Social workers, advocates, law enforcement officers and other professionals gathered at the MSU Riley Center Thursday to learn how to address the growing issue of child sex trafficking and exploitation.

The conference, held by the Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter in Meridian, runs through Friday and features various speakers and different sessions. Thursday focused on understanding the dynamics of child sex trafficking, quantifying the problem locally and interviewing tips. 

Leslie Payne, executive director of the Care Lodge, said child sex trafficking and human trafficking are the fasting growing crimes in the country, classifying them as modern day slavery.

Payne said victims can be sold over and over again, like commodities. She added that human trafficking happens in places like  Meridian because of the close proximity to the interstate and larger cities. 

Catherine De La Paz, a detective for Dallas Police Department’s child exploitation squad, offered tips on keeping children safe. She also addressed the misconception that child sex trafficking is the same as sexual abuse or domestic violence. She added that most people assume pimps are always men, but she has seen women exploiting children as well. 

De La Paz also described pimps and their bottom girls, or women who act as a motherly figure for victims to get them into the lifestyle. She said many victims are runaways. 

Payne said that while awareness about child sex trafficking is important, more resources are needed. In Mississippi, there is only one shelter for victims of human trafficking and their needs are different from domestic violence shelters, she said.