Giving Tuesday: A Day of Generosity and Love

Written By: Clare Chambers, Editorial Intern

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we at One Bread Foundation, Inc. want to remind you of Giving Tuesday. The Tuesday right after Thanksgiving is globally known as Giving Tuesday, where the power of profound generosity is seen around the globe. It was created in 2012 and encourages people to make a difference by donating or volunteering to various charities and organizations.

We see this as the season of generosity and love where friends and families get together for holidays filled with joy. We ask you to channel that joy and generous spirit into donating to our cause. At One Bread Foundation Inc, we work hard to raise awareness and build funding to stop human trafficking around the United States. We want to see more children home for the holidays this year, but we cannot win this fight alone.

Any contribution you can make to this Giving Tuesday to help us in this ongoing battle will help immensely.

For more information on how to sign up for our newsletters and to donate please visit https://www.onebread.org/donate.

Wondering What Rehab Care Looks Like?

By Alexandra Sullivan, Contributing Writer

Human trafficking takes a horrifying toll on victims, many of whom are often tormented mentally and physically for the rest of their lives. In all types of trafficking, victims may experience physical or psychological abuse, including beatings, sexual abuse, food or sleep deprivation, isolation and verbal threats to themselves and their family members. But thanks to rehabilitation care, many can regain a semblance of who they once were and learn to cope with their trauma. Rehabilitation groups help victims by supplying therapy, legal support, employment assistance, housing and other assistance meant to help them get back on their feet and deal with their trauma. 

For Women

Because women are some of the most vulnerable targets of human and sex trafficking, many rehabilitation groups offer services specifically for female-identifying victims. For example, Veronica’s Voice and Fair Girls provide free food, medical, housing, dental needs, therapy, education and job training. Restoration House of Greater Kansas City is a Christian group that offers similar services, along with faith-based programs, as well as alcohol and drug treatment. 

For Boys and Girls

Children are the most common victims of sex trafficking, with girls being twice as likely to be targeted. Their experiences can lead to serious psychological and physical effects in their later years. Groups such as Ark of Hope for Children and Shared Hope exist to help all children recover. The Covering House is a residential home specifically for girls that are victims of sexual exploitation, offering free therapy, housing, employment programs and other rehabilitation services. USIAHT’s Florida Safe Home is one of the first safe homes for boys under the age of 18 who have been victims of sex trafficking and offers free housing, therapy and financial support.

For Men

Men are the most overlooked victims of human and sex trafficking. Just Ask seeks to eradicate this gap in awareness by providing necessary rehabilitation services to male victims, as well as female victims. MaleSurvivor is a website specifically for males to discuss their experiences with other male human trafficking survivors and professional therapists in friendly and moderated forums. 

Housing services, healthcare, legal support and employment assistance are all crucial in the rehabilitation process, and many groups strive to help human trafficking survivors. But with so many people in the United States still trapped in slavery, there is still a long way to go. Consider donating to One Bread Foundation as we work to raise funds (through online retail sales) to rehabilitate victims of trafficking so they are safe, supported and have the opportunity to rebuild. Visit our website at one-bread.org/shop-now to learn more!

Abuse at the Altar

By Chitara Ellis, Contributing Writer/Editor

Every little girl has dreamed of being someone’s bride. In every dream, there is the beautiful, flowing white gown. Perfect hair crowned with a bridal veil. Parents and friends are gathered with tears in their eyes, gazing at the bride as she gracefully walks down the aisle. The organ plays “Here Comes the Bride.” In dreams like these, the bride is a consenting adult. 

In a nightmare, she is a child forced to marry an older man by her parents or community. Thousands of children have lived this nightmare right here in the U.S.—legally.

Individuals under the age of 18 can legally wed with a parent or guardian’s permission. Unchained at Last says that out of 38 states, over 150,000 legal child marriages occurred between 2000 and 2010. Most child marriages are between young girls and older men, with the state of Idaho having the highest percentage of these ungodly unions. Fortunately, the rate of child marriages decreased each year from 2000 to 2010, but without an outright ban, child marriages can legally continue in the U.S.

Child marriages fall under the category of slavery because children are not capable of consent, are abused and exploited during the union, and usually cannot support themselves if they escape, according to Anti-Slavery International. As Human Trafficking Search explains, married children are disenfranchised: Children who can legally marry cannot legally receive counsel for divorce proceedings, work a full-time job, sign for an apartment lease or obtain a driver’s license because they are too young. Even homeless shelters are required by law to report children who come to them because they are minors. Like a slave, a child bride is forced to stay with her “master.”

Little has been done at the federal level to prevent child marriages in the U.S. Girls Not Brides states that the U.S. signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995 in partnership with the United Nations but has yet to ratify it. The convention would set the minimum marriage age limit to 18. From 2013 to 2015, the U.S. cosponsored the U.N.’s resolutions for child marriages, and the United States Agency for International Development has proposed guidelines and vision plans for stopping child and forced marriages globally. Still, no federal laws have passed to wipe out the practice across the country. New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania passed laws in 2018 that ban child marriages in their states, making them the only 3 states that protect minors from marriage. 

As a component of child sex slavery, child marriage is another method abusers and traffickers use to harm children. You can play a crucial part in the rehabilitation of child sex trafficking victims by supporting One Bread Foundation. Use our affiliate links to do your upcoming holiday shopping and donate to One Bread Foundation at no cost to yourself. Learn more at one-bread.org/shop-now.

A Personal Essay

By Pooja Walia, Contributing Writer

Where a perv is free to roam and thrive

And a girl is caged in a room to barely survive

Where the rules are ruled by the rulers of lust
And if u feel pain, keep shut you must

For it’s no big deal if your body is mishandled
Be quiet, else it’ll be a scandal

Stay put, cause your tears will dry away
But don’t talk to anyone about THAT day

Cause it is natural for a male to act this way
It’s okay to let your boundaries slay

For the people will believe just what they see
No matter how shattered you may be

The lecherous will still walk innocent with pride
Into the depths, you have to stride

No law, no person can save you from this hysteria
Cause the land you come from is indeed Incredible India!!

Thanks & Regards,

A frustrated Indian Girl

This was a submission made to one of the leading Indian newspapers, The Hindu, in 2018 by a girl who wanted to let people know how it feels to hail from India, which was titled world’s most dangerous country for women in 2018.

The country has been known for its diverse culture, cuisine and art and being the world’s largest democracy. Demos = people, Kratia = authority. These words don’t just define a system of government but also how powerful the inhabitants of a country are. We became independent in August 1947, but to this day, I am unable to celebrate “Freedom.” We became independent from the British in 1947.

Rape Culture

Jammu and Kashmir, called heaven on earth, is one of the most beautiful scenic beauties of the country. The union territory contains a town called Kathua, where  an 8-year-old girl, Asifa Bano, belonging to a “lower caste” was raped and strangulated to death by over four men. She was kidnapped on January 10, 2018, sedated and raped for several days before being killed.

New Delhi, my home state, is known as the rape capital of India and is home to one of the most heinous crimes committed in the country. On the night of December 16, 2012, a 23-year-old woman was raped and assaulted by six men on a bus while her male friend was severely beaten and stripped. The rapists took turns assaulting her and maimed her private parts with an iron rod before throwing both victims out on the street, naked, bloodied and helpless. After being found by a passerby, she succumbed to her injuries and died in a hospital in Singapore. Throughout her fight and the case’s investigation, her real identity was kept confidential. She was named Nirbhaya – fearless.

Aruna Shaunbag, a nurse in Mumbai, was sexually assaulted by a ward boy in November 1973 and strangulated with a dog chain. She spent 42 long years in a vegetative state and died aged 66 years old in May 2015 due to pneumonia. While in her coma, she was blind, deaf, paralyzed, unable to talk and could only survive on mashed food. 

These incidents are just a few of the most heart-wrenching cases that moved me to the core. These victims died instantly, after two weeks or after 42 years, all still fighting. What many refuse to acknowledge is that the law and order of the country and women’s safety were also dead a long time ago. In Asifa’s case, after almost a year and a half, three convicts faced life imprisonment and three police officers were sentenced to five years in prison for tampering with the evidence after accepting a bribe from the 61-year-old mastermind behind the crime. One of the accused was acquitted due to “lack of evidence,” and one juvenile who kidnapped the victim is still under trial. This juvenile was made a part of the plan only because the accomplices were aware that he wouldn’t be charged. In Nirbhaya’s case, four of the six convicts were executed after eight years, one died in custody, and another, a juvenile, spent only three years in jail before walking free. In Aruna’s case, justice was never served. The culprit was imprisoned for seven years for robbery and attempted murder but was never even charged for rape because sodomy was not considered rape at the time. People reacted to her case by saying that “her ordeal will always shame India.”

Indeed, it did. India shook, protested, spoke up and marched, but the safety of women in India is still a big question mark. These horrific instances prove that lust and criminal tendencies are not dependent on the age of the victim, and neither should our laws. Furthermore, the normalization of objectification, the patriarchal system and casteism still remain systemic problems that cause women to become victims and spend their lives in the darkness. Whether it’s assault, domestic violence, rape, murder or sex trafficking, crimes have diversified, gone global and become more frequent with time. 

Human Trafficking 

Sex Trafficking

With the worldwide economic meltdown and consequent high rates of unemployment, human smuggling is taking a toll on the country more than ever before. Female- headed families in rural areas are more vulnerable to this practice as they are easily conned by traffickers who falsely promise instant monetary support and distant jobs.

Bride Trafficking

Indian tradition calls for marrying girls off and sending them to live with their in-laws. Due to a patriarchal system, several states, especially Haryana, still face female feticide, which leads to a decline in the female population. This, in turn, gives rise to bride trafficking of girls who are trafficked from other parts of the country or world to meet the demand for eligible brides. Many of these girls aren’t even of legal age for marriage. They are exposed to abuse, violence and early pregnancies and aren’t treated as equals but as commodities to be recycled and resold.

Child Trafficking

According to the International Labour Organization, India constitutes the largest child labor in South Asia with “5.8 million children aged 5-17 working in poor conditions.” The Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire rightly underscores the situation of forced labor and child trafficking for sexual exploitation, domestic service, begging or work in agriculture, textile, brick industries, etc. West Bengal has the greatest number of children trafficked, followed by Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Cases of slavery can still be witnessed due to debt bondage, especially in brick kilns, where there are high number of workers migrating from other states and bound to work for indefinite periods of time with negligible benefits.

“Child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking are more likely to be children from marginalized groups, such as low-caste Hindus, members of tribal communities, and religious minorities. Children from marginalized groups also face barriers to accessing education. Teachers sometimes subject these children to discrimination and harassment.”

-Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Several government shelter homes are also known to be hot spots of such types of trafficking. The victims of such practices are deprived of their childhood, basic education, privileges and, above all, normal mental health. 

Systemic Problems

Patriarchy

This gender-based bias, where a male is given all the privileges and a female is either killed before birth or subjected to household chores without any freedom, runs rampant in India. Given the lack education and awareness in some states, many wives face abuse if they give birth to a daughter because it is considered their fault if the baby is not a boy. In some states, women are expected to keep their heads and faces covered in front of everyone, to not raise their voices or concerns, and to dedicate their lives to serving their husbands, children and in-laws. Cases of dowry are still prevalent and often lead to wives being tortured or even killed. Domestic violence is a major problem, and most women are too scared to speak up, take action or seek help, let alone file for divorce, which is considered taboo in India. During the COVID-19 lockdown, several countries around the world have seen a rise in cases of domestic violence, thus strengthening the fact that women become targets of men’s rage due to any inconvenience. Inhumane acts like marital rape are not even considered a crime in our legal system because women are supposed to perform their “wifely duties” regardless of their consent.

Casteism

One of the culprits in the Kathua case was quoted as saying that the victim’s fault was that “she belonged to a lower caste.” Victims of sex and bride trafficking in India usually belong to lower castes. Despite a ban on discrimination based on caste in 1948, casteism has undermined the safety and security of many people, making them more prone to violence, abuse, assault, rape and murder. 

Religion

Similar to casteism, religious beliefs play a major role the country. The Kathua victim was also preyed upon because of her religious minority background. Recent violence over biased government bills, political decisions and hate speeches from various people in power have exponentially corrupted people’s mindsets and given them the illusion that they are above the law. Several recent cases include mob lynching, rape, murder, destruction and violence over religious differences. 

Change

• The Nirbhaya Act, or Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013, was introduced in the aftermath of the New Delhi case. This broadened the definition of rape and included acts of vagina penetration by penis into vagina, anus, urethra or mouth or inserting a foreign object into any of these parts. The law also recognizes acts such as acid attack, sexual harassment, voyeurism and stalking as offenses dealt under the Indian Penal Code.

• After the Kathua rape and murder case, along with a similar incident in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, the minimum punishment for rape of a female less than 16 years of age has been increased from 10 years to 20 years under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2018.

• In 2018, three years after the death of Aruna Shaunbag, passive euthanasia under strict guidelines was legalized in India.

• As per the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report, the country has tried to strengthen its regulations to deal with the increasing levels of human trafficking under the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill but still remains in Tier 2 of the report due to its improper structure and implementation.

With the deeply rooted issues still prevailing due to poor execution of the changes in the law, India still suffers from major safety concerns. Corruption, political motives and lack of fear among perpetrators due to their faith in a flawed judicial system add to a delay in justice and rise in crimes.

To read more about the prevalence of these issues worldwide and learn how you can help abolish child sex trafficking, visit our website at one-bread.org. Go the extra step this month by bookmarking our shopping page here and directly benefiting One Bread Foundation. 

Why Immigrants Are Vulnerable to Human Trafficking

By Alexandra Sullivan, Contributing Writer

Immigration in America is a hot-button issue, but one undeniable aspect of immigration is that the complicated process puts strain on hopeful immigrants and makes them vulnerable to human trafficking. Loopholes in the immigration system exacerbate the problem, and those looking to make a new life in the U.S. may suffer as a result. 

Concern for Children

Children of immigrants are some of the most vulnerable targets of human trafficking. For example, according to a Senate report, the Department of Health and Human Services mistakenly gave custody of more than a dozen immigrant children to human traffickers. This was due to a failure to conduct proper background checks on these so-called caregivers.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The number of unaccompanied immigrant children entered into federal care doubled from 13,625 in 2012 to 24,468 in 2013. In 2019, more than 72,000 were taken into federal care. July 2020 saw as many as 23,785 children near the southwest border alone. Many children without relatives are put into a foster care system, and even those who are claimed by relatives are often sold to traffickers to pay off smuggling debts. The New York Times claims that officials often do not check whether adults receiving custody of unaccompanied immigrants are in fact relatives or not.

Promises of Employment

Many immigrants look to enter the country by finding employment in the U.S., which human traffickers exploit. Immigrants see and apply for a supposed job opportunity, but when they arrive, they are taken not to the job they applied for, but to a brothel or to engage in some other kind of unpaid, enslaved labor. Immigrants of all ages have been victims of forced labor in all industries. 

Earlier this year, Ralph Colamussi from East Northport, New York, was found guilty of having forced labor at a catering company called Thatched Cottage. Workers had been brought all the way from the Philippines using H-2B visas. After these expired, they were forced to apply for student visas and acted as full-time students. Colamussi would occasionally deposit funds into their accounts to make it seem as though they had adequate financial support, but he would merely withdraw the money once the visas were approved. Any objections from the workers were met with threats to contact immigration authorities. Colamussi faces up to 20 years in prison and a large fine. 

Exploitation of immigrants, especially undocumented, is extremely common. They are especially vulnerable to human traffickers due to their fear of deportation. Many traffickers will offer aid to undocumented immigrants, and out of fear of law enforcement, they will accept, often ending up enslaved in brothels or warehouses. 

There is still much to do in the fight for the abolishment of trafficking. If you’d like to contribute, consider volunteering to be a Child Ambassador for One Bread Foundation. All you must do is share our newsletter, blogs and social media posts with your network and keep an eye out for resources and collaboration opportunities in your own community. If you’re interested or want to learn more, please contact David P. Bernal at info@one-bread.org.

Breaking Down the Trump Administration’s Response to Sex Trafficking

By Lydia VanDerKamp, Contributing Writer

President Donald J. Trump, along with Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, have been working together during his administration to enact laws and put safeguards in place to assist those who are victims of human trafficking, according to a FOX Business report. In “What is the U.S. Government doing to Combat Human Trafficking?,” a blog post by WatchBlog, a website ran by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the federal government’s priorities are to prevent, protect and prosecute. Prevention strategies are implemented to reduce victims of human trafficking, while efforts are put in place to protect those who are already victims and prosecute those who are breaking the law by selling humans into slavery. 

Ivanka Trump recently announced there will be a $42 million budget increase to aid victims of human trafficking in 2021. In a video clip posted by The White House on Twitter, she stated that sex trafficking is a billion-dollar industry with close to 25 million victims. She also said in the announcement, “We are resolved, and we are relentless in the fight to hold perpetrators accountable and restore dignity for victims. This administration has fought and will continue to fight this crime and ensure that survivors can access the services they need.” 

During a 2018 meeting with the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, President Trump shared similar sentiments: “This is an urgent humanitarian issue. My administration is committed to leveraging every resource we have to confront this threat, to support the victims and survivors, and to hold traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes.

President Trump has signed four bills to end human trafficking, as listed on the 2019 fact sheet published by The White House:

• Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 1862)

  • Defines the standards of criteria of human trafficking in order to end it. 

• Abolish Human Trafficking Act (S. 1311)

  • Strengthens programs to aid survivors of human trafficking and aids to end human trafficking.

• Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2200)

  • $430 million to aid efforts to end sex and labor trafficking.

• Trafficking Victims Protections Act (S. 1312)

  • Increased efforts to bring human traffickers to justice.  

Furthermore, in the same fact sheet, the Trump administration has published its investigative findings on human trafficking in the U.S.: 

• In the United States, more than 8,500 human trafficking cases were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline last year alone.

• In fiscal year 2018, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations made 1,588 human trafficking arrests while identifying and assisting 308 victims of the same heinous crime. They also made over 4,000 criminal arrests for human smuggling violations. 

• 1,543 of the 1,588 arrests Homeland Security made in fiscal year 2018 for human trafficking were for sex trafficking violations.

These findings call for more federal funds dedicated to ending human trafficking. Trump signed over $35 million in grants from the Department of Justice to provide safe houses for victims of human trafficking. The money can also be used to aid victims to get occupational training and counseling, as reported by The Washington Post. According to an executive order issued Jan. 31, 2020, the following directives were given:

• Enlist a dedicated employee to organize the fight against human trafficking (Sec. 2a).

• Secretary of State responsible for monitoring and aiding with resources used to combat victims of human trafficking (Sec. 2b).

• Attorney General, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Homeland security to collaborate to prosecute traffickers and work through barriers of legalities that are not beneficial for prosecution (Sec. 3a), and shall improve law enforcement capabilities of finding and prosecuting human traffickers online and work to remove barriers to this process (Sec. 3b), and provide prevention education against sexual exploitation of children (Sec. 3b).

• Attorney General, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Secretary of Homeland Security (and other elected officials as needed) to collaborate to fund locating missing children, including runaways from foster care and in state custody – assistance to include technological advances (Sec. 4a).

• Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Housing and Urban development shall collaborate to aid in housing for victims of human trafficking (Sec. 4b).

• The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Education – partner with State, local, and tribal law enforcement to produce child exploitation prevention programs (Sec. 5).  

All in all, the efforts of the U.S. government are constantly evolving and continuously improving to put an end to modern-day slavery and the trafficking of innocent children. To do your part to help abolish child sex trafficking, volunteer to become a Child Ambassador for One Bread Foundation. This role involves sharing our newsletter, blogs and social media posts with your network and keeping an eye out for resources and collaboration opportunities in your own community. If you’re interested in becoming a Child Ambassador or want to learn more, please contact David P. Bernal at info@one-bread.org.

Spotlight: Operation Underground Railroad

By Lydia VanDerKamp, Contributing Writer

Your child could be the next victim of sex trafficking. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a 90% increase in reports of missing and exploited children. While cybersecurity education is available to teach children and young adults how to be protected from online predators, many are still kidnapped or exploited. Others are promised jobs or fame and tricked into leaving with strangers who abuse them—some of whom even sell children to the highest bidder in an online auction to be sexually abused. 

Truly, sex slavery is on the rise in America, and it is not stopping. Operation Underground Railroad, or O.U.R., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending this destructive habit. Tim Ballard, the organization’s CEO, inspired the launch of the Rise Up for Children campaign, which launched on July 30, 2020, on World Day Against Trafficking, to raise awareness of these horrendous acts and rescue children who are forced into the sex slavery industry. Ballard emphasizes the importance of government enforcement in these matters. O.U.R. partners with over 25 states in the U.S. and several countries worldwide to save victims, prosecute predators and provide support services for survivors. 

In 2019, over 3,000 individuals were rescued.  O.U.R.'s YouTube channel has several real-life stories that will fill your heart with compassion. These emotional stories will make you start asking, so what’s next? Help starts by raising awareness. To show your support, volunteer to attend or host an educational session. You can read more about the Rise Up for Children campaign here. To further show  your support, please share this blog with your family and friends to stay united in our endeavor to end slavery. And if you haven’t, sign up for our newsletter in the footer of any page of our website, one-bread.org, to stay updated on the latest news and ways to combat child sex trafficking. 

Remember Joan Today So Tomorrow’s Children Will Be Safe

By Vini Melwani, Contributing Writer & Digital Content Coordinator

It was Holy Thursday, April 19, 1973. Seven-year-old Joan D’Alessandro had a half-day of school, after which she and her sister decided to distribute orders of Girl Scout Cookies around their neighborhood. They had only four blocks to cover around their home in Hillsdale and approximately a dozen boxes to deliver.

After they visited most of the houses, they had only two boxes of cookies left. Joan’s sister had to attend a softball game, so she rode her bicycle to the nearby park. Joan went home. 

While playing on her front lawn, Joan saw her neighbor three houses down pull in with his car. Joan ran into her house to tell her mother, Rosemarie, that she would be back in a couple minutes. Rosemarie recalls watching her daughter take the boxes from the foyer. “She was a very enthusiastic, vivacious, and outgoing child. When she saw something had to be done, she would do it, and when she saw those two boxes left, she knew what needed to be done. She wanted to be a big girl. She was going to be a big girl, she liked that,” Rosemarie says.

Joan took the last two boxes of cookies from the box and shouted to her mom, “Bye, Mommy, I will be right back.” Rosemarie watched Joan walk over to the house three down from theirs. That was the very last time Rosemarie saw her daughter.

After several minutes had passed and Joan had not returned, Rosemarie walked toward the house with her 10-year-old son and asked him to stay outside while she rang the doorbell. A man in his late 20s opened the door, and Rosemarie entered the house.  She could sense something was not right. 

Rosemarie recalls, “I went into the house because I knew that she had been the last one who stepped in that foyer, and I wanted to step in that foyer.” As she stood there, she remembers, “He stood in front of me and was like a machine. His eyes were not real. They looked like two black empty spaces.” She asked him if he had seen Joan, and he said he had not. He then separated himself from Rosemarie and ascended eight steps to his upper level while she stayed below. She noticed he looked like he had just gotten out of the shower. He had a thin cigarillo in his hand. 

Rosemarie stood there and remembers thinking, “He has done something to my child. I know it.” Then she heard the loud sounds of a fire truck that drove by, along with the police she had already called. “Things would never be the same,” Rosemarie says.

Later that evening the police came back with a canine. With Joan’s old worn clothes, the dog, that was trained to use its senses to follow a trail, proceeded toward the house where Joan was last seen. It stopped outside the garage and wouldn’t budge.

Three days after her disappearance, Joan's body was found in Harriman State Park in New York. She had been sexually molested and murdered.

Joseph McGowan, who lived in the house three down from Joan, was her killer. He taught chemistry at Tappan Zee High School. After he pleaded guilty, they found many boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in his house. During questioning, he said he knew how to lure kids into his house. There were previous allegations of him stalking other students at his school, but nothing was done and no charges were filed. 

Since the murder of her child, Rosemarie D'Alessandro has spent her life searching for answers. She doesn't shy away from details of what happened to Joan because she believes that the more information she can gives translates to more awareness to possibly protect another child in the future. She adamantly states, “I wanted to do something. I didn’t want Joan just to be in the ground or to forget about her suffering. I wanted to do something to honor her suffering and save other children. I did not want any more babies to go through what she went through.”

Her tenacity helped her successfully fight parole for her daughter's killer and win the passage of New Jersey's Joan's Law in 1997, which ensures that anyone who murders and sexually assaults a child under 14 will never be eligible for parole or leave prison.

A federal version of the law passed in 1998. The age of children protected in New Jersey was increased to include everyone under 18.

Rosemarie also went on to establish Joan's Joy, a foundation that funds recreational and educational programs for disadvantaged children. Joan's Joy also supports programs that help keep children safe.

In 2006, Rosemarie returned to the site where Joan was found. It was only the second time in decades that she had visited. As she approached the spot where Joan’s body had been placed, something caught her eye: a white butterfly that greeted her. It flickered around her, back and forth. “I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s her energy,’” Rosemarie reminisces. The butterfly has become symbolic to Rosemarie and is an integral part of her life as a symbol of hope, love, peace and positive change in society.

“Be the positive change you want to see in this world,” as Mahatma Gandhi said, and join hands with One Bread Foundation in our fight against crimes involving our youth. If you’re able, set up a recurring donation for as little as $1 per month to help us reach our goal of recruiting 1 million supporters to fund rehabilitation centers serving children rescued from sex trafficking in all 50 states. 

Resources and Further Reading

Joan's Joy

Joan's Law - New Jersey, 1997

Federal version of Joan's Law - 1998

Protection of Children From Sexual Predators Act - 2000

Joan’s Law - New York, 2004

Expansion of Joan’s Law - New Jersey, 2017

4 Ways Nonprofits Combat Sex Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Contributing Writer

Sex trafficking is an important issue that threatens, arguably, the most fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are vital to every human’s well-being. While many proclaim that they would fight for others' rights when injustices are committed, they often take those rights for granted themselves. In fact, greater freedoms and material comforts have unintentionally bred complacency toward egregious acts that violate the very beliefs that many hold dear to their hearts. 

A society that sincerely values human rights must address sex trafficking problems so all humans may possess equal, inalienable rights. You may be asking yourself, what can I do to stop the proliferation of trafficking cases? The No. 1 thing you can do is donate to and volunteer for an organization that has the knowledge and know-how to make a dent in the trafficking “industry.” 

And if you’re wondering what these organizations do, here are four different actions they take. 

No. 1: Collaborating with law enforcement

At local and national levels, organizations partner with law enforcement to monitor vulnerable communities. They may also offer information to assist with search and rescue operations and the identification of suspected trafficking sites or traffickers. Likewise, American organizations may work with Interpol and law enforcement agencies from other countries to improve the response to transnational trafficking. For example, United Way Worldwide, which is based in the U.S., announced a collaboration with Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to manage trafficking that is endemic in Africa. Sex trafficking is rarely confined within national borders, and the smuggling and transference of victims across borders require a collaborative effort on an international scale. 

Some organizations partner with law enforcement to ensure trafficking cases are handled delicately to minimize the harm done to the victims. They may guide officers on interviewing techniques sensitive to the needs and emotional states of victims and on creating safe, respectful environments. Overall, cooperation with law enforcement is useful in intervening in trafficking cases, especially for global cases. 

No. 2: Advocating through policy 

Organizations influence the legal and justice system through advocacy work, ensuring that anti-trafficking laws are passed and that traffickers are duly prosecuted. The legal and justice systems’ functions are to protect individual rights and maintain social stability. While laws and regulations about trafficking do exist, they mostly pertain to soft laws that emphasize principles and human rights, so many organizations push for harsher international laws with precise language to hold countries accountable for their commitments to anti-trafficking efforts. Harsher penalties also serve as a deterrent for potential traffickers and prevent future cases. 

No. 3: Educating youth and vulnerable populations

Organizations work with school districts and school boards to offer training courses for teachers and educational programs for students. Since children may be in direct contact with traffickers and predators, educational programs that help them understand the dangers of trafficking and recognize warning signs early are crucial. Project Concern International, a global development NGO based in San Diego, started a range of after-school programs that work with local school districts to educate youths on recognizing exploitation and violence. Some organizations may provide support mechanisms like hotlines for students and teachers to phone in to if they suspect instances of abuse and exploitation. 

Similarly, organizations may cooperate with local communities to minimize exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Raising public awareness is key to preventing sex trafficking. Neighborhood seminars teach individuals how to better protect themselves against exploitation and how to assist others should they face a similar situation. 

No. 4: Partnering with other nonprofits or NGOs

Finally, many organizations partner together to provide myriad services that ensure better protection and rehabilitation of trafficked victims. To protect potential victims, nonprofits or NGOs that specialize in trafficking may share information regarding traffickers and victims (with full consent) to form a comprehensive database that may be useful to law enforcement. In the case of rehabilitation, organizations that mainly provide shelter and accommodation may work with those that focus on returning victims to their home countries, those that offer counseling services and even those that provide legal aid. 

If you want to learn more and do your part to raise funds for children ages 8-18 rescued from sex trafficking, volunteer to be a Child Ambassador for One Bread Foundation. We need Child Ambassadors who are willing to share our newsletter, blogs and social media posts with their networks and keep an eye out for resources and collaboration opportunities in their own communities. If you’re interested in becoming a Child Ambassador or want to learn more, please contact David P. Bernal at info@one-bread.org. 

Sources and Further Reading 

Law enforcement response to human trafficking and the implications for victims: current practices and lessons learned

Project Concern International

US-based NGO partners with NAPTIP to understudy human trafficking

The Dark Truth Behind Sensationalized Trafficking News

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

Take a quick glance at social media or scroll through Facebook and you’re sure to find some mention of the horrific reality of child sex trafficking. This topic is rightfully grabbing our attention from every angle on multiple platforms. Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex trafficking ring, the Wayfair scandal, Blake Lively’s powerful speech on child pornography and other events have brought attention to the dangers faced and endured by many children at what appears to be the hands of powerful people. The politicization and sensationalism of child trafficking revealed that human trafficking is an issue many are prepared to fight against. Truly, these posts are raising awareness that could help protect vulnerable children and create active bystanders who stand up against injustice. However, it is important to ask one question: Are these social media posts showing us an accurate, full picture of sex trafficking?

Recent sensationalism falters in how it presents human trafficking. A look into popular posts and hashtags shows a common idea of protecting children from celebrities and politicians or how clicking on a strange text link can lead to being trafficked. But focusing only on prominent individuals and unverified theories is misleading in the fight against human trafficking and detracts from the injustices happening all around us. Although many are now vocal in their opposition to sex trafficking and child abuse happening elsewhere, they seem to be unknowingly turning a blind eye to an equally important problem: the likelihood of someone in their community abusing children, trafficking children or recording explicit material of children. We need to advocate for children not just because someone else’s kids are at risk, but also because our own are at risk. Socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity and place of residency can play a factor in sex trafficking and child abuse, but the No. 1 commonality is vulnerability. By presenting human trafficking as a problem mainly perpetuated by politicians or prominent individuals, we are so busy looking at Washington, D.C., and Hollywood that we fail to see children around us being abused.

In a Fox interview covering prominent anti-trafficking experts’ concerns about QAnon, Eric Zahnd, a prosecutor and member of the Missouri Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force, stated that in over 20 years of prosecuting sex trafficking cases, he never encountered a perpetrator who did not have a prior connection to the victim. What does this mean? Abusers and traffickers are often people children know. Of course it is vital to fight for children being abused and used by people in power, but it’s even more necessary to be aware of what’s happening in our own states, cities, communities and neighborhoods.

Awareness is the first step to change; it empowers everyone to respond and join in the fight against human trafficking. Although awareness lays the groundwork, we must decide how we build upon that to cause change. Before sharing a post on Facebook or tweeting about the latest topic under the #SaveTheChildren hashtag, check the validity of your claims or that of the post you’re sharing. Care for the children in your life by taking an interest in maintaining their safety and learning about warning signs. Continue raising awareness, shining a light on the darkness of sex trafficking, making abusers uncomfortable and spreading hope for those silently suffering in secret, but I also encourage you to go beyond your screen and partner with One Bread Foundation in our fight against human trafficking.

We invite you to play a crucial part in the rehabilitation of child sex trafficking victims by donating to our foundation. If you’re able, set up a recurring donation for as little as $1 per month to help us reach our goal of recruiting 1 million supporters to raise awareness and funds for rehabilitation centers serving children rescued from sex trafficking in all 50 states. 

Did you know you can also help victims of child sex trafficking through your regular online shopping? One Bread Foundation is a charity affiliate of Amazon, Goodshop, Groupon and eBay. Visit our Shop Now page to learn more, start shopping and benefit children. Finally, if you want to get more involved in the fight against human trafficking, consider becoming a Child Ambassador. We look forward to your collaboration.

Resources and Further Reading

Blue Campaign’s Indicators of Human Trafficking

'Human trafficking experts concerned about misinformation spread by conspiracy group QAnon'

National Human Trafficking Hotline’s tips on recognizing the signs of trafficking

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Complicates Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Contributing Writer

To say 2020 has been chaotic would be an understatement, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of the year launched many nations into a state of frenzied panic. Disruptions caused by the upheaval of our social and economic systems have shifted our attention away from another pressing issue: sex trafficking. 

Loss of stable incomes and growing financial insecurities have exacerbated sex trafficking by incentivising more predators to exploit vulnerable communities, which exposes children to greater risks of abduction or exploitation. Equally significant is how the pandemic has diminished the budgets of organizations that investigate trafficking, partner with law enforcement to arrest traffickers and provide rehabilitation efforts for victims rescued from traffickers—the very organizations that we at One Bread Foundation support. 

Reduced funding has hampered the ability of nonprofits to partner with law enforcement to arrest traffickers or engage in search and rescue operations to identify potential victims. Because governments are forced to divert their financial resources to healthcare resources, police are focused on enforcing lockdown and social distancing rules, which further limits the ability of organizations to investigate trafficking cases. By deprioritising trafficking, predators are likely to remain undetected and websites where child sex abuse material runs rampant are going unobserved. 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that referral mechanisms have faced increased challenges, resulting in delays while identifying victims and referring them to protection schemes. Some shelters have even had to shut down their field offices and suspend outreach services. Travel restrictions have also rendered agencies like the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) less effective in international trafficking cases.

Tighter budgets and fewer available personnel have also severely interfered with organizations’ abilities to provide rehabilitation efforts for victims rescued from traffickers. Ilias Chatzis, chief of UNODC’s human trafficking section, notes, “It’s alarming to hear that, in some places, trafficking victims no longer have access to shelters, some refuges have even closed down due to the virus and others lack protective equipment - putting both victims and staff at risk.” When victims are left homeless, they may be re-exposed to exploitation or potential COVID-19 infections. Organizations that provide psychological assistance have similarly experienced a loss of funding that now prevents them from offering counselling to traumatized victims, and the shutdown of borders and lockdown of cities to curb the COVID-19 outbreak have prevented rescued victims from returning home. 

One survey has found that at least one-third of anti-trafficking organizations worldwide are struggling to repatriate survivors right now. Between 2019 and 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which works with the Nigerian government to repatriate victims of trafficking, experienced a 91.14% drop in the number of individuals repatriated. While some organizations offer online counselling sessions and rehabilitation courses to help victims of trafficking reintegrate, many victims reside in less developed areas and have unequal or no access to the internet.

COVID-19 has strained the organizations combating trafficking and providing aid to victims. Consequently, these troubles may inadvertently increase trafficking as predators take advantage of the disorder to operate with less risk of detection. Recovery following repatriation also faces numerous obstacles as organizations are prevented from helping victims recover. Truly, our current pandemic has revealed the precariousness of institutions and organizations that provide assistance to those in need. We must rethink how we manage important issues like trafficking that are central to protecting our rights to life and liberty. Above all, we must ensure that when times get hard, our most vulnerable are not forgotten.  

To help solve this ongoing problem, set up a recurring donation to One Bread Foundation. At just $1 per month, you can help us reach our goal of recruiting 1 million supporters to raise awareness and funds for rehabilitation centers serving children rescued from sex trafficking in all 50 states. If possible, become a Legacy Partner by pledging $30 per month. Any assistance you offer may be of greater significance than you can possibly imagine. 

Sources and Further Reading

'COVID-19 crisis putting human trafficking victims at risk of further exploitation, experts warn' 

'COVID-19 lockdowns left Nigerian trafficking survivors stranded'

'The impact and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on trafficked and exploited persons' 

'Exacerbating modern slavery with a global health pandemic'

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime pandemic report

State of Georgia Implements Human Trafficking Task Force

By Chitara Ellis, Contributing Writer

Backed by the state’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Georgia has created a task force to counter human trafficking efforts within the state. Officially called the Georgia Human Trafficking Task Force, it takes a holistic and unified approach in its mission to “protect the citizens of Georgia from perpetrators and systems of sexual exploitation while concurrently working to support recovery of adult and CSEC (commercial sexual exploitation of children) victims to ensure they are ready for college, work, and a successful future.” 

According to a fact sheet released in 2013 from the Center for Public Policy Studies, 374 girls are sexually exploited per month in Georgia. In 2012, the center received over 400 calls from Georgia, over 100 of them being high risk. Typically, young girls are brought into the state’s sex trafficking market at 12 or 14 years old. These children often have a history of truancy and running away from home. 

A report published by the council in 2014 makes four recommendations to better serve victims within the state: 1) a more efficient way of collecting and tracking data on victims, 2) a more efficient way of identifying victims and availability of services to them, 3) collaboration across agencies in victim assistance training, and 4) educating and bringing awareness to communities about what makes a person a victim and the help that is available to them. 

The newly created task force appears to have taken note of these recommendations. The task force includes representatives from various levels of government, law enforcement and nongovernmental organizations, and they make their quarterly meetings open to the public. They have nine objectives, with nine work groups designated to meet each one: 1) community awareness and education, 2) youth awareness and safety, 3) deterring traffickers and buyers, 4) keeping at-risk youth safe, 5) apprehending, investigating and prosecuting traffickers and buyers, 6) examining underserved and/or previously identified victims, 7) protecting and supporting survivors, 8) helping survivors recover and thrive, and 9) examining domestic adult sex trafficking. 

The task force’s website portal offers training and educational resources to the public. One of the educational resources listed is a free training series created by Georgia Cares, a nonprofit that serves young victims statewide. The other available resource on the site is the task force’s Technical Assistance Resource Guide on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention, which was created by work group no. 2 of the task force and is designed for schools and youth programs. The third available resource listed is a downloadable Know the Signs flyer. 

One Bread Foundation, Inc. also offers resources to the public for engaging in the abolishment of child sex trafficking across the United States. Help raise awareness of this issue by sharing this article with your friends and family and subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates and news straight to your inbox. To sign up, simply enter your email in the footer of any page on our website at one-bread.org.

Dare to Share: Uncomfortable Conversations That Need to Be Had

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

There’s a video going around of a beautiful, young actress speaking from behind a wooden podium with dainty flowers lining the wall behind her. On first glance, it looks like another glamorous award show acceptance speech. However, this woman is not giving a speech for best actress; she is using her voice at a luncheon for the 2017 Variety’s Power of Women event to shed light on the horrific reality of child pornography. Her name is Blake Lively, and although she is being honored at the event, she has turned all attention to this terrible issue that affects so many children around the world. Words often left unsaid pour through her mouth. The audience cannot unhear the painful things she says while holding back tears, and no one who hears her speech can claim ignorance about the realities of child pornography.

With one compelling question, Lively demands the attention of every person in the audience: What is the value of a single child’s life? With all eyes on her, she begins to talk about the sexual exploitation of children in the United States. She makes it clear that this is not an isolated issue only plaguing children overseas or in developing countries, but it is one happening in communities across our nation. Child exploitation can happen anywhere in the world because files and explicit media are transferred and downloaded through the web. 

As Lively details her journey learning about sexual exploitation and child pornography, she addresses the unavoidable elephant in the room: What exactly is child pornography? Although she was afraid of the answer, she knew she had to ask this difficult question. According to Lively, child pornography, more helpfully referred to by the Child Rescue Coalition as “child sexual abuse material,” can be nude or explicit images, videos or other materials, including of children having sexual acts performed on them. Based on this definition, child pornography involves anyone under the age of 18. Not only are teens included, but so are newborn babies—even with the umbilical cord still attached—toddlers and prepubescent individuals. According to a joint technical report by ECPAT and Interpol, more than 60% of unidentified victims included in retrieved child sexual abuse material were of prepubescent age, and about 4.3% were infants or toddlers. The same study states, “The younger the victim, the more severe the abuse was likely to be.”

Lively also mentions a ChildHelp statistic that states that 90% of children know their abusers. Child exploitation can happen while a child lives in their home, where someone could repeatedly record explicit media of them. In addition, Lively explains that some abusers will find jobs that give them easy access to children, jobs where parents trust the professionals and may be more apt to letting their guards down. A recent and well-known example is the case of Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement with child sex trafficking. He was unsuspecting: a wealthy American businessman who had connections to many major politicians, celebrities and powerful individuals. Like many abusers, he was hiding in plain sight.

Every day, 30–50 million files of child sexual abuse material are traded online. The Child Rescue Coalition states that up to 85% of abusers viewing child sexual abuse material online are also abusing children in person. As referenced in Lively’s video, only 10% of children speak up after they have been abused. Children may speak out years after the abuse or not at all. Often, they are afraid of not being believed or that their abuser will inflict more harm. In some cases, they may not have a trusted adult to confide in because the abuser is a family member.

Imagine what the audience looked like during Lively’s speech. Surely there were people uncomfortably squirming in their seats and others wondering why she had to ruin the mood with such a dreary topic. Perhaps some predators sat completely still and full of fear, knowing that their exploitation would no longer go unnoticed. Most importantly, there was hope for those in attendance who had been abused as children. Speaking up about these topics is uncomfortable, sure, but it’s also brave. It’s worth 10 minutes of awkward conversation or glares from those who do not approve. It’s worth rescuing a 5-year-old child who has been abused since she was 3 months old. It’s worth prosecuting an abusive doctor who has exploited many and was hoping to manipulate more. Thanks to Lively’s speech, the burden of responsibility can be shared among all who have heard her words. 

Will you dare to step out and have these difficult conversations? Change starts with awareness of the problem. There is hope for those being abused, fear for the abusers and justice for those who have been hurt. You don’t have to be a parent, family member or loved one of an abused child to notice the warning signs. A child can be abused by anyone, but they can also be helped by anyone. Whether or not a child is yours, their life matters and is invaluable. They matter to God, and they should matter to us. The Bible says in Proverbs 31:8-9 (NLT), “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”

The Child Rescue Coalition is still fighting for the lives of exploited children. This organization is training investigators and offering law enforcement authorities free use of their child pornography screening program, which helps authorities track individuals who view explicit material. Just as the organization continues to fight for children, so can all people. Individuals can better support children by teaching adults and children alike about appropriate boundaries and personal space and how to tell an adult when boundaries are violated. They can also create a safe and welcoming environment for children to share sensitive information, advocate for children, learn the signs of sexual abuse in children and adults, keep their eyes and ears open to speak up when they notice something and hold on to hope for these children.

You can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause with your family and friends. If you are not already signed up to receive our monthly newsletter, please do so for yourself and others in the footer of any page of our website at one-bread.org. There are so many children who need our help. Let’s accomplish this mission together.

Sources and Further Reading

Blake Lively's 2017 speech at Variety's Power of Women event

'Child abuse statistics & facts' 

Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation database

'It's not child pornography, it's child sexual abuse material'

'Warning signs of possible sexual abuse in a child's behaviors'

Could This Invention Be the Key to Reducing Sex Trafficking?

By Brishti Mondal, Contributing Writer

“Technology is always like that: people are against it, people are for it. But eventually, if you develop Technology in the right way, you’ll always have many benefits for people.”

— Dr. David Levy

Have you ever wondered what drives people to become consumers of the sex trade? There are many reasons: loneliness, unattended desires or even nymphomania can drive someone to a brothel and to sex workers. But the sex work industry doesn't care about these reasons; its main concerns are creating profit and fulfilling demand. This is what drives human trafficking of adults and children alike.

Since the inception of human trafficking, which makes billions in profits each year and is spread across the entire globe, people have been trying to shut it down. Recently, engineers and scientists have tested the idea of sex dolls as a substitute for humans in the sex work industry to curb illegal trafficking. Sex dolls are human-like silicone dolls used to fulfill sexual desires—some even utilize artificial intelligence to simulate actual human characteristics. 

Sergi Santos, a Spanish scientist who pioneered the idea of sex dolls implanted with AI, thinks that his business may help influence consumer behavior away from the sex trade. In an interview with Reuters, Santos explains, “Should you be trafficking humans? I think it's obvious—no. So what we should do is stop that, and make people spend the money on the doll.”

As technology advances, brothels in global cities will be staffed by robot prostitutes, claims AI researcher David Levy in his 2007 book "Love and Sex With Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships." Levy believes that the cost of sex robots will drop to become more cost-effective than paying for a sex worker. "The advent of sex robots will probably reduce the popularity of having sex with a sex worker. And if it's going to have that effect, it will also reduce sex trafficking," Levy said in the same interview with Reuters.

In 2018, a sex robot brothel funded by taxpayers opened in a popular red-light district of Amsterdam. The owners of the brothel believe that sex dolls replacing sex workers in brothels will eventually reduce illegal trafficking, while also keeping the market open for sex workers who want to work in the industry willingly. Editor’s Note: Dutch officials have a strict policy of not allowing the production of childlike dolls.

But the arrival of sex robots has stirred up conflicting opinions. Inventors like Santos believe they can help stem the sex trade, while others believe they normalize rape culture. No matter where you stand on the issue, you can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation's mission and cause. Please forward this blog to your friends and family members and encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter at one-bread.org for more updates, news and ways to help children and young adults rescued from sex trafficking. 

Sources and Further Reading

1. The truth behind who really buys sex dolls, from the man who makes the most realistic ones you can buy

2.   Sex robots: anti-sex-trafficking aid, or just perverted?

3.   How dolls could help prevent child sexual abuse

4.   First Amsterdam sex doll brothel opens its doors

5.   Sex robots: perverted or practical in fight against sex trafficking?

Hidden Crime Within the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Katie Sreniawski, Contributing Writer

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives dramatically. From school and job closures to travel restrictions and event cancelations, 2020 has been challenging and unprecedented. As we emerge from dealing with our individual situations and inconveniences, it's essential to recognize how the pandemic has affected sex trafficking victims.

Imagine the scenario of a young child named Sarah. She lives in an abusive low-income household. As soon as Sarah's school shut down due to COVID-19 precautions, she lost her only connection to teachers and counselors who offered valuable support and escape from abuse. Meanwhile, her guaranteed breakfast and lunch at school are no longer available, so she has to go days without food. Sarah is verbally and physically abused by her parents and goes to bed hungry, wishing for an escape.

Sex traffickers see someone like Sarah as an opportunity. They recognize the signs and approach her online or in person to exploit her vulnerability. Once offered an escape from her desperate situation, Sarah will likely be well hidden by her abusers, and any chance of being rescued is drastically lessened thanks to recent restrictions and lockdowns.

Virus precautions are driving a reduction in various investigative units and social services. This makes it easier to hide criminal activity and overall detection of sex trafficking. A policy brief written by Livia Wagner and Thi Hoang of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime says, "Given the confinement measures and economic hardships that the coronavirus pandemic has brought about, some trafficking forms – most notably those involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children and the exploitation of those in domestic servitude – are reportedly increasing." Furthermore, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime also reports, "[Non-governmental organizations] have been dramatically limited in their anti-trafficking response, including canceling victim rescue missions, shelters, in-person counseling, and legal-assistance services." 

Additionally, former victims of sex trafficking may be struggling during the pandemic with  income inequality, housing and safety instability. These factors could drive them to return to their abuser out of desperation. As described by Hannah Stein from Artworks for Freedom, "Trafficking survivors are at risk not only for exposure to the virus but also for revictimization. Social distancing may be triggering for trafficking survivors, as such conditions could imitate feelings of isolation, loss of control, unpredictability, and fear that they likely felt in captivity."

In this challenging time, we must take action to help reduce the advantages that sex traffickers are finding in the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that lists various responses to this crisis, experts suggest offering education through online courses, supporting anti-trafficking organizations by providing their personnel with protective equipment and masks, facilitating cross-border cooperation and providing grants to help victims who need more support during the pandemic. 

In addition to the steps mentioned above, you can play a critical role in the rehabilitation of child sex trafficking victims by donating to One Bread Foundation. If you're able, set up a recurring donation for as little as $1 per month to help us reach our goal of recruiting 1 million supporters to raise awareness and funds for rehabilitation centers serving children rescued from sex trafficking in all 50 states.

As we move forward with the "new normal" of this pandemic and the changes it brings, we must not forget the most vulnerable populations who may fall victim to sex trafficking. We must look out for one another and continue to fight for those who are being held captive and exploited against their will.

Sources and Further Reading

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Artworks for Freedom

Sex Trafficking and the Perils of Privacy Invasion

by Cheryl Vaca

Technology has helped position the sex trafficking industry as a lucrative market since the first sex website launched online in 1994. Since then, the online sex trafficking industry has grown, offering more options for buying and selling people into sex slavery and a smorgasbord of illicit, sexual services to clients all over the globe. The process is simple and streamlined with its transactions, leaving those involved virtually untraceable. Sex traffickers can easily generate revenue by posting services and enticing clients with a variety of digital content to meet specific requests—all at the expense and damage of those involuntarily expected to perform. 

The Online Market for Traffickers

Conducting business online is a quick way to manage trafficking with less of a chance of being caught. It’s the ideal marketing playground for sex; sellers can reach specific target audiences with online advertising, and buyers can search for sexual services as a match for their needs. For sellers, posting online sex trafficking ads is an inexpensive way to find women and children to be bought and sold for sex services. For buyers, it is impossible to distinguish between online ads offering services they seek and those which involve unwilling trafficked women and children as participants. Exploding with an exploitation of minors, 100,000 websites exist that are dedicated to child pornography. In addition to advertising minors for sex, Backpage.com, which has since been shut down, was netting $150 million in revenue per year from adult service ads and was the source of 73% of child trafficking cases (Equality Now, 2020). Craigslist also ranks high as a way for online sex traffickers to remain anonymous while soliciting business. Fortunately, as sites use more advanced methods of artificial intelligence and laws are enforced, online advertisements have a greater chance of being detected and removed.

Footage and Footprints of Live-Streamed Sessions

Responding to ads posted online, buyers find sellers online who offer live-streamed sessions. Chat sessions using webcams are used to build a virtual relationship between the performer and client. An online relationship is established, enticing continual business with promises of eventually meeting the person. Victims who are exploited are forced to be on camera to put on a “show,” which brings in $20–$150 on average to the seller. Even children are offered a small amount of money to be part of nightly “shows” (International Observatory Human Rights, 2019). Buyers search online for children within a certain age range or who have a certain appearance. The seller provides live footage for them to view based on what they are looking for. Sex trafficking is a global issue, but in the United States alone, 21% of those who are victim to sex exploitation are children, with 63% of videos containing children under the age of 8 years old (Nuix, 2019). The ease of digital platforms has opened up ways for online advertising, marketing and communication to help bring in more sales and deliver content to buyers.

The Dangers of Other Online Sexual Content

Feeding addictions, curiosity and loneliness, cybersex trafficking provides sexual content and views to buyers for their visual pleasure, satiating their sexual perversions. Women and children who are used as slaves for the business are exploited, forced to engage in cybersex activities out of fear of abuse or other threats by sex traffickers. Online content and interactions include chat sessions, photos, recorded videos, live-streamed webcam videos and sex camming, where the buyer is watching in real time and can request performances (Fight the New Drug, 2019). Selling sexual content can be highly profitable for sellers. It is not unusual for a live sex video to bring in $400 in 45 minutes. The victims, while of high value to the sellers, are treated as worthless. Young women who have been coerced into this sex business seldom receive money for sexual services but are used for traffickers to make money received by clients. Many are beaten if they do not cooperate and some are forced to have sex 20–48 times per day (Trafficked No More). Sex trafficking is a global concern as the internet is used to transfer sexual content worldwide.

A Focus on Sex Camming and Trafficking Using Remote Drones

Another method for traffickers is using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to record live video of involuntary victims (Brookings, 2014). Thanks to aerial surveillance and remote applications, the target is able to be accessed live from anywhere. Even indoors within their own home, victims’ privacy is compromised while showering, undressing, using the toilet, having sex or just existing, and the feed is streamed in full color with the ability for buyers to hear and speak to the victim. There is a limitless range to the accessibility of victims because they can be reached in any building and even outdoors in tents or at parks—anywhere electricity can be conducted, even through poles or trees. Friends or family members select the victim as the target without the victim’s permission. Additional recorded views are available online for purchase. Likewise, infrared technology offers buyers the ability to “X-ray” the victim remotely to see through their clothing (MaxMax), sexually assault them via lasers and view them indoors, eliminating any sense of privacy (Popular Science, 2013). This form of sexual exploitation is nearly impossible to trace, and anyone can be made victim to this pervasive surveillance—anywhere and at any time—all for the benefit of those who have a device to invade others’ privacy for income and views. Although legislation is passed regulating the use of drones by the government, the general public being able to use drones as a means for trafficking is a concern that is overlooked.

Aperture With Legislation and Restrictions 

In 2017, the government began to place a greater emphasis on online sex trafficking by passing the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). This marked significant progress in establishing legislation for social networks, causing them to have a greater responsibility to censor content posted and sex trafficking advertisements. Victims can find hope for justice as social network providers face tighter restrictions and heightened accountability.

References

Brookings. McNeal, G. (2014, November). Drones and aerial surveillance: Considerations for legislatures. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/drones-and-aerial-surveillance-considerations-for-legislatures/amp

Equality Now. (2020). Human Trafficking & Online Prostitution Advertising. Retrieved from https://www.equalitynow.org/interrupting_the_vicious_cycle_of_online_sex_trafficking

Equality Now. (2020). Interrupting the Vicious Cycle of Online Sex Trafficking. Retrieved from https://www.equalitynow.org/interrupting_the_vicious_cycle_of_online_sex_trafficking

Fight the New Drug. (2019, April 11). Uncovering the Dark World of Trafficking in the Webcamming Industry. Retrieved from https://fightthenewdrug.org/uncovering-secret-world-trafficking-camming-industry

International Observatory Human Rights. Allen, C. (2019, March 7). The Role of the Internet on Sex Trafficking. Retrieved from https://observatoryihr.org/blog/the-role-of-the-internet-on-sex-trafficking

MaxMax. MaxMax.com – Llewelly Data Processing. Retrieved from https://www.maxmax.com/filters/ir-example-pictures/x-ray

Nuix. (2019, July 16). Pogue, C. Continuing the Fight Against Cybersex Trafficking. Retrieved from https://www.nuix.com/blog/continuing-fight-against-cybersex-trafficking

Popular Science. (2013, June 28). Cheap Handheld Device Lets You See Through Walls. Retrieved from https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-06/cheaper-handheld-device-lets-you-see-through-walls

Trafficked No More. Sex Trafficking States. Retrieved from http://traffickednomore.org//warning-signs/sex-trafficking-stats

The Dark Corners of Our Community

by Lauren Petersen

As a high school student I never really worry about falling victim to sex trafficking, or about sex trafficking in general, but shouldn’t I? To many, it seems very far-fetched for something like this to actually happen, to them. This occurs ‘only in the movies’ right? I’m a fifteen year old girl and this leaves me highly vulnerable to fall victim to this terrible network of crimes. Yet I am unaffected, by the worries that should be on my mind. Sex trafficking often occurs in plain sight. How does it happen without anyone even questioning it? Usually, we like to think, it’s the refugees or the homeless people who are the victims of these crimes. They are easy targets as they are less likely to be noticed as missing than a regular, registered American citizen. Similarly, many teen girls are manipulated, ultimately leading to them getting enslaved. Mary Rose Somarriba, a writer at Grotto, an informational site, tells us “Traffickers, otherwise known as pimps, target vulnerable girls who appear to have little support structure, befriend them, gain their trust, and then invite them to join them on an adventure.” [1] Traffickers target girls who are easily manipulated and lure them into a trap. Only after the so called adventure ends, do the girls realize, that they are in deep trouble. By then it is too late. It is not uncommon that males are also targets of this atrocious crime, but females are more commonly enslaved.

Sex trafficking networks hide in dark corners that are tucked away in plain sight. In our day and time, technology has greatly advanced, which also unfortunately creates more opportunities for traffickers to lure in their victims. As they target young minds that are susceptible, they remain invisible to the outside community. The young minds that are targeted are preoccupied with their new ‘friend’ to notice anything wrong. They keep this relationship secret, restricting anyone else’s ability to realize the danger. Traffickers also draw in refugees and homeless people, promising them help, a better life, or just simply drugs and/or alcohol and no one notices because of common stereotyping. They are often times misunderstood to be drug addicts and alcoholics. So generally, if people notice they are missing, they simply assume they overdosed, or something similar and brush it off their shoulder. Lastly, if someone were to pick up on the dangers happening right under their nose, they would most likely be too scared to believe it is true, and once again push it to the back of their mind because of how unlikely it appears to ever happen to them or their dear ones.

Works Cited

[1] Somarriba, Mary Rose. “Sex Trafficking Is Modern Slavery Hiding In Plain Sight.” Grotto

Network, 30 July 2019, https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/sex-trafficking-

in-us-hidden-plain-sight/.

Life As We ( Don’t ) Know It

By Shahzeen Humayun

Growing up, I never really understood what human trafficking was, let alone child trafficking. It was when I had begun watching Lifetime movies about the subject and more significantly, the movie Taken back in 2008, when I was sensible enough to understand the gravity of the sick epidemic which affects every country in the world. The thought that humans are used as commodities and traded for the purpose of forced labor, sex slavery, or other forms of commercial exploitation was totally foreign and repulsive. I thought to myself, “How on earth does something like this exist in this day and age, and how on earth did this even begin?” As I started spinning my wheels, I came to the conclusion that the main root causes of child trafficking were the following:

A.    From the perspective of transporters, traffickers, strip club/brothel owners and powerful stakeholders of the prostitution industry, the primary objective is to make money.

B.    From the perspective of poor, struggling families who need living wages, the primary goal is to meet basic needs from the earnings of the child victims, whether that be via forced child labor in sweatshops, construction sites, or in houses as domestic servants.

C.   From the perspective of the victim who is either forced into the sex trafficking either deceptively or forcefully, I believe that the victim is too afraid, vulnerable, and traumatized to seek help or escape the vicious cycle of sex trafficking and prostitution. In fact, in many cases, the victims are physically and mentally tortured and threatened in case they plan to escape.

The federal definition of sex trafficking per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 22 U.S.C. 7102(10) is the following: “…the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” Furthermore, the federal definition of child sex trafficking includes any child who is bought for sex, regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion was used, regardless of whether a buyer exploited the youth without the trafficker’s involvement, and regardless of whether the victim identities a trafficker. Accordingly, all commercially sexually exploited children are identified as victims of sex trafficking under federal law.

Every child deserves to live out his or her youth without having the awful thought of being traded, abducted, or bought and sold for sex.  However, multiple studies show that children between the ages of 14-16 are most likely to fall into the net of sex trafficking. Social media is one hub which makes it easier for pimps to find numerous underage child victims and reel them into child trafficking and prostitution. However, places like bars, clubs, public places, and even schools are also targeted venues. In the initial luring stages, the trafficker commonly crafts ways to establish a relationship with the victim in an effort to connect emotionally and to gauge the victim’s vulnerabilities before psychologically convincing the victim to emotionally and mentally depend solely on the trafficker. The consequence of these mind games is the trafficker holding complete control of the victim. Although this a common technique traffickers utilize, there are many cases in which the child is blatantly abducted and unscrupulously tossed into forced sex labor.

To this day, I continue to struggle with the idea that it took years for me to really know what human trafficking is and how it is built on the very economic principle I learned in 7th grade: the concept of supply and demand. How unfortunate are the children who have been displaced from their families because they were not able to choose for themselves? Rather, they were forcefully told what their future will look like.   As a human being, the thought of exploiting children for personal gains is repulsive. Are we not allowed to live our lives with our own free will? Is that not the birth right every human being is born with – the right to choose? 99% of the buyers in the booming sex trafficking industry are male and the supply of child sex victims continues to skyrocket to meet the growing demand for commercial sex with minors. It is an uphill battle to tackle the issue and I am not expecting a one-stop solution which will make the ugly truth of child trafficking go away overnight. However, the first step is to acknowledge that child trafficking is truly a horrendous matter which is affecting the world we are raising so many children in. Child trafficking is not confined to a specific country or type of person. Anyone can be trafficked, regardless of race, class, education level, gender, age or citizenship. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in every state of the United States of America, and in almost every country in the world.

My opinion is that the fault never lies with the child, as children are vulnerable, impressionable, and malleable. Therefore, it is imperative to know what child trafficking is, what it looks like, and how to spot sex trafficking. For that to occur, we must educate ourselves and the people around us about trafficking. We must protect all children from being sucked into all forms of child trafficking. That’s why I urge all of you to do the right thing. Spread awareness. Educate yourself and others. To learn more about how you can support our cause, please donate or volunteer to One Bread. 100% of the proceeds One Bread earns from its affiliate programs goes directly toward the rehabilitation of children rescued from sex trafficking. To learn more please visit: https://www.one-bread.org/.

Sources

1.    Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, https://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/61106.htm

2.    “Human Trafficking by the Numbers.” The University of Texas at Austin, December 2016, https://sites.utexas.edu/idvsa/files/2017/02/Human-Trafficking-by-the-Numbers-2016.pdf

3.    “Bill to toughen child sex trafficking”, By Holly Ramer Associated Press, February 7, 2019, https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article225921255.html

About the Author:

Shahzeen Humayun graduated from Modesto Christian High School, then went on to UC Berkeley to pursue a B.S. in Environmental Economics & Policy and minor in Peace & Conflict Studies. Currently, she works in the Financial Services industry at a bank in San Francisco, but her passion is to serve people. She has years of experience volunteering with nonprofits and charitable organizations such as Homeless Prenatal in San Francisco and BOSS (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency) in Berkeley, CA. Shahzeen is passionate about standing up for the marginalized, homeless, and the helpless. Her goal is to advocate for underprivileged children by helping them find a voice. 

In 2018, Shahzeen founded the nonprofit organization, Help Global, which focuses on providing homeless and low income children with basic necessities and to promote education in underprivileged and underserved communities. Currently, she is in the process of connecting with key stakeholders in USA and across Pakistan to carry out outreach projects in the remote areas of Pakistan, geared at helping homeless children. Shahzeen is determined to play her part in giving back to the world and helping others reach their fullest potential and succeed both professionally and personally. 

A resident of Dublin, California, Shahzeen resides in the East Bay with her husband and two children. 

Human Trafficking: A Global Problem In Need of Community Based Solutions

by Adrienne Tung

From the city streets of Glasgow to the beautiful beaches of South America, to the spice-scented markets of India – what do all of these places have in common? Innocent people are being bought, sold, and forced into servitude every day. 

Shocked and deeply disturbed, I wondered: Does this global issue  really exist in the same world where self-driving cars are becoming a thing and homes can now be powered with energy gleaned from the sun (like Superman)? It would seem that at a time when humankind is achieving extraordinary feats of science, it is  also seeing extraordinary levels of human exploitation. The International Justice Mission estimates there are roughly 40 million slaves world-wide. Yes, you heard that right. 

Often called the modern-day slave trade, human trafficking is the second most lucrative criminal business in the world after drugs.  It’s an illegal, multibillion-dollar global industry hiding right under our noses. It spans the globe, damaging society in impoverished nations to middle-class suburbs. Some law enforcement agents in the United States believe that criminals are shifting to human trafficking because it is much easier to coerce a victim into lying (with threats of violence to them and/or their families) if stopped by authorities than it is to hide illegal substances. For a trafficker, that’s an easy get-out-of-jail-free card compared to automatic minimal sentences if caught with narcotics. 

In a global study mandated by the General Assembly of the United Nations, victims of human trafficking came from 137 countries, including those from North America, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. The majority of victims are women and children, making up 79% of all victims.  According to the study, nthe sex trade remains the most common form of exploitation, with forced labor being the second most common form. 

So what kinds of people are involved in this highly organized, multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise?  The same study found that traffickers and victims often share the same background. They come from the same countries, speak the same language, or have the same ethnicity. While traffickers are overwhelmingly male, women actually make up a relatively large share of offenders when compared to most other crimes. Approximately 60% are male and 40% are female among convicted traffickers. Having the same gender as the victim can help foster trust, and for this reason, female traffickers are often involved in trafficking other women and girls. Traffickers often pose as a boyfriend, trick victims with an offer of marriage or a job, have a familial tie to the victim, or pose as a benefactor. 

The fact is, this modern-day slave trade is no longer a problem relegated to impoverished countries, although it is indisputable that poverty-stricken communities are among the most vulnerable worldwide. Here in the United States, human trafficking occurs in all 50 states,t California, Texas, and Florida having the highest number of reported cases.  In fact, human trafficking in the form of sexual exploitation (as opposed to non-sex related forced labor) far exceeds global statistics with over 80% of trafficking cases in the United States related to sexual exploitation  compared to the global rate of  59% as reported in the 2016 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Moreover, 83% of sex trafficking victims in the United States are from the United States. 

Even Silicon Valley, home of tech titans like Google, Apple, and Facebook, is not immune to one of the worst types of human-rights violations. From Santa Clara to San Francisco, the Bay Area also has its share of victims. In response to this growing problem, the late Mayor Edwin Lee launched a  Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking in March 2013 for San Francisco. In the East Bay, The Office of The District Attorney for Alameda County has created a program called H.E.A.T. Watch to combat human trafficking. At One Bread Foundation, based in San Ramon, California, founders, staff, and volunteers hope to make a difference by raising awareness and funds, which are donated to organizations like Claire’s House and Destiny's Rescue, which provide direct shelter and services to children rescued from exploitation. 

Child victims are perhaps among the most tragic and heart-breaking of cases, the trauma they’ve endured often resulting in lifelong emotional and psychological wounds. One Bread Foundation focuses on helping child victims of sex-trafficking to provide hope for a better tomorrow. With their One In A Million campaign, just $1 a month can help save a life. 

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” So, what can you do in the face of such enormity, in such a vast sea of darkness? 

You can be the light that helps others see. You can be one in a million.

1.  https://www.ijm.org/slavery/

2.  https://youtu.be/0-g0r3TR2MA

3.  https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2016_Global_Report_on_Trafficking_in_Persons.pdf

4.  https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2016_Global_Report_on_Trafficking_in_Persons.pdf 

5.  http://humantraffickingsearch.org/human-trafficking-statistics-2017/

6.  http://www.heatwatch.org/human_trafficking/statistics

7.  http://www.heatwatch.org/

Do You See Me?

BY CASSANDRA CHIA

“One Venti Soy Mocha for Sasha!”

I opened my eyes, pulling myself out of the Panic! at the Disco trance I had been deliriously floating in for the past twenty minutes waiting for my Starbucks drink. Pulling one of my earbuds out, I could fully register the airport bustle—people chatting about how excited they were to go to New York for winter break, others playfully joking about how much they had filled every inch of their suitcase for a three day trip. 

Smiles everywhere, including the one I had plastered on my face as I got my still-hot drink, grateful for the warmth and the delicious dose of caffeine coming my way. Winter technically only started two days ago but the weather outside was already bringing in throngs of people flushed and red-nosed. 

I pulled out my flight ticket—a one way trip to Malaysia to teach. Something I always wanted, I thought, biting my lip. To help. And I was a flight away from doing that—

Suddenly, I was on the ground. I looked up, annoyed, at the person who interrupted my inner pep talk. 

It was a tall, burly man with sharp, menacing incisors poking out of his scowl. 

“Watch where you’re going,” he growled. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I said, in an effort to be polite, despite the fact that I was standing still against a wall. 

That’s when I noticed a young girl so hidden behind Mr. Incisors that I would’ve missed her were it not for her odd clothing. She was obviously not wearing enough to keep her warm and protected against the tremendous cold outside. All she had on was a worn hoodie and pants that would’ve been perfect for summer. Her boots were about three sizes too big and showcased several miserable holes in them. She looked to be around twelve years old. 

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked the girl.

Instead of answering, she avoided eye contact and looked down at her feet. I followed her gaze and gasped in surprise. Bruises, bruises, bruises—all over her legs. 

“She’s fine. Leave us alone,” the man said gruffly on her behalf, shuffling her away. 

They left me speechless. What just happened? I glanced in their direction, making sure to do it somewhat inconspicuously. Something’s not right. Maybe he’s her dad? How did she get those bruises? Questions flooded my mind and nothing could relieve them. I sat for a while, debating if I should notify airport security. I mean, it’s none of my business, right? What if she got the bruises from playing soccer and I’m overthinking this? Still, the feeling in my stomach never settled and my coffee got cold. 

I half-hoped I would never see them again. But as I walked towards the line for baggage check, I spied the same hoodie holding hands with the man. He moved to heave his enormous bag onto the conveyor belt, turning his back on the girl. In an unconscious move, the girl pushed her sleeves up.

I froze.

It was a tattoo. Bar code, with ‘DADDY’ inked above it in a cursive scrawl. 

My head was ringing with the warning signs. The signs I learned from a college seminar so many years ago. The signs for human trafficking. Could it be? I looked around to see if anyone saw the inappropriate tattoo on the young girl’s arm. No one seemed to. 

“I don’t have anything that is worth searching my bag for!” 

The saber-toothed man was standing on the opposite side of the metal detector, yelling at a member of airport security who was inspecting his bag. The crowd of travellers was fixated on this very strange man causing a scene but I headed straight for the girl, now alone on my side of the metal detector. Her bare toes were resting on the grey-speckled airport floor after removing her shoes. Seeing this gave me a surge of courage. 

“Hey, what’s your name?” I asked in a gentle voice.

Silence.

“Who is that man that’s with you?” I prodded, more firmly this time.

Her brown eyes were darting around me, probably trying to locate the man. She looked anxious and fidgety.

“He is my employer… He is taking care of me. I am safe,” she replied, as if rehearsing lines out of a script. 

“Where are you guys travelling to? And what for?” I asked.

“I… do not know. He says that he will give me a new job, a new life,” she squeaked.

“And do you have your passport on you? Or maybe a boarding pass?” I continued.

She shook her small head. More fidgeting. And pointed at the man. I looked towards his direction and saw that he was coming straight at us with a sharp glint in his eye. He yanked the girl’s sleeve down and grabbed her arm. The way he was holding it and the way she flinched told me that this kind of behaviour was frequent—even normal. 

“What are you doing? I told you already to leave us alone and stop bothering us. I am her father,” the man said—a threat already positioned in his tone. 

Before he could say anymore, the large silver clock caught his eye and with a dirty look thrown my way, he roughly towed the girl away from the scene. The man was saying something under his breath to the girl; she turned white. Something nagged at me, fuelling a constant stream of unease. It was only after I walked to the one side of the airport that I realized what it was.

Father. He said he was her father. But she said the man was her employer.

I thought about it all: the conflicting information, rehearsed lines, the tattoo, her anxiety and refusal to meet my eye, not having her own passport, not knowing where they were flying to, improper clothes, the bruises—oh those heart-breaking bruises… I didn’t want to admit it but everything added up with increasing certainty. She was a victim of human trafficking. 

But, what was I supposed to do? 

Well, I was supposed to be having a peaceful flight to Malaysia. 

To help people. 

“This is the final boarding call for flight FX1032 to Malaysia,” came over the airport intercom.

I made my decision, I sprinted to the general direction of the departure gates. They weren’t there. I looked at the bathrooms, the busy restaurants, but they were nowhere to be found. Dripping sweat and heart racing, I was circling every part of the airport with my carry-on in tow when—

“Will passenger Sasha Russo of flight FX1032 please make their way to Gate A2?” 

My flight was leaving. But I still couldn’t find the brown-eyed girl. In desperation, I went back to my gate. I didn’t want to miss my flight, I had saved up for this trip for so long. I worked three jobs at once and all three merely paying the minimum wage. I couldn’t give that all up. I just couldn’t. Before I went past the gate, I looked back once, just once. 

And I saw them. 

They had their backs to me this time. She had her arm around him in hug. Maybe he was her dad and she was just confused like little girls are. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions before. Maybe it is none of my business. Maybe I was wrong. All the maybes forced my thoughts into a whirlpool, swirling and swirling until it slowed down and came to a stop. That hug was what I needed to convince myself to do what I did.

I misinterpreted what I thought were signs. 

 They got their boarding passes checked.

She’s safe.

I lost sight of the man and the young girl, and I let her go.

········

That was all five years ago. 

I left Malaysia after three years of teaching. I loved the kids there, all bright and full of spirit. I taught them English and Math every day, barefoot in a shambling building of a rural village, where they listened from their seats behind aged wooden desks. But every time all those brown eyes peered up at me with a certain sense that they had seen too much for their age, I thought about a similar set of eyes on a young girl at an airport years ago. 

And how I failed her. 

I let the detail of a hug completely mislead me and my judgement. Later, I found out that if I was more educated on the issue, I could’ve recognized that as trauma bonding with her trafficker. Hell, I could’ve told someone, anyone. I was blinded and selfish and ignorant and irresponsible. 

I never knew what became of her but I do know that I was in the best possible position to help—and I didn’t. The warning signs were crystal clear; I was aware of what was happening but I was too scared to fully accept it at the time. I allowed an excuse to decide the fate of a girl who needed my help, despite knowing deep in my gut that she was in trouble. The worst thing was, I think I was looking for an excuse.

So now, I do my best to help other people avoid my mistakes. I currently work with an advocacy group against human trafficking, and in particular, child trafficking. As I live day-by-day educating people on the warning signs of a victim of human trafficking, I tell them about that girl. How I was her best shot at freedom. How we are all their best shots at a future. 

And how we should not let them down. 

Author’s Note

This piece of fiction highlights some very real and life-saving facts on how to identify a victim of human trafficking. The context of the story follows the setting of an airport, however, it is salient to note that these indicators may occur in any situation such as a hair salon or a restaurant. 

Here is the list of indicators of human trafficking mentioned in the story.

1. Is not wearing appropriate clothing for the weather

2. Possesses signs of physical abuse such as cuts and bruises

3. Has a tattoo that says ‘DADDY’ or other forms of branding

4. Demonstrates fearful or nervous behavior or avoids eye contact

5. Withdrawn; become emotionally numb, detached, and disassociated from the physical and psychological trauma and display “flat affect”

6. Displays symptoms of anxiety

7. Story is rehearsed and contradictory

8. Is unaware of destination or flight information

9. Is not in possession of over personal or travel documents (passport/boarding pass)

10. Experiences “trauma bonding” with the trafficker, positively identifying with the trafficker and believing that, despite repeated abuse, the trafficker is a loving boyfriend, spouse, or parent.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. However, if you do recognize these signs and believe that someone is a victim of human trafficking, you can help. If the situation becomes urgent and immediate assistance is necessary, call local law enforcement by dialling 911. 

You may also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual anti-trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to report a tip or connect to nearby anti-trafficking services.

Sources
“Human Trafficking at Airports: 7 Warning Signs.” CNN, Cable News Network, 5 Aug. 2015, www.cnn.com/travel/article/human-trafficking-at-airports/index.html.

“IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING FACT SHEET.” National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

“Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking: What to Look for in a Healthcare Setting.” National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

About the Author

Cassandra Chia is majoring in English at the University of Iowa with a minor in Theatre Arts and a concentration in Publishing. In line with her passions of writing, editing and marketing, she has taken up leadership roles such as Head Editor of her high school’s yearbook committee and President of Grapevine, a mass communications student organization. Having recently moved to the U.S. from Malaysia, she has experienced the wonder of Olive Garden’s endless breadsticks, the bitter cold of winter, and the concept of drinking water from the sink. On a side note, Cassandra enjoys reading, cooking, acting and being a part of a community. She supports the work of One Bread and firmly believes in the importance of raising awareness on the atrocities of human trafficking.