These young women who are the 'forgotten' victims, are often left without family or friends from whom to seek shelter.

Americans normally do not anticipate that trafficking might occur in their country, but desperation and lack of options have reportedly left many young women in vulnerable positions. The US-based NGO, FAIR Fund, has uncovered stories of young women being solicited by sexual predators and even assaulted right in the very shelters that were created to support them. According to the organisation, this is happening in the country starting from Washington, D.C. to Houston.

On 24 and 25th October, Lifetime TV premiered its new mini-series, "Human Trafficking," the first major TV network programme to expose the effects of human trafficking in the United States, according to a release of the FAIR Fund.

There are currently an estimated 200,000 girls in the United States at risk of sexual exploitation. Under Federal law, any child under the age of 18 who is sold into prostitution is a victim of human trafficking.

Yet, many are not treated like victims who deserve help, but instead are arrested or abused by local police. This year FAIR Fund and the local young women of Boston are taking matters into their own hands and demanding the local agencies and law enforcers to help prevent sex trafficking of minors.