Stealth and Vulnerability
Often times people hear 'prostitution' and they automatically think that some girl has given up her dreams to exploit herself on the streets...
What people often don't know is what it actually took to coerce these young ladies into prostitution... many of the 'prostitutes' that are arrested, labeled, and thrown in jail, have been brain washed and trapped in the ring of human trafficking. Once they are in the cycle, they have no where to turn and go back to the 'pimps' who declare they can protect and provide for them.
While this isn't always the case, it is true for more than the general public may think. In a story published by the Las Vegas Sun in November titled, Sex trafficking of children: Las Vegas' deep, dark secret, Andrea Swanson, the parent of a sex trafficking victim, shares her experiences and how her teenage daughter was convinced by a predator that
"worked his way into the family and stole its youngest member, a junior at Centennial High School in fall 2008 who fell for a boy."
This story is a prime example of how an innocent teenager with low self esteem was swept off her feet by a predator who appeared to care for her, but had alternative motives. Once he had gained the family's trust, he began to work with her insecurities to gain a recurring profit... which falls into the definition of human trafficking.
Human Trafficking Defined:
Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.
There are thousands of stories similar to this one, and we encourage you to read the whole story HERE. The family saw signs of rebellion and defiance in the teen girl, but automatically assumed that it was due to drugs, which they thought to be the worst option. What they didn't know is that their daughter was coerced by the one who appeared to 'care for her' and exploited to gain a profit at her expense. Even when the mother set rules and guidelines on their dating relationship, it continued to happen.
It is important that the general public learn the signs of human trafficking and child sex trafficking which is modern day slavery. Domestic child sex trafficking is a major issue that is kept in the dark and behind closed doors.
This story represents how stealthy traffickers are and how vulnerable our youth are.
Together, we can abolish modern day slavery. First step is learning the facts. Click a link below to learn more:
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Human Trafficking Facts & Stats
Human Trafficking Statistics Report
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