This child is a survivor of sexual exploitation. This picture was taken after the last church service that we attended with them, and we were saying our last goodbyes.
What is trafficking – really? What are the facts, myths, and misunderstandings surrounding it? Maybe you have some knowledge of the issues or are reading this post to find out more. I’m here to help shed some light on sex trafficking, but first let me explain why I care to speak out on this.
I learned that there was such a thing as modern-day slavery during the fall of 2014. As I engaged in International Justice Mission (IJM) events at Ball State University, I learned various statistics of human trafficking and heard the stories of survivors. From that point on, I knew I had to do something. What that something was I was still unsure about, but I continued to educate myself as I knew there was still much for me to learn. An opportunity arose for me to travel to Pattaya, Thailand with The Justice School during the summer of 2017. This was truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I spent 5-6 weeks in one of the top cities for sexual exploitation in the world while being able to learn various aspects of trafficking from FBI agents, detectives/offices, abolitionists, etc. I also had the opportunity to do outreach in one of the world’s largest red light districts. This trip was sobering. All of the statistics I learned turned into faces; the numbers turned into friends I made during outreach.
After that trip, my mission was clear. I couldn’t stay silent about horrific issue that I witnessed firsthand.
Modern day slavery, also known as human trafficking, is a current issue that is affecting millions of people across the world. I want to give you a few facts to help paint the picture of what modern day slavery looks like.
- Most generally, a definition for human trafficking is: the exploitation of a person and/or their body by means of force, fraud, and/or coercion for either labor or sex.
- According to the global slavery index, there is roughly 40.3 million people in modern-day slavery as of 2017. This includes anything from labor trafficking to sex trafficking.
- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime state that 79% of human trafficking cases involves sexual exploitation.
- Within the United States, the national average age of those trapped into trafficking is 12-14 years old (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services).
Is your jaw on the floor? Mine was the first time I heard those numbers. But those are more than just numbers—those are individual humans.
Now that you’ve got the facts, I want to focus on sex trafficking and dispel 5 commonly-held myths about it.
Myth #1: “It only happens in foreign or developing countries.”
This is possibly one of the most common myths when it comes to the prevalence of sex trafficking. This form of modern day slavery occurs all over the world—including right here within the United States. As a matter of fact, sex trafficking occurs in practically every single state in the U.S. It is a multibillion dollar industry that traps both American citizens and foreigners tricked into coming to the states for fraudulent opportunities. According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, there are roughly 200,000 cases of minor sexual exploitation within the United States each year, and it is estimated that children make up roughly 25% of trafficking cases. Due to the illegal nature of trafficking, all of the statistics we have are typically underestimates. The former president and CEO of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Ernie Allen, was once said, “The only way not to find this problem in any community is simply not to look for it.”
Myth #2: “Kidnapping is the main way people fall into trafficking.”
While kidnapping is a way that traffickers ensnare their victims, it is no longer the main method. The three main points that define trafficking are inclusion of force, fraud, and or coercion. Traffickers prey on vulnerability. This vulnerability can come in the form of financial, emotional, mental, or physical factors. A popular rouse to coerce teens into trafficking is something called the “boyfriend effect.” In this, a trafficker will manipulate a teen into believing that the trafficker is the only person who cares for and will provide for them. By driving a wedge between the teen and their family/friends and by buying a multitude of gifts, the teen begins to trust the trafficker. This rouse is not something that occurs overnight; this is something that can occur over the course of a year if that’s what it takes. Another popular ploy is to make the victim believe they are applying for a job opportunity such as a model, maid, nanny, waitress, etc. These type of fraudulent job opportunities attract those who are financially vulnerable. Lastly, a number of those who are being trafficked were once runaways and/or homeless. Traffickers will prey on those in need of a home, money, and a family by creating an environment where those are promised.
Myth #3: “The victims choose to stay. They could get out if they really wanted to.”
If someone is being trafficked, there is no choice involved on their end. The women, children, and men held in trafficking could be kept there by threats, physical violence, or the use of drugs/alcohol to help keep them subdued. Another common action keeping a victim ensnared is the immense emotional and mental abuse that has taken place. As I stated earlier, traffickers prey on the vulnerable. When rouses such as the “boyfriend effect” are used to lure someone into trafficking, the manipulation used runs so deep that it turns into something resembling Stockholm syndrome. Along with this, a deep distrust of law enforcement is created. This distrust is reinforced when those who are being trafficked are mistakenly arrested or receive a citation for prostitution. However, laws are being created to combat this, and law enforcement officers are being trained to more effectively identify trafficking victims in order to get them the help they need rather than to arrest them and ultimately send them back to their trafficker.
Myth #4: “The job is done once the survivor is rescued.”
Many believe that everything is fine once survivors are rescued out of their trafficking situation. However, the journey towards restoration is long and arduous. Once a survivor is rescued, there are many practical needs that have to be met such as housing, clothing, medical care, job placement for financial security, etc. Without these practical needs being met, a survivor may return to trafficking as their trafficker was at least able to feed, clothe, and house them. We also cannot assume that every survivor has a loving family to return to once rescued. Along with the physical needs that must be met, there are many emotional and mental needs that need to be addressed. Many survivors of sex trafficking will not self-identify as victims. However, each person who has been trafficked has had to endure typically prolonged traumatic exposure. This type of complex trauma can lead to instances of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and many other forms of mental illness. Thus, survivors need to receive trauma-informed care upon rescue to help them adjust back to a “normal life.” For many, the battle is only half won once they are rescued.
Myth #5: “There is nothing I can do to stop it.”
Max Lucado once said, ““No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” So where can you start? First and foremost, continue to educate yourself! You can read online articles, scientific studies, survivor stories, etc. There is a plethora of information at your fingertips with just one Google search! Similarly, find out what your national and local governments are doing to help combat this issue. The issue of modern day slavery started to be recognized by many in the early 2000s, and the government has been making monumental strides towards combating it. However, more work is yet to be done, and it is important to keep up on what is being done! If you want to volunteer, then you can get involved in local groups that are trying to raise awareness and fight against sex trafficking. For those of you who enjoy speaking, you can give presentations on the prevalence of trafficking—host awareness nights in your community or speak at your local schools, churches, etc.! While sex trafficking is prevalent in just about every state, many people are innocently ignorant towards the issue at hand. YOU can help change that! Even by informing one person on the prevalence of sex trafficking, you are making a difference.