From a story at CBC: "An estimated half million women are trafficked annually for the purpose of sexual slavery. They are "exported" to over 50 countries including Britain, Italy, Japan, Germany, Israel, Turkey, China, Kosovo, Canada and the United States. Misunderstood and widely tolerated, sex trafficking has become a multi- billion dollar underground industry.

According to the International Herald Tribune, human trafficking is the fastest growing form of organized crime in Eastern Europe. Kidnapped and/or lured by those who prey on their dreams, their poverty, and their naiveté, Eastern European women are trafficked to foreign lands -- often with falsified visas -- where they become modern day sex slaves."

From a story at Shoutwire: "Perhaps the most shocking detail of sexual trafficking is how far it reaches across the globe. (...) Typically, this entails complex transactions and transfer of ownership across international borders. The prevalence of these crimes makes sexual trafficking a multi-billion dollar black market.

Sadly, traffic commonly spans from Eastern Europe and Asia and flows into Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Canada, and the United States. It is a crime that knows no shame and apparently, no boundaries. Why isn’t more being done to address this issue?"

Sex Slaves (documentary from PBS, check out the excerpt): "An undercover journey deep into the world of sex trafficking, following one man determined to rescue his wife -- kidnapped and sold into the global sex trade."