Traffickers Target Kids Who Run Away
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month – a crucial time to talk about what makes children vulnerable to sex trafficking. At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), we’ve found that running away is one of the leading factors that puts children at risk of being targeted by traffickers. But there are steps we can take to help ensure that every child has a safe childhood.
Preventing child sex trafficking starts with understanding why children run away.
“It wasn’t just him painting this glamorous life that I could be a part of if I ran away. It was also that things were happening at home and in my community that made me want to run away. It was those two things together. And I think that it’s kids that are experiencing those two things – something they want to get away from and something they want to gravitate towards.” – Survivor Leader
When a child runs away, it’s easy to jump to conclusions. Adults might assume the child is being rebellious, acting out or intentionally creating problems for their family. But the truth is far more complex – and often heartbreaking. NCMEC's work with children who have run away reveals a common thread: these children are not running to cause trouble. Instead, they often flee from an unsafe environment or pursue what they perceive as an opportunity for physical and emotional safety. Traffickers exploit the lack of support in these youths' lives by seemingly offering connection. Many young people who run away believe they have found love and support, only to discover it is a dangerous illusion.
Shifting the blame away from children who run away is a critical step in preventing child sex trafficking.
“In addition, a big part of what allowed me to be vulnerable as a child in the foster care system who is being exploited is the fact that everyone just assumes that we're runaways. Everyone assumes that it’s our choice not really understanding that that we're kids too and oftentimes we're in situations that are not of choices.” – Survivor Leader
Children who run away are missing children. Yet, labeling them as “runaways” often shifts the blame onto the child, reducing the urgency of the response and the resources dedicated to finding them. This perception fosters a cycle in which the child often feels unwanted, increasing their likelihood of running away again in search of the love, acceptance and connection that traffickers often appear to offer. Additionally, survivors have shared that running away was often an attempt to keep themselves safe or even a trauma response.
We can all prevent child sex trafficking and keep youth safe.
Through our engagement with survivors, we continue to listen and learn from their experiences. Play the video below to hear directly from survivors:
At NCMEC, we understand that children who run away are prime targets for offenders, who exploit their vulnerabilities. That’s why our language and response must reflect an urgency to protect children, and our language must communicate care for their safety and well-being.
“I was searching for a place that would accept me for who I was – all of my brokenness – and to give me the nurturing that I needed, whatever that looked like.” – Survivor Leader