN youthSpark
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