Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center of Houston Offers Pro Bono Tattoo Removal to Sex Trafficking Survivors
According to The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), sex trafficking is defined as commercial sex acts induced by coercion, force, or fraud.1 Reports estimate that up to 17,500 victims are brought into the United States each year through human trafficking2 and that the number of victims who are trafficked within the U.S. each year is over 16,000.3 Often, traffickers tattoo their victims to signify ownership.
Dermatology & Laser Center of Houston was recently featured in a Dermatology News article, “Restoring dignity to sex trafficking survivors, one tattoo removal at a time.”
Helping Victims of Sex Trafficking Restore Their Lives
These brands leave lasting psychological wounds and, for survivors of sex trafficking, serve as permanent reminders of the trauma they experienced at the hands of traffickers. Removing these tattoos can allow tattooed victims of sex trafficking to reclaim their identity and lives. Dermatology & Laser Center of Houston is providing pro bono tattoo removal to victims of sex trafficking to offer a critical service to the survivor community.
Deeper Than Cosmetic Correction
The emotional impact of removing these tattoos is significant; one survivor explained that erasing the brand of her trafficker was a critical part of her recovery journey, while another said that removing the tattoo helped them to finally feel free of their trafficker.
Read the full Dermatology News article to find out more about how Dermatology & Laser Center of Houston is providing much-needed support to survivors of sex trafficking.
Contact Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center
If you are seeking laser tattoo removal, our experts can help. Please contact us to learn more or to schedule a personal consultation.
1 US Deptartment of State. 2021 Traffickingin Persons Report. Available: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/TIPR-GPA-upload-07222021.pdf. Accessed May 19, 2022.
2 State of California Department of Justice. What is Human Trafficking? Available: https://oag.ca.gov/human-trafficking/what-is#:~:text=Human%20Trafficking%20in%20California&text=the%20United%20States.-,In%202018%2C%201%2C656%20cases%20of%20human%20trafficking%20were%20reported%20in,of%20trafficking%20was%20not%20specified. Accessed May 19, 2022.
3 Polaris. ANALYSIS OF 2020 NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE DATA. Available: https://polarisproject.org/2020-us-national-human-trafficking-hotline-statistics/. Accessed May 19, 2022.