Greetings friends!
Welcome to the first Tired Girl Talks. This month I'm going to be discussing the sex trafficking industry. 'Industry' because that's exactly what it is - a network of people profiting from selling bodies, many of them children's.
Before I continue, I need to make a few disclaimers:
This post is not meant for everyone and viewer discretion is strongly advised.
This post is intended for educational purposes and should not be consumed by anyone under the age of 18.
Any names of individuals mentioned are gathered from secondary sources available to the public. I mean no offence, or disrespect, to victims of human trafficking or their families.
In this post I will not be discussing any conspiracy theories surrounding sex trafficking as I do not feel I have any right or knowledge to either credit or discredit these claims and fear this may distract from the things we know for a fact are happening today.
Human trafficking is often given the title "modern-day slavery" and is a term that is used in an all-encompassing manor to describe the illegal practice of exploiting people, typically for the purpose of forced labour or for sex. In this post I am going to be talking specifically about human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, typically named "sex trafficking". Sex trafficking occurs when you exchange anything of value for sex, whether that be money, food, drugs or something else.
I'll also be signposting some of the ways you can help victims of sex trafficking, and aid in the prevention of sex trafficking in future.
The Reality
In the past I have found myself guilty of viewing sex trafficking as a third world problem but as my awareness has grown in the last couple of years it has become increasingly apparent that first world countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America, fuel the problem. The reality is, not only are we seeing an increase in the number of sex trafficking victims in these countries themselves, but the predators that are paying for this "service" are predominantly middle-aged white men with money, typically citizens of the USA and UK. Of course, the problem is not limited to one group of people but with the majority of the demand coming from the wealthy west, we have to start holding ourselves accountable.
In this post I'm going to shed light on some of the places worldwide that are most devastatingly effected by sex trafficking and the various ways in which the problem presents itself. After all, it isn't enough to tackle the problem if we aren't also looking at ways to prevent it in the future.
Moldova
South of the Ukraine, the small country of Moldova is considered to be the epicentre of the sex trafficking crisis, with an estimated 10% of the population having been trafficked. The history of trafficking begins with the USSR, who in the 1940s and 1950s supported trafficking, whilst simultaneously denying the existence of prostitution. As the USSR collapsed, along with its economy, human trafficking became a way to make profit in a time of hardship.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, corruption in the state was rife. Hundreds of thousands of Moldavans were left unemployed and vulnerable to exploitation. Tragically, many people fled, and a large number of those left their children. These children ended up in orphanages. At the time, orphanages were used as centres for recruitment for sex traffickers, because no one came to look for missing orphans. Officials were often paid off to allow this to continue.
Years later, Moldova is still considered one of the places worst effected by sex trafficking, where the monthly salary averages at 230 USD. With few opportunities for personal economic growth, many women are left susceptible to exploitation and often end up in sex work simply because they feel they have no other option.
It is important to note that whilst we might think of sex trafficking as occurring only when someone is forcibly removed from their environment and essentially sold into sex slavery, the more common forms of sex trafficking occur where women and children are manipulated by using their vulnerabilities against them. Prostitution is rarely ever a choice, despite what you might have read in the media.
Amsterdam
Most of us have heard of the Red Light District in Amsterdam and I believed for a long time that the women who stand in the windows in lingerie for 12 hours a day (or more) were there by choice. In Amsterdam, prostitution is legal and somehow in my head that translated to there being many women wanting to be in that line of work. In a documentary titled "Nefarious" an interview with Denise, a former prostitute, sees her claim there is not one girl who really wants to be a prostitute, and that makes sense. Regardless of where you grow up in the world, or your environment, nobody dreams of having their body sold for someone else to profit from.
Denise says she was tricked into prostitution by believing that her pimp was in love with her, and she him. This is a story all too familiar. Vulnerable women and children are often groomed by traffickers so that by the time they suggest exchanging sex for money, the victim believes that they are in a trusting and loving relationship. With the new age of social media there are more and more girls being groomed and recruited, as they become increasingly accessible to predators.
So why is it that despite 60% of prostitutes in Amsterdam reporting being physically abused, that we find it so difficult to rescue these women? The truth is, it's impossible to rescue someone who doesn't want to be rescued, or doesn't think they need rescuing. The reason pimps are so successful is because they build up these relationships across months and years, often with women who previously felt that had nobody else. They become the victims' family, their boyfriend, their confidant. So for those women and girls who were alone before this life consumed them, they don't want to be rescued to end up back with no one. They would rather stay in those horrendous conditions, having their body sold to 20 to 30 men a day, than be rehabilitated.
Does that sound like a choice to you?
Cambodia and the Philippines
In third world countries such as Cambodia, the problem is more horrific than I could ever have imagined. In villages young girls are growing up knowing that they will soon be asked to have sex with men for money, by their parents. Yes, their parents are the traffickers. These children face the height of manipulation, with their parents claiming to rely on them to pay for basic necessities such as food. A study conducted by UNICEF concluded that there are at least 19,250 children trapped in prostitution in Cambodia. What that actually means is there are 20,000 children being raped for money in Cambodia, since children are in no position to consent to sex, as "prostitution" implies.
A similar situation exists in the Philippines, where mothers and fathers are advertising their children online, hosting live videos of their children performing sexual acts, and forcing them to have sex. Whilst this practice is unjustifiably horrific, the service is supplied predominantly to men in the western world. These men find the advertisements online and fly across the world to sexually abuse children. I cannot believe we live in a world where I even had to type that last sentence.
The supply might often come from third world countries but the demand is coming from the west. So whilst authorities attempt to save the children, instead of tackling the route of the problem, victims are further traumatised as their mothers are ripped from them and sent to prison, whilst they get thrown into a foster system. Many of them never see their families or their homes again. Whilst these are not parents that deserve to keep their children, this solution is only further punishing the children who have suffered greatly.
All this whilst the disgusting predators who paid to abuse these children go free, totally unharmed.
Washington, USA
In the USA, sex trafficking victims are often recruited via social media, or through pimps who stalk girls (often on their way to and from school) and form relationships with them through flattery and giving them luxury gifts. We all think we would never have accepted gifts from strangers, but the thing is children are easy to manipulate. We manipulate children every day - we bribe them with sweet treats, we tell them their will be consequences for not doing something we ask. Predators are constantly on the look out for vulnerability to exploit, and children are all vulnerable to an extent, purely because they are children.
However, the children who grow up in rougher areas, or in poorer families are much more susceptible to these techniques that predators use. 70% of sex trafficking victims in the USA are African American. Systemic racism has lead to a wealth gap between black and white families, meaning that being born into a black family increases your chances of living below the poverty line, making those women and girls more vulnerable to the traffickers. Sex trafficking in the USA is linked to systems of oppression that have existed since times of slavery, where black women's bodies were used for the pleasure of white men. We have to start dismantling the system that forces black people to live as second class citizens. Battling the deeply-embedded racism in this society will in turn aid in the prevention of black girls and women being exploited for sex.
How you can help.
Warning signs:
Look for signs of physical abuse such as bruises, burns or cuts. Many times victims of sex trafficking will have suffered physical injuries.
Unexplained or increasing absences from school.
Being withdrawn or depressed and not engaging in things they once enjoyed.
Bragging about expensive gifts or money, but being cagey when pressed about where said gifts came from.
Being seen around older men, or claiming to have an older boyfriend.
Showing signs of gang affiliation, such as a tattoo. (Many gangs use tattoos for branding purposes).
What to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked:
If you suspect someone has been trafficked, please contact authorities. If you are in the UK, contact the police using 999 if it is an emergency and 101 if it is not an emergency. If you would like to report something anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Charities and organisations:
Anti-Slavery International - campaigning globally to end modern day slavery, with projects in the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia to secure freedom for trafficked victims and change the local laws to protect future generations. On their website are ideas for fundraising, petitions to sign and a donation page.
ECPAT International - this global network of civil society organisations that is working tirelessly to end the sexual exploitation of children. They work together with governments to advocate for change and prioritise the needs of child victims and survivors.
STOP THE TRAFFICK - this organisation gathers and analyses data around human trafficking to build a clearer picture of the trends, hotspots and networks on a global scale. This allows trafficking networks to be cut off at the source and prevent more girls being recruited.
Human Trafficking Foundation - works to shape policy and legislation to stop modern-day slavery and human trafficking. This organisation works to prevent trafficking specifically in the UK.
Other resources for education.
Documentaries:
1. Nefarious: Merchant of Souls
2011 American documentary about modern day human trafficking around the world. Available for streaming on YouTube, free of charge. Watch now.
2. Nameless
2019 American documentary about child sex trafficking specifically in Washington, produced by the organisation Men Can Stop Rape. Available for streaming on YouTube, free of charge. Watch now.
3. Stacey Dooley Investigates: Mums selling their kids for sex
A hard hitting documentary produced by the BBC to highlight the sex trafficking industry in the Philippines and how the western world is fuelling the problem by providing the demand. Available for streaming on YouTube, free of charge. (Viewer discretion advised as this is particularity difficult to watch. Mature audiences only). Watch now.
Books:
1. Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery
Since the publication of Sex Trafficking in 2007, Siddharth Kara has continued to travel across countries and continents, documenting the local factors and economic forces that support sexual slavery worldwide. His riveting encounters with victims and traffickers informed his screenplay for Trafficked (2016), now a major motion picture. The film features familiar figures from Sex Trafficking and the shocking conditions of their exploitation. It also includes cases Kara has uncovered since his book debuted. This new paperback edition of Sex Trafficking includes a preface by Kara in which he discusses his findings and updates the statistics relating to his business and economic analysis of contemporary slavery. After fifteen years, Kara has recorded nearly 900 cases of sex trafficking in forty-one countries and has helped advise on numerous legal, tactical, and policy efforts for abolishing modern-day slavery across the globe. Sex Trafficking continues to lead as a resource for those hoping to expose this hidden evil and eradicate its practice once and for all.
2. Girl for Sale
At the vulnerable age of 12, Lara McDonnell was picked out by a gang of men who befriended her, showered her with attention and gained her trust. Manipulated and groomed, her life quickly spiralled out of control as the men trafficked her around the country, deliberately keeping her compliant with drink and drugs. Deeply disturbed, and frightened about what the gang would do to her if she tried to break free, it would take over 4 years for Lara to find the strength to fight back, flee Oxford and escape her nightmare.
3. Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave
A gritty, gripping, and tear-jerking fictional novella, inspired by real victims' accounts and research into the sex trafficking underworld. It's been listed as one of the Top 40 Books About Human Rights by Accredited Online Colleges.
As always, the resources and organisations listed in this post are not an exhaustive list and I would strongly encourage you to use this only as a starting point. There is a vast amount of research and media to consume at your discretion to educate yourself further on the topic, and so many things you can do to help! Even just taking two minutes to sign a petition you saw on Facebook makes a difference.
If anyone would like to discuss anything in this post, please reach out via email or on my socials.
If you would like to know which resources the information in this post came from, I will be happy to provide those also.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Signing off my first Tired Girl Talks.
Charlotte. X
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