Cults and Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contirbuting Writer

Cults generally refer to a relatively small group led by a charismatic leader who engages in deviant and anti-social practices. In popular culture, cults such as the Manson family and the Children of God have been infamous for their violent, exploitative, abusive, and predatory behaviour, targeting vulnerable people in particular. While it is difficult to estimate the number of people trafficked globally and those with ties to cults, this has not prevented academics and institutions from studying the factors that make people vulnerable to cults and trafficking. 

According to the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), psychological stresses such as periods of transition in life, be it school, work, or middle age, can lead to feelings of vulnerability and desires to escape in individuals. Consequently, they may be more likely to join cults who promise ways to solve their problems or alleviate their suffering. This is especially true for individuals with a history of trauma or psychological disturbance. Other psychological needs like finding answers to universal questions can prompt individuals to join cults that profess spiritual knowledge and/or powers. Vulnerable individuals may then be sexually exploited, abused, and/or trafficked by other cult members or figures of authority once they join cults. This was the case for fundamentalist sect leader Warren Jeffs, convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting two young girls to whom he was illegally married, and for Keith Raniere who used his self-help group Nxivm to blackmail young women into entering inappropriate relationships with him. When interviewed by Reuters, Eric Nichols who had prosecuted Jeffs noted that “the insidious parts of these cults or groups is that you can get individuals involved who try to use those religious principles and beliefs and turn them to gratify themselves”. As the Reuters article notes, the intersection between cults and sex trafficking lie in the imbalanced power dynamics between women and church-appointed men whereby sexual relationships are often arranged without female victims’ consent or through coercive measures.

Addressing the problematic ties between cults and trafficking requires protecting vulnerable individuals from entering potentially dangerous situations. Cults often use tactics of isolating victims and removing other sources of influence like family and friends by restricting contact or through threats and even non-disclosure agreements. Raising awareness of cults and trafficking among communities is thus important in helping people protect their loved ones and spot red flags early on. Accessibility to counselling and support groups is also key for individuals with psychological needs to seek help, which would reduce their risk of joining cults and falling prey to traffickers. It is equally important to help victims of cults and trafficking to heal. Victim-blaming is rarely helpful and more likely to be harmful. Education, again, can help professionals and, more importantly, the public to understand that cults and trafficking can affect the general population, not just those who are psychologically vulnerable. According to the ICSA, clinicians’ invalidation of victims’ concerns about self-disclosure may also be a barrier to treatment. It is thus critical for professionals to listen to victims’ experiences to prevent them from feeling even more alone and misunderstood. Ultimately, helping victims of cults and trafficking is not an easy task for family members, friends, and professionals. It requires consistent and continuous patience, persistence, and kindness. But, it is a worthwhile cause if we remember that all individuals have the right to safety and liberty. 

If you would like to know more about One Bread and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims. 

References

Cults and Sex Trafficking 

In New York Sex Cult Trial, Leader’s Tactics Echo Those of Other Cults 

Forced Marriage and Human Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Forced marriages violate an individual’s rights to enter marriage with free and full consent, sexual and reproductive health, autonomy, and physical and mental health. It is an issue that affects both men and women, though the latter represents a disproportionate number of cases. As of 2021, there were an estimated 22 million individuals in a forced marriage, with women making up roughly two thirds of such marriages.

The number of forced marriages has increased over the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other crises such as climate change, wars and conflict also contribute to a demand for human trafficking victims. Most forced marriages occur in Asia and the Pacific, followed by Africa, Europe and Central Asia. 40% of forced marriage victims are children, with many of them forced to marry before the age of 16. Among them, girls account for 87% of forced marriages.

Common causes of forced marriages include poverty, low status, and lack of education and employment opportunities, all of which make women especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. For women and girls of a disadvantaged background, their family members and friends may see them as a quick way to get cash. Parents and relatives make up an appalling 89% of perpetrators for forced marriages. Compounded by the young age, these girls may lack the experience to spot red flags when encountering predatory situations, or detect signs of manipulation from those they trust. Violence, isolation, restrictions on movement, and deception may be tactics used by family members and friends to coerce girls (and boys) into forced unions.

Prevention and rehabilitation should seek to address these issues. Empowering girls with knowledge and skills for employment would both reduce families’ incentive to force them into marriages and increase girls’ awareness towards human trafficking and sexual violence. Campaigns that raise awareness about the harms of forced marriage are also helpful in changing societal mindsets, and motivate members of the community to intervene when necessary. The engagement of multi-level stakeholders is necessary for synergistic action to combat forced marriages. They include law makers and enforcers, religious and traditional leaders, grassroots organisations and victims themselves.

Women and girls subject to forced marriages rarely seek help from authorities or speak to others out of fear of stigmatisation and revenge by their perpetrators. Furthermore, only a minority of cases reported result in convictions, due to corruption and social attitudes towards forced marriages. Reducing loopholes in laws towards marriage and sexual violence combined with training for law enforcement on how to provide assurance to victims of forced marriages and human trafficking is paramount as the first step of addressing the issue. Working with religious and traditional leaders to combat misogynistic attitudes like victim-shaming is another measure.

In terms of rehabilitation, counselling and support from grassroots organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) can go a long way for victims of forced marriages who are often shunned from society and need shelter or necessities to get by. For these victims, the trauma of their experience may not be completely made up by such efforts. However, it is all the more crucial that we address forced marriages and human trafficking. Only then can we face those who have been hurt by it.

References and further reading

UNODC: When Marriage is a Crime

UNODC: Preventing and eliminating child, early and forced marriage

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: Cambodia’s Trafficked Brides

International Labour Organization: Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

The Sinister Workings of International Sex Trafficking

by Elesha Pimentel, Senior Contributing Writer

For the 17th year in a row, Irvine, California has been named one of the safest cities in the United States. When people think of the safest city, they imagine California beach trees and happy families. What they miss are the countless women and girls being herded into prostitution right under their noses. In 2017, four people were arrested for running an international sex trafficking ring based in Irvine, California, the safest place in the U.S. (CBS Los Angeles). According to CBS Los Angeles, the leaders of this sex trafficking ring took away the women’s passports and forced them to work over 14 hours or more a day until they made $800. As horrific as this sounds, these types of evil organizations are more widespread than they seem. International sex trafficking rings have crept their slimy tentacles across the U.S. and throughout many different parts of the world.

The women who are forced into the sex trafficking rings are recruited from impoverished parts of foreign countries, including China, Thailand, Mexico and South Korea. They’re fed promises of easier lives and better working conditions. Many of these women enter into the sex trafficking rings believing they’re on their way to a better job or even a chance at a better education. They’re unaware of the true sinister circumstances until they arrive (University of Southern California). Other women know that they will work as sex workers; however, they are fed a false idea of what their work will be like. One survivor of an international sex ring in Australia said that she was told the work would be easy and that she could work whenever she wanted to (60 Minutes Australia). Even worse, some young women enter into these sex trafficking rings under the guise of love (2KUTV). Traffickers would find local girls with rough home lives and poor upbringings. Then, they would trick these young girls into thinking that they are in love and that they could lead them away to a better life.

The traffickers take the women away from their homes to countries including the U.S., Australia, Britain, France, and many others. Some women and girls are smuggled across the border illegally (2KUTV). Other women are brought on legitimate visas like tourist or student visas. 60 Minutes Australia reports about officials being paid off by traffickers to bring the women into these countries through visa scams.

The working conditions the women endured were villainous. One survivor spoke of how she was forced to work from 8am to 1am the next day (60 Minutes Australia). Many women were given a quota they needed to hit every day to pay off food and rent to the sex traffickers. If they didn’t make the quota, they were punished (University of Southern California). Another survivor talked about how she was shuttled off through motels in many different cities across many different states. She told reporters she felt as if she were a pizza being ordered off the menu. Men would make requests for different types of girls, and the newer girls were often requested the most (KUTV). These women and girls were also not given a place to stay and many of them had to live in the motel rooms or even illicit massage parlors that they worked in (60 Minutes Australia).

Even though these women are taken to countries where help is available, they are unable to reach it. For instance, most of these women come into these countries unable to speak any English. Therefore, they are unable to figure out where to go for help. Because some of these women are smuggled in illegally, traffickers gaslight them into thinking that the police would do horrible things to them or deport them if they sought help. Women who come on visas have their passports taken away as soon as they arrive so they can’t leave (CBS News). Traffickers also threaten to hurt the victims or their families back home if they don’t cooperate. One survivor spoke of how her traffickers threatened to kill her family and bring her little sister to work in her place if she tried to leave (KUTV). Other traffickers use debt bondage to keep women trapped in the sex trafficking rings. University of Southern California went over how women were forced to give the sex trafficking ring money they made for things such as food, hotel rooms, and ads they were placed in. This led them down a steep hill where they were always in debt to the traffickers and could never leave.

The money the traffickers took from these women was used to fund their sex trafficking rings overseas. For instance, money would be used to pay off recruiters in foreign countries, government officials who created visa scams, transportation fees, and ads for services. Large scale sex trafficking rings funded money into call centers where buyers would call in and then have the closest sex worker sent to them (University of Southern California). Other large scale sex trafficking rings would fund money into automated text message lines that would provide a list of services and prices for buyers and then send them a corresponding address when they called a certain number (60 Minutes Australia). In order to use this money, traffickers would launder it into legitimate businesses such as purchasing and selling real estate. (University of Southern California).

Although international sex trafficking rings try their best to remain discreet, there are still many warning signs one could look out for. The University of Southern California lists a few things to be on the lookout for to help shut down these sex trafficking rings. One warning sign of sex trafficking taking place is different men coming and going from a specific property (especially a rental property) at all times of the day and night. In massage parlors, suspicions should be raised if the women working at the massage parlor speak little to no English, the services are not listed in print but are decided upon verbally, the establishment is locked up during the day but open very late, and if there are signs of people living inside. Lastly, the biggest warning sign would lay in the women themselves. If they appear frightened, timid, or malnourished, there may be darker forces at work. If you see any of these warning signs, it’s best to report them to 911 as soon as possible.

References and further reading

2KUTV: Survivor shares story of escaping, bringing down international human trafficking ring

USCPrice Safe Communities Institute: International Sex Trafficking and Money Laundering Rings in Southern California

CBS News: Global Sex Trafficking Ring Busted in One of America’s ‘Happiest’, ‘Safest’ Cities

Vice: International Sex Trafficker Extradited to the US for Family-Run Prostitution Ring

60 Minutes Australia: Exposing an international human trafficking ring hidden in plain sight

The Truth Behind "Taken" and "Rambo: Last Blood"

by Elesha Pimentel, Contributing Writer

In this digital age, movies are used as some of the most popular forms of representation. The right movie can effectively shed light on an issue or topic that most people would not think about. It can pop the blissful bubble of ignorance surrounding us and provide us with proper information about the issue at hand. This can spark more conversation about the issue or even garnish more support for the issue.

Unfortunately, not all film representations are effective. Some film representations only contribute to the miseducation of the general public. This problem can be seen in the way sex trafficking is portrayed in popular films.

Currently, the most popular representation of sex trafficking in the media, as recorded by IMDb, is Taken with a $145 million gross profit and Rambo: Last Blood with an $18.87 million gross profit. Even though both of these movies portray sex trafficking in their plots, they are action movies to the core. They do not provide accurate information about sex trafficking and, as can be expected from an action movie, primarily focus on depicting fight scenes and narrow escapes. There are many inaccuracies in these movies that give the public a false sense of what sex trafficking is like.

The first major inaccuracy spread in these movies is that sex trafficking is a foreign problem. Both movies depict sex trafficking happening in foreign countries by people who are not American. In Taken, the sex trafficking took place in France by a group of Albanian men. In Rambo: Last Blood, the sex trafficking took place in Mexico by a Mexican cartel. On the contrary, the sex trafficking industry is also prevalent in the United States. The U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 10,583 situations of human trafficking involving 16,658 victims in 2020.

The second inaccuracy spread by these movies is that people are kidnapped into sex trafficking and only stay because they are physically incapable of leaving. Both movies portray women being kidnapped by groups of men, drugged, and trapped so they cannot leave. However, many victims of sex trafficking knew their traffickers beforehand and are bound to them by psychological and emotional bonds. Bonds so strong they don’t run away even when they’re physically able to. The documentary Sex Trafficking in America follows the story of a young girl who was trafficked by a man she met online. She was having problems at home and reached out to a friend online for support. He fed her false promises of a better life and lured her away from her family so he could further exploit her. The documentary shows that this is a pattern. Traffickers will prey on vulnerable women and girls from low-income neighborhoods.

These inaccurate portrayals pose a problem for the general public when it comes to sex trafficking. It can misguide people into trying to protect themselves and their families from the less prevalent threat: being kidnapped by people on vacation or by people from different countries. Sex trafficking is a threat that’s much closer to home. Real traffickers are lurking on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. There are two main things families should focus on to protect against sex trafficking. The first is to establish strong, healthy support systems for their children. It’s important for a child to know who they can go to when they need to talk. This could be a few trusted adults like family members and school counselors or online resources like Teen Line. This will stop children from seeking comfort and support from strangers on the internet who might try to exploit them. Secondly, it’s important to teach children about internet safety. This includes things like which profiles should be set to private and what’s okay and not okay to share on the internet.

Movies like Taken and Rambo: Last Blood may be fiction, but the issue of sex trafficking is not. It’s important to stay informed of the actual issue and what you can do to work against it. There are many ways to get involved. You can help to educate people about the true nature of sex trafficking by sharing our blog posts with family and friends. You can subscribe to our newsletter to get more detailed information about what we’re doing to fight sex trafficking and what you can do to help. You can also help the cause by doing your everyday online shopping using the links on our website. Together we can work against sex trafficking and build a better future.

References and further reading:

Polaris Project: Myths, Facts and Statistics

Stop The Traffik: Human Trafficking in the Movies

FRONTLINE PBS, YouTube: Sex Trafficking in America

Impact of COVID-19 on sex trafficking

By Elesha Pimentel, Contributing Writer

COVID has cast a wide net of changes over our everyday lives, including closures of schools and workplaces. Staying at home has led to more time spent online for both adults and children. For the everyday person, these changes might result in online shopping and baking sourdough bread. Unfortunately, the effects of these changes are not as light-hearted for everyone.

According to the United Nations, “The COVID-19 pandemic is more than a health crisis; it is an economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a security crisis, and a human rights crisis.” Many families are struggling with financial instability, with Tech Against Trafficking reporting that “81% of people in the workforce are being affected by full or partial workplace closures.” Thus, leading to families becoming more susceptible to sex trafficking as a way of survival.

Children bear the brunt of this vulnerability from school closures. Schools serve as a safe haven for many underprivileged children. Providing an education and important resources to help children in need (i.e. second chance breakfasts, counseling services). With access to these safe havens being restricted, many children are being pushed onto the street, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), leaving them vulnerable to predators who make false promises of a better life.

Decreased availability of resources for sex trafficking victims, increased difficulty in identifying and rescuing victims, and exposure to contracting the virus while being less equipped to prevent it and having less access to healthcare to ensure recovery are further impacts of COVID-19 on sex trafficking victims, according to the UNODC.

While reports of some forms of sex trafficking have decreased, many sex traffickers are now turning to the internet. The Polaris Project reports that “the number of online situations of sex trafficking reported to the hotline increased significantly by more than 45%.” At the same time, “traditional forms of commercial sex trafficking situations such as street based prostitution went down by approximately 30%.”

Not only has COVID affected the way people are exploited by sex trafficking, it has also affected the way we are able to support victims of sex trafficking. Financial instability has seeped into many anti-trafficking organizations. Tech Against Trafficking reports that “lack of consistent reliable funding may cause an irreparable negative spillover effect in regions where these organizations are the sole providers of these services.” A number of anti-trafficking organizations and support centers are expected to close without the hope of re-opening in the future.

In this new era predominated by COVID, the future of sex trafficking may look bleak. However,

hope is not lost. There are still a number of ways that we can combat sex trafficking. The first would be to teach children internet safety so that they are not so easily exploited by online predators. Internet Matters explains we can do this through a number of ways. For instance, teaching children which personal information to keep private, talking to them about dangers of meeting online friends without a parent present. And lastly, establishing a multitude of communication lines (both adults and organizations) they can turn to if they ever encounter an online situation where they start to feel uncomfortable.

You can support anti-trafficking organizations so that we can continue to support victims of sex trafficking. You can donate to One Bread Foundation through our website, or you can support us by simply starting your online shopping from our Shop Now page.

Sex trafficking rings have evolved during this new COVID era, it’s time for the way we face them to evolve too.

References and further reading:

United Nations: UN Response to COVID-19

Tech Against Trafficking: The Effect of COVID-19: Five Impacts on Human Trafficking

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons

Polaris Project: Sexual Exploitation During the Pandemic

Internet Matters: Protect your child from online grooming

Child Soldiers and Human Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Edited by Hallie Carton, Contributing Editor

In the relative prosperity that most of us live in, the idea of a child working long hours in dangerous conditions, not to mention being enrolled in war efforts, is painful and unthinkable. However, this is the reality for child soldiers in countries facing political instability and deprivation. Human Rights Watch has reported that thousands of children and adolescents serve in government forces and armed opposition groups. For boys, they may be involved in front-line combat and suicide missions, while many girls are forcefully taken as sexual slaves. The age of child soldiers varies with some being as young as eight years of age. Some are coerced into joining, abducted against their will to be trafficked to war-torn regions, while others may be deceived into believing that joining armed groups may improve their livelihood. In comparison to forced labour and sexual exploitation, the topic of child soldiers is neglected in the fight against human trafficking. The failure to give the issue of child soldiers its due attention, coupled with the rapid increase in child solider levels since 2012, makes for a potent combination that threatens the lives and welfare of countless vulnerable, innocent children. With this knowledge, more should be done in three broad aspects: (1) stronger, comprehensive legislation, (2) rehabilitation and assistance, and (3) raising awareness and development aid. 

From a macro perspective, an immediate step that should be taken is the strengthening of legislation against persons and bodies involved in human trafficking and the use of child soldiers. While defined as a war crime in international law, the recruitment of child soldiers remains an issue in many countries with weak state and legislative systems. It is critical that we increase penalties towards offenders, implement visa bans on officials known to recruit and use child soldiers, and withhold military assistance to foreign entities that recruit and use children as combatants to promote reform. Law enforcement can also be made more comprehensive through international cooperation for data collection. Although statistics are notoriously difficult to amass in conflict zones where violence is rife and verification methods are patchy, such measures are essential to identify areas or communities most at-risk of human trafficking. In doing so, more support can be given to these groups.

From the perspective of child soldiers and victims of human trafficking, rehabilitation and assistance is necessary to ensure these children can continue their lives as normally as possible. Central governments, local organizations, and international bodies like the United Nations may target affected communities to provide shelter, food, and counselling to address trauma from war and trafficking. Besides addressing the material and psychological needs of the affected children, grassroot groups may also facilitate the transition from childhood to adulthood especially in education and employment matters. These efforts would empower victims to become more independent in an effective and sustainable manner. Other initiatives may include special visas for former child soldiers that take into account their unique situation and enable them to seek the help they need.

Finally, advocacy and development aid must be included to address human trafficking. Raising public awareness about the realities of child soldiers and the long-term effects on their communities may spur political action if citizens apply pressure on their local governments and international organizations to combat human trafficking of child soldiers. Education initiatives about the warning signs of predators and the misconceptions about human trafficking among at-risk populations may also be a useful preventive measure. In the personal stories of child soldiers, it is evident that poverty is a major contributing factor to human trafficking. Consequently, development aid may keep children off the streets, reducing exposure to traffickers and making joining the armed forces a less attractive means of survival.

Ultimately, a triangulation of strategies in the three outlined areas would prevent the future recruitment of child soldiers and help formerly associated children regain their autonomy in a safe environment. It is equally important to remember that these strategies must take into account local nuances and not be applied rigidly in a way that further harms victims of trafficking.

References and further reading:

Human Rights Watch: Child Soldiers

Child soldier levels doubled since 2012 and girls’ exploitation is rising

In the Fight Against Human Trafficking, Child Soldiers Get Ignored

Trafficking in Persons Report

World News & Stories

Impacts of human trafficking on Indigenous populations

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Besides the harrowing accounts of multigenerational hardships and loss from the legacy of colonialism that has generated Indigenous historical trauma, Native Americans have also suffered from high rates of human trafficking. For example, despite making up 11% of the population in New Mexico, Native Americans account for a quarter of trafficking victims. Searchlight New Mexico, an independent investigative journalist organisation, conducted a 16-month investigation and found that Indigenous women are most vulnerable to trafficking since they are the least recognised and protected population. This is compounded by limited resources (such as funds or manpower) and failings of tribal agencies, law enforcement, and the healthcare system. These include poor protocol, inadequate training for officers in handling trafficking cases, lack of coordination among departments, and general neglect or oversight. 

Other reasons why Indigenous populations are disproportionately affected by human trafficking include the exoticisation of non-White women. Poverty in tribal communities also greatly increases the chances of exploitation. Violence and destitution at home may drive young adults to the streets, leading to homelessness and runaways. Alternatively, such individuals may be placed in child welfare and foster care systems where they are groomed, preyed upon, and manipulated by traffickers who target their unmet need for trusting adults. Another major factor is the lack of awareness of human trafficking. Many cases of Indigenous trafficking involve exploitation and betrayal by the victim’s own family.

In light of this, a direct and highly feasible measure to prevent occurrence of trafficking may be spreading awareness among Native American populations. Information on signs of trafficking, emergency contacts, and cases of trafficking may be disseminated either through social media platforms or through tribal agencies. Schools may also consider inviting volunteer, qualified speakers to educate children about trafficking. However, a fundamental issue with tackling human trafficking remains in systemic and legislative shortcomings. Mandatory training for law enforcement officers on human trafficking has yet to be implemented due to delayed legislation and renewal of the Violence Against Women Act which would increase communication across agencies. Given the economic downturn post-COVID and strained finances, financial resources may be diverted to other areas. Even so, trafficking represents a violation to treasured human rights and its victims deserve to be treated with compassion and dignity. 

References and further reading: 

'Nobody Saw Me': Why are so many Native American women and girls trafficked?

Why Traffickers Go After Native American Women

Human Trafficking in Native Populations: Q&A with Commissioner Jeannie Hovland

Stolen and Erased: A Navajo girl was exploited and sex trafficked in urban and rural New Mexico. Why did so many fail to help her?

Child Labour and Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Childhood invokes the image of a carefree period marked by innocence and vulnerability, and one that must be protected against corruption. Child labour and trafficking are issues that threaten the childhoods of millions of children. The charity World’s Children has found that the majority of children are trafficked for labour purposes such as performing domestic household services, factory or agriculture work. A shocking statistic estimated that there are 168 million child labourers in the world who are engaged in “hazardous work” that can potentially harm these children’s physical, emotional, or social well-being. 

The interactions between gender and poverty are potent, with girls from the Global South being at high risk of trafficking and working in dangerous, exploitative jobs. Girls make up 66% of child trafficking victims and 99% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation. This is closely tied to social and economic exclusion when girls are pressured to drop out of school early, which limits their future ability to generate income. Underage girls are often viewed as an economic burden and poor investment compared to their male siblings, thus are forced to marry early after leaving school. The combination of low education levels and domination by male relatives means women and girls are more likely to be trapped in cyclical poverty, and are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Common tactics used by traffickers include coercion, lies, violence, and debt bondage to force female victims into jobs without their consent. Most girls trafficked for child labour go into the service industry, most prominently domestic work and the sex trade. Regulation is especially difficult for domestic work given the private setting of employment, which makes girls susceptible to violence, exploitation and abuse. 

Male victims of trafficking should not be forgotten. Boys are more likely to join the agriculture and industry sectors, and often perform gruelling, hazardous work. Moreover, the number and incidence of boys in hazardous work has decreased at a much slower rate than girls, which indicates that more needs to be done for male victims of trafficking and child labour. 

Central to child labour and trafficking is the issue of global economic polarisation and inequalities. Child labour and trafficking are most prominent in economically developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of child labour takes place. The agriculture and manufacturing industry are labour-intensive and employ cheap child labour, with the children working long hours in dangerous work conditions. Poorer regions highly dependent on the economic wealth generated by these industries may have less stringent work and labour regulations. Seen in this light, the affluence and luxuries enjoyed by the developed Global North are at the expense of children in the developing Global South. 

Child labour and trafficking should be tackled in two main ways: awareness and accountability. Immediate awareness campaigns may focus on ways to spot trafficked victims, and companies that use child labour. The Bureau of International Labour Affairs (ILAB) has curated a list of goods and products suspected of involving child or forced labour. This list may bring the invisible issue of child labour to the spotlight and encourage individuals to engage in responsible consumption. More long-term awareness campaigns should tackle the problem of gender inequality in education and emphasise the value of girls’ education in breaking out of cyclical poverty that makes children vulnerable. Equally important is making traffickers, corporations and governments accountable for their exploitation and oversights. ILAB’s 2020 list included 155 goods produced in 77 countries around the world. Domestic and global supply chains are structured in ways that systematically exploit the most vulnerable. Hence, there must be greater transparency and accountability for businesses and industries, harsher penalties for traffickers, and more pressure put on governments and law enforcement agencies to uphold justice and defend human rights at risk. 

Ultimately, stakeholder cooperation between activists, states, law enforcement and businesses should be encouraged to manage the root causes of child labour and trafficking. Protecting children is a moral responsibility that all societies should be concerned about, and each of us can play a part in ending child labour and trafficking. If you would like to know more about One Bread and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims. 

References and further reading:

World’s Children: Child trafficking statistics

The Invisible Work of Girls: Inside the Life of Female Child Labour in Ghana

Gender and child labour in agriculture

Everywhere But Invisible: Girl Child Labourers in Agriculture

Bride Trafficking in Asia

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Human trafficking is a broad category that encompasses child and forced labour, child soldiers, sex trafficking, child marriages and bride buying, among other forms of trafficking. Bride trafficking has been reported across the world. In Asia, China, Pakistan, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam have recorded a growing number of bride trafficking cases. For China, the “one-child policy” that created a preference for male babies has resulted in a severe gender imbalance, thus generating high demand among bachelors for female brides. Many heart wrenching personal stories of child brides and trafficked victims remind us of the importance of addressing this issue that has only been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Bride trafficking is a complicated issue involving multiple overlapping factors. Focusing on growing economic polarisation, the consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown, and gender inequality, we may gain a clearer picture on how these root causes contribute to bride trafficking. 

In Asia, rapid economic growth and development has also presented worsening income inequality. The significant wealth divide has created a perfect storm of vulnerable populations ripe for exploitation at the hands of privileged families with the means to afford trafficking services. Many trafficked victims highlighted that poverty was a significant factor motivating their desperation for employment, which in turn made them more susceptible to deceit by traffickers who lured them with promises of high paying jobs. Many of these women and girls who are trafficked are from ethnic or religious minorities, which are among the most impoverished communities. Thus, bride trafficking is not only a gender crisis, but also a racial minority problem. The pandemic has only worsened income inequality as low-skilled jobs have been the hardest hit by the economic disruptions.

Additionally, the extended COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a record number of children dropping out of school permanently. Job loss and reduced earnings have compelled many parents to enlist the help of their children in businesses during this stay-at-home period, and these temporary strategies to improve livelihood conditions may become permanent decisions. While some poor children may eventually return to school, the damage done to their learning may be so severe that it sets them back for years compared to their wealthier counterparts who have supplementary resources to ensure their learning is on track. For girls, the lockdown has pushed many parents to get them married off early in hopes of lessening the financial burden, despite many of them still being underaged. While child marriages and bride trafficking are illegal in many Asian countries, less funding for law enforcement agencies due to slower economic growth has adversely impacted their operations and made investigations or rescue missions more difficult in times when they are more needed. 

Finally, gender inequality and patriarchal attitudes are major factors underlying greater vulnerability of women and girls. Poverty has meant many parents are forced to allocate more resources to one child, usually boys, at the expense of the other, usually girls. Such actions are out of pragmatism in light of the persistent gender wage gap, which means sons are more likely to earn more than daughters to financially support their parents. Gendered social expectations for males to be breadwinners and for females to undertake unpaid domestic and care work also play a part in these trends. With females being economically dependent on males, they have less autonomy and say in decision making. Hence, many girls and women have to obey the wishes of their male relatives. Such a power imbalance between the genders has contributed to vulnerability of women and girls to domination and exploitation.

Against this backdrop, immediate solutions for addressing child marriages and bride trafficking in Asia would be material aid to impoverished communities, calling for greater funding to relevant law enforcement departments, and donations to non-profit organisations providing rehabilitative care to victims of trafficking. In the long run, greater collaboration between various stakeholders like the state, law enforcement, grassroots organisations, and vulnerable communities would be essential to developing multi-faceted solutions that address the root causes of the issue. Awareness campaigns should also be rolled out to help the public spot warning signs of trafficking and to advocate for the rights of trafficked victims. Ultimately, child marriages and bride trafficking present a serious threat to human rights and must receive due attention to attain justice for its victims. 

References and further reading:

Demystifying Rising Inequality in Asia

China’s Bride Trafficking Problem

Bride trafficking, a problem on China’s belt and road

Bride Trafficking to China Spreads Across Asia

Trapped

By Pooja Walia, Contributing Writer

There’s no escape

it’s an infinite loop

chained with addiction, hopelessness

lack of opportunity

lack of a chance

hunted by wolves

eager to drag me 

down into the deep dark forest

I tried to escape, yes, I did

they dangled false hopes in my face

lured me through the candies of addiction and money

I wanted out … of that life, the prison

of the roads they want me to take

out of the trap …

with a bruised body

showing scars of the times I stood up

soulless, numb

making me feel worthless

just want it all to be over

either this torture or my life

so, I can be finally free

no going back

be what I can be.

Prisons have become hunting grounds for prostitution. This piece is inspired by research from The Guardian’s video “The Trap: the deadly sex-trafficking cycle in American prisons” which underscores chilling testimonies of ex-inmates who were dragged back into a life of addiction and prostitution over and over again. The unfortunate fact: it was done so easily. The documentary highlights the infinite loop of incarceration, recruitment, release, trafficking, and then incarceration all over again.

According to the video, Richard Rawls was the first sex trafficker convicted in the United States for trafficking women from prisons. He recruited women released from prisons to prostitute for him and had over 25 women in his house at one point.

Kate, molested and raped when she was 16, was one of the many women Rawls pimped by giving hope that “everything would be okay.” She narrates how the pimps sift through the inmates to target their ‘commodity’ and start making conversations. “They see whom they wanna write, how much is this face gonna make me?” “Anybody can write to anybody in the prison.” It is through these incessant unwanted letters that the pimps are able to create that relationship to dupe the women into trusting them and falling bait to their false promises.

The whole business is possible because of a vital flaw in the prison system. “When someone is arrested, their personal data is immediately put online - mugshots, criminal records, release dates, and home addresses.” This becomes crucial in enabling the perpetrators to cherry pick their victims and initiate the process of intruding on the inmates’ already difficult lives.

Jill has been in and out of jail 22 times and explains the reason for falling back into the same misery. “Without them [the pimps], you have nobody. It’s lonely.”

“Women released from Worchester, MA have no recovery or support facilities.” This makes it even easier for the inmates to fall prey to the vultures waiting patiently on the other end.

The documentary reveals some of the sickening details of what goes on in the minds of these pimps, currently in prison, and of their business model.

Anthony Harris explains “Once you start doing it [sending money and letters to inmates] with a person, over a period of time they become loyal to you, so you just got you a new girl.” He defines pimps by categorizing them as “Boyfriend pimp, gorilla pimp - beats the victim, finesse pimp - doesn’t care, do the work or get out the door, and druggy pimp - keeps them addicted to the drugs.”

He goes on to justify and take pride in his actions, “All I was doing was showing them a better way to do it. I didn’t force them, I just finessed them.” On the other hand, he took advantage of factors in our society that prevent the women from leading normal lives. “You have nobody, nowhere to go to, hard to get a job, can’t get an apartment ‘cause you’re a felon, don’t have any money to get an apartment. We are creatures of habit.” 

Jasmine Johnson, another imprisoned pimp, very casually, shares her violent management style. “A few times I had to put my hands on them. Just like, rough them up, choke them out or slap them. If you disobey, you get punished.” 

Anthony Harris mentioned that all they need to do is “approach released women and ask “You alright?” and it goes from there.” This suggests further ignorance on the part of the prison officers and staff.

Former Correctional Officers John Meekins and Theresa Davidson share stories of their attempts to put an end to this ignorance, or at least do their part in ensuring the safety of the released prisoners. John was met with disrespect when he raised his concerns with people saying, “Who the hell are you and why should we care?” According to his experience, 99% of the department didn’t even know what human trafficking is, let alone do anything about it. When prisoners are released, they are given a mere sum of $50 to start a ‘new life’.

Theresa says that all that the officers say at the time of release is “Here’s your money, your civilian clothes, and the property you can take with you, and we need to see you get in a car with somebody.” They don’t care who that somebody is or what disgusting road they will drive you to or if that somebody will become the reason for the released prisoner to return to the prison, stuck in an infinite loop. Theresa reported to her supervisors when she heard a prisoner on the phone. The superiors didn’t care, didn’t want anything more added to their plates and just wanted “to have a pleasant day and move on.”

Marian Hatcher, a former inmate living in Chicago, was a victim of domestic violence, which triggered her downfall into drug use, prostitution, trafficking and into a prison cell. Thanks to the services and support she received in jail, she now works for the Sheriff of Cook county, just a few hundred yards away from where she was jailed. 

The support that the inmates receive is extremely important in helping them understand the monstrosity that has been clouding their judgment. It aims to prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking in the hopes of giving them a near-normal life. Prisoners devoid of these services, like Jill, often find themselves wondering “what options do we really have, we feel TRAPPED in it.”

Nikki Bell, having experienced these emotions first-hand, explains them in her own words, “feeling soulless, waiting to die and your body to catch up.” Such victims lack self-esteem and fail to recognize their true identities. They feel that they have “taken the identity that this was my only worth in the world.”

Nikki’s ordeal started when she was just 14 years old. Seeking love in a 24-year-old boyfriend, she complied when he asked her to sleep with his friends in the false hope that he would love her in return. 

Overcoming past struggles and trying to give the help she may not have received, Nikki runs a drop-in shelter where she and her team provide the necessary clothes and accessories the women need. “You don’t turn down people because they’ve been arrested 20 times, maybe the 21st time works. You keep helping.”

While journeying through the area where Kate used to work, she spotted a former co-worker, Jessica, and exclaimed, “Can’t believe she’s still out there, still alive.” Kate reflects on where she is now in life and says, “This is past history, isn’t what I have to do, isn’t a necessity anymore, just something that I used to do.”

On the one hand, human trafficking is flourishing because of the inhumane pimps, uncaring correctional officers and countless cracks in the system. On the other hand, the high-spirited people who were determined and were fortunate to escape the trap, are now making an effort to help others build their lives as they themselves try to build their own.

References and further reading/viewing:

The Guardian: The Trap: the deadly sex-trafficking cycle in American prisons

A Tale of Shandra Woworuntu

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

The common conception of human trafficking as a rare occurrence, and the image of its victims being uneducated, weak women is grossly outdated, as Shandra Woworuntu’s story would tell you. The true horrors of human trafficking lie in the fact that it can occur to anyone, and at the most unexpected moment that catches its target off guard. No one is truly safe from human trafficking, and only constant vigilance may reduce one’s risk. 

Bursting the bubble of the American Dream

In an intimate interview with RealWomen/RealStories, Shandra, the founder of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, revealed the horrors of sex trafficking from a first-hand account. Describing her excitement after landing a job in the United States after losing her job as a financial analyst in her home country of Indonesia, Shandra’s life would forever change when she accepted the offer to work in a Chicago-based hotel for six months. Upon arriving at the New York airport, Shandra was informed that she would have to stay overnight in New York rather than transferring flights to Chicago. Thereafter, she was promptly whisked away with two underage girls to a hotel where she recalled being exchanged for a large envelope of money. The following months would be gruelling, traumatic, and degrading for Shandra who was sold as a sex slave to sex buyers. 

She escaped through a window many months later, but the pain it inflicted on her would last for a lifetime. Sex trafficking and abuse robs its victims of their freedom and violates their right to autonomy. With no control over their bodies, many victims of sex trafficking later report persistent feelings of helplessness, isolation, depression, and anxiety. 

Risk factors

Sitting before the camera, Shandra is intelligent, articulate, and untimid, shattering our ideas of how we think human trafficking looks like to expose its cruel reality. Shandra’s experience also highlights how political and social instability may increase risk of human trafficking. Destabilization and displacement of populations during periods of unrest may force individuals to migrate or seek opportunities abroad. This desperation for money and a new life encourages risk-taking, which may lead to many potential victims overlooking red flags or ignoring them totally. 

Organised crime may be a cause and consequence of political and social instability. Predators may take advantage of the situation to target vulnerable individuals and communities by winning their short-term trust only to abuse them in the long-term. Authorities and lawmakers may also be too preoccupied with other pressing issues or be part of the corruption, which results in criminals of human trafficking escaping with little to no consequences. 

Moving forward

Ending with a hopeful note, Shandra Woworuntu turned her devastating experience into a meaningful one by founding the Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, an initiative that aims to provide rehabilitation, advocacy, and empowerment programs for survivors of sex trafficking and abuse. What kept Shandra going during the most difficult of times was her family, and even so, many victims of sex trafficking still face difficulty finding closure and living their life as normally as possible afterwards.

Some tips that may be gleaned from Shandra’ sex trafficking experience are (i) being alert and having healthy suspicions, be it about the credibility of employment agencies or other potential touch points where predators may infiltrate; another being (ii) the value of speaking up and raising awareness about human trafficking and sexual exploitation, which may provide comfort to other survivors that they are not alone, and plant a seed of caution in others which may prevent an unfortunate incident.

Women and girls make up 71% of human trafficking victims, according to the International Labour Organization and Walk Free Foundation. As we near the end of Women’s History Month, let’s get involved in the fight to stop human trafficking and ensure that other women and girls don’t have to experience the atrocities that Shandra survived.

References and further reading/viewing: 

YouTube – REALWOMEN/REALSTORIES – I was trafficked in the MIDDLE of New York City.

International Labour Organisation and Walk Free Foundation – Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

Women’s History Month: A time to keep fighting for freedom

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

Women’s History Month, as the History channel states, acknowledges the “often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history.” During this month we remember the powerful influences of women on important movements throughout history. Women bravely fought for an end to slavery, the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Movement to name a few important contributions. These women knew the value of their contributions and fought for others to see and recognize it. They acknowledged the freedom they all deserved and the dignity with which they should all be treated. Women and girls have never been and never will be commodities or products to be sold and used. This Women’s History Month let’s advocate for the freedom of the women who are suffering in human trafficking. Let’s care about the plight of all women, even those we do not personally know.

Although human trafficking can affect any person regardless of gender or age, according to a United Nations report, women and children make up approximately 71% of all human trafficking victims. There are several pathways that can lead to a woman being trafficked. Some young girls are sold by their own families. Some women find themselves being trafficked by their own significant others. Others are desperate for escape or transport out of their home country and are taken advantage of while in this vulnerable situation. Women and girls can be trafficked for sex or work. Sadly, the American Psychological Association tells us that “Trafficked women and girls encounter high rates of physical and sexual violence, including homicide and torture, psychological abuse, horrific work and living conditions, and extreme deprivation while in transit.”

Unfortunately, the hardships faced by these survivors may not end as soon as a person is removed from a trafficking situation. There are many challenges for survivors even after they are rescued. This is because there are psychological impacts associated with trafficking. Even after someone is rescued, they may still experience Stockholm syndrome. This can result in survivors returning to their abusers, even after they’re rescued. In addition, they may be conditioned to believe that they need their trafficker. Other survivors may be treated as criminals and punished rather than receive support and resources for change and healing. The American Psychological Association recommends the use of Safe Harbor legislation to “provide provisions that conceptualize trafficked persons involved in illegal activities as victims rather than criminals, and support funding for legal protection and psychosocial safeguards for victims.”

What can you do to help solve this problem? Listen to the stories of the women in your life, be aware of their life situations, learn how to notice the signs of trafficking, advocate for Safe Harbor legislation, and do something. Treat women with respect everyday not just during Women’s History Month. The way we talk about women matters. How we treat our daughters, nieces, and cousins matters. The little ones are watching how we treat their mothers, older sisters, grandmothers and aunts. The way you speak about women on a regular basis may affect how comfortable someone feels sharing their experience with you. If you are kind, respectful, and understanding of women, someone may feel safe sharing their story of past trafficking or current trafficking with you. A Chicago Tribune article on what to say when someone shares a sexual assault story with you suggests being prepared to listen, and letting someone share at their own pace, rather than asking them numerous questions right away. Human trafficking is going on whether or not we notice it in our everyday lives. Let’s see the women and men in our lives as people uniquely created in the image of God and fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who loves them. We are responsible to God for how we treat each other. Let’s treat each other with respect, acknowledging the worth that our God has created us with. Let’s love. Let’s show compassion. Let’s fight for justice.

You can make a difference in your community. We invite you to join One Bread Foundation in our fight to abolish child sex trafficking. One way you can help is through your regular online shopping. One Bread Foundation is a charity affiliate of Amazon, Goodshop, Groupon and eBay. Visit onebread.org/shop-now to learn more.

References and further reading:

Women’s History Month

United Nations: Report: Majority of trafficking victims are women and girls; one-third children

American Psychological Association: Facts About Trafficking of Women and Girls

Chicago Tribune: What to say to someone who shares a sexual assault story with you

A21: Human Trafficking 

Polaris Project: Vulnerabilities & Signs of Recruitment

Difference Between Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are both important issues that should receive due attention. There were an estimated 109,216 human trafficking victims identified worldwide in 2020 alone, and 2.5 million migrants smuggled worldwide in 2016. However, this number is likely to be much higher than official figures given the secretive nature of both industries. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are crucial differences in their definitions, causes, legal status and treatment, and solutions undertaken. 

Trafficking in persons is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, and harbouring of persons through illegal means of coercion such as fraud and force for the purpose of exploitation. This may include prostitution, forced labour, slavery, servitude, and organ removal. In contrast, smuggling of migrants refers to the facilitation of an individual’s illegal entry or stay in a country for financial or other material benefit. Trafficking can occur both domestically and internationally, while smuggling of migrants occurs across borders. Another related distinction between trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants is consent. There is no consent in trafficking since traffickers either forcefully abduct victims, deceive, or coerce individuals into making decisions they would otherwise not make. On the other hand, most migrants consent to smuggling for reasons such as lack of legal migration avenues, despite potentially being put in precarious situations by smugglers.

The differences in definition thus draw attention to deeper underlying causes of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Trafficking in persons may occur when there is insufficient socio-political protection given to vulnerable groups such as women, minorities, and less privileged individuals, which puts them in a precarious position for exploitation by predators and traffickers. For the smuggling of migrants, the issue is most prevalent in times of economic, political, and/or social unrest, uncertainty, and deprivation that “pushes” migrants to seek a life abroad. This may work in tandem with pull factors like greater economic opportunities and socio-political stability overseas, for smugglers to entice migrants with illegal pathways of entry. Nonetheless, there may be overlapping root causes or factors that contribute to both trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. 

The definition and “motivations” of trafficked persons and smuggled migrants may in turn affect their legal status and respective treatment. Trafficked persons receive greater protection from the law with anti-trafficking laws or rehabilitation programmes. In contrast, smuggled migrants may face issues with legality and risk deportation. Smuggled migrants may even face discrimination, stigma, and a curtailment of rights if they are caught. 

To address trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, different solutions may be undertaken. For both issues, preventative measures like raising awareness and more stringent checks could be undertaken. Interviews with smuggled migrants also revealed that smugglers may exploit asylum loopholes by smuggling caught migrants to a third country instead of their country of origin before returning to the host country as an asylum seeker. Therefore, smuggling of migrants should be managed through increasing accessibility to legal migration channels and improving living conditions in the home countries of migrants which is often the main motivation for moving overseas. In addition, corrective measures like rehabilitation services should be offered to both trafficked victims and smuggled migrants with traumatic experiences. Greater penalties could also be given to traffickers and smugglers to discourage such behaviour in the future. 

Ultimately, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are issues that we should care about because they occur out of vulnerability, desperation and a desire for a better life. These are emotions most of us can relate to, and thus we should treat victims of trafficking and smuggling with empathy and dignity.  

References and further reading:

• Total Number of Human Trafficking Victims Identified Worldwide from 2008 to 2020

• At Least 2.5 million migrants smuggled worldwide in 2016, Says UNODC study

• Introducing Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants

• Human trafficking and migrant smuggling

• Illegal immigrants smuggled out of UK and back again

Technology Can Help Stop Human Trafficking

By Ann Christina Peterpaul, Contributing Writer

According to the International Labour Organization, approximately 40.3 million people are victims of human trafficking at any given moment, and one fourth of the victims are children. This appalling number is highlighted by the fact that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) affirms that the dark web is growing and traffickers are becoming more expert in their internet methods.

In the United States, about 40% of trafficking victims are recruited online. Traffickers use live chat scams, location trafficking applications and other sophisticated web means to entrap their victims. Victims are threatened with release of intimate photos to friends and family if they do not comply with trafficker demands.

Modern technology is fighting back. Marinus Analytics is developing technology that will disrupt internet human trafficking by using artificial intelligence (AI). In 2019 Marinus Analytics identified 3,800 victims using their software Traffic Jam. 

Another group, Anti Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) is working with law enforcement and private sector companies to use software to fight human trafficking. Their AI follows suspicious money trails like late night ATM use, expensive makeover purchases and cash deposits in short amounts of time in several locations, in order to pass on this information to police.

Marinus Analytics has said that they’re developing more technology focusing on child protection. CEO Cara Jones said, “Trafficking is not an amateur problem.” In reference to public safety spaces she said, “These are very sophisticated establishments that have a value chain to conduct their business in these spaces, and the more we can start to reveal the business practices to the right law enforcement audience, the better.”

References and further reading:

• International Labour Organization: Forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking

• Can Technology Stop Human Trafficking?

• UNODC report: darknet cybercrime is on the rise in Southeast Asia

In the Name of Modelling: Sex Trafficking and Abuse in the Modelling Industry

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Despite more people coming to discover the dark reality of the glitz and glam world we call show business, being an actor, musician, and YouTuber rank as the top ten dream jobs of children in recent polls. This desire has been compounded by the lavish lifestyles of celebrities and influencers showcased on social media where many impressionable and ambitious young women and girls aspire to emulate the successes of these famous figures and are unaware or disregard the potential risks to pursue a modelling career. Among a slew of issues like eating disorders, discrimination, low wages for starting or less famous models, and mistreatment, another major issue that has surfaced is sex trafficking and sexual abuse in the modelling industry. The glamorous illusion of modelling is not only deceptive, but can potentially be dangerous for young women and girls who are incapable of defending and protecting themselves against sexual predators. 

Famous models and fashion brands with their highly viewed fashion shows are frequently discussed among young girls and women. To perceive these shows or celebrity followings as mere entertainment and trivial, harmless pastimes would be naive. Girls may be lured into the trap of sex trafficking under the guise of modelling and the prospect for fame and fortune. According to Stop the Traffik, exploitation in the fashion industry is a common occurrence and some modelling agencies in reality serve as trafficking rings. In a harrowing 2017 report of a near sex trafficking incident of British model Chloe Ayling, she described being offered as a sex slave on the dark web and being held hostage for six days. Ayling believed that she was hired by a professional modelling agency for a high profile gig in Milan, Italy, but was allegedly kidnapped upon reaching the studio. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram may be a way in which sketchy modelling agencies and agents recruit large numbers of young women and girls, yet verifying the authenticity of the company and the exact nature of the job may be difficult especially in the digital sphere. 

Perpetrators of sexual abuse in the modelling industry may include clients, colleagues, bosses, and other models. Modelling agencies may pimp their models out to rich clients, in turn being enablers to sexual predators and their lecherous ways. A prominent example may be Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of underage girls, some of which may have been aspiring or working models, who were introduced to him by Jean Luc Brunel, the founder of MC2 Model Management. The girls reported unconsented touching, and were even made to perform sexual acts on Epstein. Other incidents involving Brunel’s misconduct include Thysia Huisman, then an eighteen-year-old Dutch model, who was sexually assaulted in September 1991. In other cases, colleagues such as hair stylists, clothes designers, managers, and other models who work with models on an intimate basis may also engage in sexual violence and molestation. In some cases, there may be blurred boundaries in terms of what constitutes inappropriate behaviour or speech that may make complaints by victims and even awareness or acceptance that their personal space has been violated difficult.

The prevalence of sexual abuse in the modelling industry closely relates to power dynamics that places many models in a disadvantaged position. Young women and girls may feel pressured to provide sexual favours for career advancement or out of economic desperation. The fear of speaking out because of disbelief, stigmatisation, ostracization from other models, and retaliation by powerful figures in the form of loss of future modelling opportunities, loss of job, and blacklisting also contribute to the silence after models face sexual abuse. Power imbalance with one party dominating over the other allows for coercion and threats to take place with little to no consequence and models may be forced to accept illicit or immoral deals.

Another troubling issue within the modelling industry is that of paedophilia. Young girls may be identified and targeted as sexual prey on social media and during auditions, as in the case of Daniel Berry, a fake casting agent who groomed young girls aged twelve to fifteen on Facebook. Within the modelling industry, regulations also tend to be lax with no restrictions placed on the minimum age of child models or rules to prevent the exploitation of children and young people. The sexualisation of underage individuals who pose in explicit positions or are made to wear extremely revealing clothing raises eyebrows for concerned adults. As many young women and girls are often unable to grasp the complexities and nuances of issues like exploitation, an important question then emerges on how we should draw the line between the young woman or child’s own choice in their clothing style and inappropriate behaviour or attire that is imposed on young women and girls for modelling.

With the #MeToo movement in late 2017, progress has been made towards greater gender equality and transparency within the workforce that may reduce the opportunities for sex trafficking and tolerance towards sexual abuse in the modelling industry. With large numbers of victims from diverse backgrounds coming forward to share their stories, they have helped uncover workplace sexual abuse and the power dynamics that put vulnerable women (and men) at risk. In light of greater preventive measures taken to protect such individuals and corrective measures implemented to punish sexual predators, is there reason to be optimistic about sexual abuse and trafficking cases disappearing or falling to low numbers in the modelling industry? Without being cynical, where there is a dominant party that wields disproportionate power in any relationship, there is a chance for abuse of authority and status. In addition, parents and even young women and girls may continue to put themselves in precarious situations because they are tempted by the potentially lucrative nature of the modelling business. The impact of recent progressive movements on the modelling industry and on the future of sexual abuse and trafficking thus remains undetermined. Ultimately, whether the #MeToo movement represents a dent to the misconduct and exploitation within the modelling industry or whether it represents a watershed moment that pushes the industry towards a brighter future depends on constant vigilance and persistent action taken towards safeguarding the wellbeing of young women and girls by all stakeholders.

References

Fake casting agent Daniel Berry groomed young girls on Facebook

Jean-Luc Brunel: three former models say they were sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein friend

Modeling Agencies Enabled Sexual Predators For Years, Former Agent Says

Model Put Up For Sale on Dark Web for $300,000: 'I Would Be Killed If I Escaped'

Trafficking in the Name of Modelling

It’s National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Human trafficking often seems like a remote concept removed from our daily lives, a cautious tale that may terrify us but ultimately has the unrealistic quality of fictional stories. Yet, human trafficking is more common than we expect with 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally according to H.E.A.T. (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Watch - that is around five individuals per thousand people. 81% of them are trapped in forced labor. 75% are women and girls. 1 in 4 victims of human trafficking are children. Human trafficking affects people from all different walks of life and through many different ways. To commemorate National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month celebrated since 2010, we hope to raise awareness about different forms of human trafficking and how this modern slavery has impacted the lives of many. 

While the modelling industry may appear glamorous and a desirable career aspiration to many, there have been innumerable reports of sexual abuse behind the scenes. A notable example is Jeffrey Epstein’s connection with Jean Luc Brunel, the founder of MC2 Model management, who introduced Epstein to several underage girls who were later abused. Brunel’s other misconducts included the sexual assault of eighteen-year-old Dutch model, Thysia Huisman, in 1991. Clients, hair stylists, clothes designers, bosses and managers of modelling agencies, and other models may partake in the perpetuation of sexual abuse in the modelling industry. Paedophilia is also a major issue in the child modelling industry as adults with dubious intentions may have close contact with vulnerable children under little to no parental supervision.

Indigenous people are another group of individuals who are susceptible to human trafficking due to their marginalised position in society. Despite making up 11% of the American population, Native Americans account for a quarter of trafficked victims. Lack of resources, inadequate law enforcement training, poverty, violence, and fetishes are among the many factors contributing to the trafficking of Native Americans, especially women. These injustices compound multigenerational hardships and loss from the legacy of colonialism, and continue to generate indigenous historical trauma. To protect minorities, trafficking of indigenous people is an issue that must be addressed.

Individuals close to us, such as domestic workers who live and work in residential areas to provide useful housekeeping services and even perform critical care work, may also be victims of human trafficking. Domestic work can be considered as trafficking when force, fraud, or coercion is used by the employer to control the worker. Related to this is physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that may be another issue domestic workers, who invest emotional labour alongside expending physical energy, have to deal with. 

Other examples of everyday people with harrowing experiences may be found on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram where courageous victims share their stories to educate others. More importantly, these incidents feature a recurring theme of power imbalance that creates conditions for domination and exploitation whereby authoritative and powerful figures may prey upon weaker individuals. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we celebrate individuals, businesses, institutions and organisations that actively champion the rights of victims of human trafficking. Everyone can and should play a part in ending human trafficking. Even a simple repost to spread awareness may create a ripple effect of change.  

If you would like to know more about One Bread Foundation and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims. 

Sources

1. H.E.A.T.Watch Statistics

2. National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

3. 'Nobody saw me': why are so many Native American women and girls trafficked?

4. Domestic Work

5. Jean-Luc Brunel: three former models say they were sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein friend

6. Modeling Agencies Enabled Sexual Predators For Years, Former Agent Says

Power in our words: Empowering human trafficking survivors

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

Our words have power. We can all think of a time when words have put a giant smile on our face or made our eyes well up with tears. In the same way that we may have been hurt or encouraged by the words of others, we can use our words to empower those around us, particularly survivors of human trafficking! Ephesians 4:29 tells us “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Let’s make it one of our New Year’s resolutions to use our words in a way that will empower the people around us.

Can you imagine enduring the pain and horrid nature of human trafficking and then reentering a society that judges or looks down on you because of what you have gone through? You may not know someone who has been trafficked, or at least you think you do not. In reality, you never know what those around you are going through or have been through. According to the National Sexual Assault Violence Resource Center, in the United States 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual assault or harassment during their life. This tells us that you likely know someone or may yourself have experienced sexual trauma. 

What if we listened before assuming we understand someone’s story or judging them? The Bible tells us in the book of James that we should be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” On the Inspire Counseling Center website, Cyndi Benner shares some practical ways to respond when someone shares their trauma. A few of these are described below. If someone bravely shares their story, even though you may be curious to hear the details, it is more important for the person to be believed and listened to. You could be the first person to believe them. After we listen, the way we respond can have a big impact on their healing process. In addition, validate the person’s feelings. Sit with them in the anger, grief, and sadness. Choose to respond with empathy and compassion the same way Jesus does to us! It is also important to empower your friends to share things at their own pace and with whom they would like. Understand that when someone shares their experiences with you this is no small feat. You have likely garnered their trust as a safe person to share with, so respond with compassion and love. 

Whether or not someone directly tells us about their personal experiences, we need to be mindful of what we say on a regular basis. You never know who is listening. So, let’s be people who do not joke about sexual abuse, sexual assault or trafficking. In doing so, we can show that we take sexual abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking seriously.

We can further empower others through prayer for those impacted by sex trafficking. Finally, let’s educate ourselves on human trafficking, get involved in fighting it, and championing survivors in our own communities and nationally! You could look into the legislature in your area regarding human trafficking and how it is impacting survivors. You can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause. Please forward this email to friends or family members and encourage them to subscribe to our mailing list at onebread.org.

Truly we are better together, so let’s walk with our brothers and sisters who have gone through trafficking and seek the best for them.

Resources and further reading

How to Respond When Someone Shares their Trauma Story with you

NSVRC: 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime

Ephesians 4:29

James 1:19

‘Tis the season to be careful: Sex trafficking during the holidays

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

The holiday season is a time to get together and celebrate with loved ones. However, sex trafficking does not stop during the festivities and vulnerable communities, including children and young people, may even face an increased risk. Crowded malls, restaurants, hang-out spaces and celebratory events may make adult supervision difficult or encourage adults to become complacent due to the presence of other parents. Sex traffickers and predators may also blend into the crowd and go undetected until it is too late. Strangers with ill intentions may approach children and young people under the guise of earning quick money during the holiday season or lure them with special treats. Another reason that sex trafficking may increase during the holiday season is that welfare facilities and help hotlines may be closed, operate at limited capacity or be especially busy at peak periods. This makes sounding the alarm about suspicious situations difficult.

The risk of sex trafficking and violence also remains in families who celebrate the holidays at home. Family tensions from living and working together in a confined space for an extended period may erupt into conflict and physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Lisa Rowe, director of programming for Selah Freedom, noted that about 92% of sex trafficking victims in the United States were sexually abused as children. Livelihood pressures may also push parents into making unethical decisions such as pimping out children for quick cash. Parents may take advantage of their children’s trust and place them in precarious situations for their self-interest. In a 2020 paper, it was revealed that 44% of trafficked samples included survivors who have been pimped by family members, mainly parents and most often mothers. However, such cases may fly under the radar as children may fear to speak out or think that such behaviour is normal. 

On the bright side, the festivities can be a time for self-renewal, empowerment and hope for victims of trafficking. The holidays may serve as a reminder of the potential for moving forward in life and reasons to stay positive. Volunteers, charities, and foundations may provide utilities, gifts, donations, and food to shelters or centres that house victims of trafficking. Trafficked victims may also bond and connect with survivors on shared experiences that may promote healing and closure. 

If you would like to know more about One Bread Foundation and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of child sex trafficking victims.  

References and further reading

For sex trafficking survivors, this Christmas offers a real life miracle

Parents As Pimps: Survivor Accounts of Trafficking of Children in the United States

Giving Tuesday: The Concept of Radical Generosity

By Elesha Pimentel, Contributing Writer

Happy Giving Tuesday from your friends at One Bread Foundation! 

The holidays are all about giving back to the community and Giving Tuesday full-heartedly builds upon this tradition with its own concept: radical generosity. Radical generosity is defined as “the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable as the suffering of our own.” It’s a day that pushes people outside of the comfortable realm of “bystander.” It’s a worldwide movement celebrated in 70 countries. Anyone can participate in Giving Tuesday, and there are so many different ways to get involved. Here at One Bread Foundation, we invite you to do something good with us. 

One Bread Foundation strives to advocate, raise awareness, and provide monetary support for the rehabilitation of child victims of sex trafficking in the United States. Though child sex trafficking is a tragedy that seems distant and small, it is growing larger each day. According to Liberate the Children, 25% of the 40 million people sex-trafficked globally are children. However, only 1-2% of these children are rescued from these sickly bonds of captivity. The children who are rescued are met with limited resources for rehabilitation. Every year many of us do little to help rehabilitate these children and simply continue on with our lives. Oblivious to this large statistic until it claims one of our own. 

Today, we invite you to spend your Giving Tuesday with us. There are a variety of ways that we can work together to help these children. You can donate to our organization to help us financially support the rehabilitation of these children. Every dollar helps, and we appreciate donations of all sizes. You can share our posts and newsletters with friends and family members to spread awareness. A simple Facebook post or message to a friend does wonders to help us advocate for our cause and spread our reach.

Together we will embrace the concept of radical generosity and fight for the lost rights of these children. In the name of Giving Tuesday, the suffering of others is as intolerable as the suffering of our own. 

Resources and Further Reading

https://www.givingtuesday.org/

https://liberatechildren.org/child-trafficking-statistics 

Power in Our Words: Empowering Human Trafficking Survivors

By Elizabeth Gilreath

Our words have power. We can all think of a time when words have put a giant smile on our face or made our eyes well up with tears. In the same way that we may have been hurt or encouraged by the words of others, we can use our words to empower those around us, particularly survivors of human trafficking! Ephesians 4:29 tells us “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Can you imagine enduring the pain and horrid nature of human trafficking and then reentering a society that judges or looks down on you because of what you have gone through? You may not know someone who has been trafficked, or at least you think you do not. In reality, you never know what those around you are going through or have been through. According to the National Sexual Assault Violence Resource Center, in the United States 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual assault or harassment during their life. This tells us that you likely know someone or may yourself have experienced sexual trauma. 

What if we listened before assuming we understand someone’s story or judging them? The Bible tells us in the book of James that we should be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” On the Inspire Counseling Center website, Cyndi Benner shares some practical ways to respond when someone shares their trauma. A few of these are described below. If someone bravely shares their story, even though you may be curious to hear the details, it is more important for the person to be believed and listened to. You could be the first person to believe them. After we listen, the way we respond can have a big impact on their healing process. In addition, validate the person’s feelings. Sit with them in the anger, grief, and sadness. Choose to respond with empathy and compassion the same way Jesus does to us! It is also important to empower your friend to share things at their own pace and with whom they would like. Understand that when someone shares their experiences with you this is no small feat. You have likely garnered their trust as a safe person to share with, so respond with compassion and love. 

Whether or not someone directly tells us about their personal experiences, we need to be mindful of what we say on a regular basis. You never know who is listening. So, let’s be people who do not joke about sexual abuse, sexual assault, or trafficking. In doing so, we can show that we take sexual abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking seriously.

We can further empower others through prayer for those impacted by sex trafficking. Finally, let’s educate ourselves on human trafficking, get involved in fighting it, and championing survivors in our own communities and nationally! You could look into the legislature in your area regarding human trafficking and how it is impacting survivors. You can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause. Please forward this email to friends or family members and encourage them to subscribe to our mailing list at onebread.org.

Truly we are better together, so let’s walk with our brothers and sisters who have gone through trafficking and seek the best for them.

Citations

How to Respond When Someone Shares their Trauma Story with you

NSVRC: 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime

Ephesians 4:29

James 1:19