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

Summary Report: Human Trafficking in America’s Schools

By Chitara Ellis, Contributing Writer/Editor

Why should schools be involved in helping exploited children? Since the average victim comes from an unstable home environment, schools step in as the stable environments victims need to feel safe, while also being the intercessors between victims and local and federal authorities that offer help. But before schools can set themselves up in such a position, they need to know what kind of help is available and how to identify suspected victims. 

A 2015 report made for the U.S. Department of Education in collaboration with American Institutes for Research explains the relationship between America’s K–12 schools and human trafficking. The report serves as a guide in helping educators and their communities identify and support victims and protect children from being exploited by predators.

The guide encourages educators and community members to not be judgmental toward young trafficking victims and to look out for behavioral and physical signs of abuse such as truancy, frequent travel, inappropriate clothing for the season, tattoos (branding), sudden changes in appearance and material possessions, and unexplained injuries. Those who take note of these signs should be aware that—although any child can become a victim—children who are experiencing abuse at home, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty or social isolation are more likely to be victimized. The report states that “between 33% and 90% of victims of commercial child sexual exploitation have experienced childhood sexual abuse, chronic maltreatment and neglect, and otherwise unstable home environments.” 

Educators and community members do not have to combat human trafficking alone. Several federal departments and agencies are available to help direct school systems in promoting awareness and creating system-wide policies and protocols for suspected trafficking victims. The Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and Department of Labor are just a few of the many government organizations that take a victim-centered, integrated approach in helping victims. Their strategy is known as the 3 P’s: prosecution, protection and prevention.

Page 14 of the report offers three sample protocols school districts can implement in identifying and supporting young victims of human trafficking. Taking a victim-centered approach, each protocol is based on the status of the victim: 1) suspected recruitment or actual exploitation by student, 2) suspected victim of commercial sexual exploitation of children and 3) confirmed victim of commercial sexual exploitation of children. The examples show that helping victims is a collective effort that involves government services as well as families (when available) and school staff.

This report only offers a general overview of steps schools can take to protect students. It’s up to the schools and their community members, including neighbors, families, religious organizations and local social services and authorities, to figure out what specific course of actions are needed for victims in their districts; a one-size-fits-all approach would not be efficient. To read more about this issue and learn how you can help abolish child sex trafficking, sign up for our newsletter in the website footer below.

Echoes in the Wind

By Autumn White, Contributing Poet

Quiet, still voices that echo in the wind and drift off in the distance making their way past one person and the other.

Its blow is small, not like blowing out candles but enough to send little chills throughout your body.

You can feel their presence but cannot hear or see well enough to know what they are.

Sometimes our voices feel insignificant, but that is why we need a person who will bring the winds along with the hurricane or the change of motion like a tornado.

People like this bring awareness to the imperceptive and sound to the unconscious.

People like this offer a high-pitch soprano to those who feel unheard.

People like this are important because without having people to stand up for us, change will never occur.

We can be the light for people who feel unseen and the feeling of love for those who’ve never experienced it before.

Our voice is a stance for someone who can’t.

Advocating is life-changing for someone.

Social Media-Based Sex Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Contributing Writer

Social media has infiltrated the lives of countless people, especially youths who use various platforms for purposes like networking, school, work and maintaining relationships. According to a survey done by Pew Research Center, 9 out of 10 youths go online multiple times a day. While social media has undeniably been an exciting source of entertainment for many youths, constant usage of the internet and unmanaged social media exposure also has its downsides, specifically the dangers of trafficking through social media. 

Predators may use apps like Instagram, Facebook and Telegram to recruit their victims by impersonating a friend or relative to try to befriend them using a fake identity. Transitioning to adulthood is often a stressful period for many teens who feel misunderstood and insecure, which leaves room for sex traffickers to exploit. Predators may groom their victims with compliments and flattery. Upon forming a relationship, they may encourage their victims to meet in person. According to a 2018 study by THORN, 58% of victims who met their traffickers online were convinced to meet in person, and even for victims who never met face to face, 42% were still trafficked. Online anonymity prevents victims from recognising such identity fraud which makes them susceptible to deception, while also making it difficult for law enforcement to trace such individuals, thus leaving more vulnerable youths at risk. This trend has been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic as many youths who have been confined at home now find themselves spending more time online since many schools have gone digital, and there are fewer sources of outdoor activities that they can engage in.  

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) urged social media and messaging companies to take greater action in preventing sexual exploitation and trafficking of youths while calling for governments to investigate the root causes that increase the vulnerability of youths, especially females. However, family factors also play an essential role in combating social media-based sex trafficking. While monitoring their child’s online activity may be a reasonable solution, parents could also try to improve their communication methods by having open conversations about various topics, as well as informing youths of the risks of internet predators. Parents may act as an effective barrier against trafficking if they are able to reduce the vulnerability of youths by gaining their trust and giving them love. Given that social media is here to stay, parents should take a more proactive role in protecting their children. 

To read more about this issue and learn how you can help abolish child sex trafficking, explore our website. You can also help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause. Please share this blog with friends or family members and encourage them to subscribe to our mailing list at one-bread.org. 

Resources and Further Reading

Social Media and Sex Trafficking Process. 

Social media-based trafficking on the rise during coronavirus pandemic.

Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018. Pew Research Center. 

Did You Know Foster Care and Trafficking Are Connected?

By Reetika Gupta, Contributing Writer

Let’s be honest. Whenever we hear the word trafficking, we immediately think about third-world countries where women and children are forced to be sold by pimps for sex to wealthy patrons. Well, did you know the problem finds its grips right here in the U.S.? Even more astonishing is that trafficking as a common problem particularly in large cities such as New York City. Furthermore, foster children are a vulnerable group who are an easy prey to these traffickers.

Historically, reports suggest that most children who are involved in sex trafficking are either currently in foster care or have been involved with the child welfare system in the past.

Quick Facts

• In 2013, the FBI conducted raids in 70 cities and found that 60% of the child sex trafficking victims recovered were from foster care.

• In 2012, Connecticut reported that out of 88 child victims of sex trafficking, 86 were in foster care or residential placement.

• In 2007, New York City identified 2,250 child victims of trafficking, of which 75% had some contact with the child welfare system.

You may be wondering why this is. Truthfully, there are a number of factors that make children in foster care more vulnerable to human trafficking. Predators typically prey on those who are isolated and have a history of abuse. Foster children who have already experienced sexual, physical and/or mental abuse prior to entering the system fits that description well. Kristina Fitz, a trafficking survivor who works as a case manager with the Children’s Law Center says, “Kids in foster care don’t really have parents or certain individuals or a caring safe adult that they can go to or that they can confide in. They’re the quickest ones to fall into the hands of an exploiter. They talk about being friends with a friend of a friend of a friend. Many still get recruited by face-to-face meetings, but it’s a real mix of the two.”

Traffickers invest their time and money on their potential victim to make them feel loved, valued and special—a process called grooming. Vulnerable youth attach themselves to those who give them positive attention. Traffickers recreate a sense of belonging that provides vulnerable youths a security blanket that they may not experience elsewhere. 

Effects on Rescued Children

The National Research Council says that sex trafficking has severe and long-lasting impacts on vulnerable children and youth. Their health is impacted from injuries, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Furthermore, their mental health suffers due to depression, substance abuse, self-destructive behavior and suicidal tendencies.

There are a lot of social impacts too. Education is affected, and they tend to miss out on good job opportunities that may help them build a more stable life. 

Psychological effects can include the fear of being emotionally intimate with someone and the fear of being different or weird. Years of abuse may lead survivors to avoid others, believing they are worthless with nothing to offer, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

What Can We Do?

Ignorance is not always bliss. We must educate ourselves on the signs of children who may be stuck in human trafficking situations and adults who may be attempting to prey on vulnerable kids. It is extremely important that we contact local authorities and seek professional counseling for help if we suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking

Sadly, the foster care system has led too many children into a life of exploitation and prostitution. With increased knowledge, we all can come together and address risk factors and reduce risk of trafficking for children in foster care. 

Resources and Further Reading

https://nfyi.org/issues/sex-trafficking/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stopping-the-foster-care-_b_4170483

https://www.casey.org/media/child-sex-trafficking.pdf

https://bettercarenetwork.org/sites/default/files/An%20Unholy%20Alliance%20-%20The%20Connection%20Between%20Foster%20Care%20and%20Human%20Trafficking.pdf

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/report_congress_child_trafficking.pdf

https://engagetogether.com/2018/04/29/5-reasons-foster-youth-become-human-trafficking-victims/

https://humantraffickingsearch.org/us-foster-care-system-a-breeding-ground-for-human-trafficking/

https://humantraffickingsearch.org/foster-care-and-human-trafficking-nexus/

Analyzing Common Myths About Trafficking in the US

By Meera Manoj, Contributing Writer

MYTH: Human trafficking does not exist in the U.S. and only occurs in third-world countries.

FACT: This is a very harmful myth since human trafficking (like most crimes) exists everywhere. In most country, in most cities, in most suburbs, in most rural towns, everywhere. This is largely since human trafficking is a “hidden crime” or a crime that is largely unreported and/or undiscovered.

MYTH: Human trafficking and human smuggling are the same. If someone paid or consented to be in a situation that resulted in trafficking, it is not actually trafficking. 

FACT: Human trafficking and human smuggling are not the same. Trafficking involves exploitation of the individual (usually for sex or labor) and does not require the movement of the victim across borders. However, human smuggling often is the consensual moving of a person across a country’s borders in violation of immigration laws. However, human smuggling can become human trafficking if the smuggler uses force, fraud or coercion (or any other action which can turn smuggling nonconsensual).

MYTH: Only poor and/or foreign-born women and children will be victims to human trafficking.

FACT: Human trafficking victims can be of any age, race, gender, nationality or socioeconomic group. Analysis of countless trafficking cases indicates that traffickers often prey on vulnerable people, usually offering their victims a promise of a better life before trapping them in trafficking. Case studies of trafficking victims indicates that risk factors include a history of abuse or sexual violence, generational trauma, poverty, unemployment and unstable living situations, or homelessness (all of which can make someone vulnerable to most crimes in general). However, it is important to understand that these are only risk factors; someone who is not in these circumstances can still be a victim of trafficking.

MYTH: Victims of trafficking are only victim to sex trafficking.

FACT: Sex trafficking is but one type of human trafficking. Human trafficking also includes labor trafficking, which involve exploitation of victims through forced labor. Such victims can be found in “legitimate and illegitimate labor industries like sweatshops, massage parlors, agriculture, restaurants, hotels and domestic service.”

MYTH: Victims are always physically held against their will using restraints or bondage.

FACT: While these are tactics used by some traffickers, it is also very common for traffickers to utilize psychological means to control their victims. Fear, trauma, drug addition, threats against families and lack of other options because of poverty or homelessness can prevent victims from leaving their traffickers. Many victims are also manipulated by their traffickers, sometimes into believing that they’re in love with their trafficker, leading to them being less likely to seek help. Other more “subtle” methods traffickers use to trap and/or control their victims include:

• Isolating them from family, friends and the public through limitation of contact by prohibiting or monitoring contact

• Confiscating passports and/or other identification documents

• Threatening to shame victims by exposing their humiliating situations to their families or friends

• Threatening imprisonment, deportation or other undesirable consequences if the victims contacts authorities

• Debt bondage via enormous financial obligations and/or an undefined or increasing debt

• Controlling the victim’s money and/or other possessions

MYTH: True trafficking victims will always try to seek help in public. 

FACT: Human trafficking is a “hidden crime.” As aforementioned, sometimes victims simply cannot come forward or seek help (i.e., their families and/or loved ones are in danger, they are not in possession of or have control over their identification documents, etc.) Psychological research and studies have found that victims of trafficking (and other “shameful” crimes like rape or abusive relationships) are often stuck in a vicious cycle of self-blame in which they believe they are to blame for the situation they are/were in. They are often scared to leave the situation due to threatening from their traffickers. Traffickers can also manipulate their victims so deeply that the victims do not believe that they are actually “victims,” similar to how individuals with abusive partners often do not see the signs of abuse and/or red flags while they are in the relationship. Most of the time, law enforcement and social services have to “take time to look beneath the surface” and build trust with individuals suspected of being victims of traffickers before they can accurately judge their situation.

MYTH: There is not anything common people can do to prevent or eradicate trafficking. 

FACT: Anyone can help human trafficking victims by looking for the signs of trafficking when interacting with people in their community and using resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) to report human trafficking. Another way to fight against human trafficking (in particular, labor trafficking) is to be a conscientious and informed consumer by making sure to buy groceries from corporations whose goods are not produced by child labor or forced labor. 

Take part in anti-human trafficking organizations, like One Bread Foundation, and their events in order to raise funds to help human trafficking victims and raise awareness in your community.

Resources and Further Reading

20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking in 2020 

Myths and Facts About Human Trafficking 

Department of Homeland Security’s Myths and Misconceptions 

Sex Trafficking Risk Factors and Prevention

By Constance Thum, Contributing Writer

A report was released by the Institute of Medicine (IOC) and National Research Council (NRC) regarding commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors, which refers to individuals younger than age 18, in the United States, and how such issues can be confronted. Several risk factors at the individual, relationship, community and societal levels were highlighted. This article will discuss preventive measures we can take in relation to some of the identified risk factors of youth sex trafficking and exploitation.

At the individual level, runaway and homeless children are easy targets for sex traffickers due to lack of adult supervision to protect them from predators. Some preventive measures that may be taken include alerting the authorities if suspicious activity is spotted, such as strangers approaching children, and referring runaway and homeless children to relevant agencies where they may seek necessary help or shelter. Youth with a history of neglect, abuse or facing discrimination are also particularly vulnerable to recruitment due to psychological factors such as poor self-esteem and depression, which may be manipulated by sex traffickers. People surrounding such individuals are encouraged to express their concern and to show their support, reminding their loved ones or friends that they are not alone.   

Likewise, at the relationship level, minors living in families with conflict and dysfunction may leave their homes and thus lose the protection of parental figures or be subject to abuse and exploitation from family members themselves. In the latter case, hotlines and location of help centers should be widely disseminated, be it through flyers or posters, so that minors have ready access to such information in times of crisis.

At a community level, youth involved in gangs may be prone to sexual abuse while peer pressure may increase a youth’s likelihood of entering commercial sexual activity at a younger age. Children from under-resourced schools and neighborhoods also tend to be victims of sex trafficking and exploitation as they may be tempted by monetary incentives to unknowingly engage in unlawful activities. Poverty, crime, exposure to adult prostitution and police corruption are factors that contribute and increase the risk of involvement in sex trafficking. A feasible plan is for teachers to monitor the behavior of students for signs of abuse or exploitation and to alert the authorities and their parents if necessary. A similar approach should be taken for children facing social isolation and have teachers or counselors reach out to them. 

At a societal level, lack of awareness and resources remains a problem despite having immense potential to combat sex trafficking and exploitation. Talks and workshops may be conducted through partnerships with schools and local communities to raise awareness amongst students, teachers and residents on warning signs and actions they can take in suspected cases of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation. Law enforcement agencies may even be involved to give training to teachers or teach basic self-defense techniques to minors. Advocacy through social media may also play a role in raising awareness and resources for sex trafficking causes that allow them to better help potential victims. 

Overall, adults should intervene if red flags are spotted yet should be mindful not to overstep boundaries even when they have good intentions to protect children and youths at risk. 

Resources and Further Reading

Sexual Exploitation & Sex Trafficking of Minors 

Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States 

Patriarchy Is the Bedrock of Child Sex Trafficking

By Ann Christina Peterpaul, Contributing Writer

I have been reading a lot about the horrors of child sex trafficking and, at the same time, wondering about men who are the customers of this business. How could a grown man pay to have sex with a child? We are talking about children from the age of approximately 12 to 16. Who are these people who assault a child, and what brought them to that point? 

Sex trafficking is a big-time industry across the world. Certainly, it is not carried on by a few perverts. It is something that millions partake in across the globe. There is a lot of money to be made by the perpetrators of this industry, and so that is their raison d’etre. Why isn’t more done to stop it?  Tim Swarens of the Indy Star, who spent a year investigating the sex trafficking of children, said that about 10,000 children from the U.S. are trafficked in a year, and globally the number is more than 1 million. Swarens maintains that buyers are rarely held accountable. According to Swarens, little attention has been given to stopping the demand (the children), Prosecuting traffickers and rescuing victims is given greater priority. 

Why is there such a huge demand to have sex with children in the first place? What is wrong with people who do this? The customers come from all walks of life — pastors, lawyers, professors and more. I have read that traditionally, in all parts of the world, men feel entitled to sex. The men who seek out children for sex view them as commodities and not humans. These children are objects they purchased to be used accordingly. Traffickers who sell children view them the same way. The fact that all these men have mothers, and perhaps sisters, is of no consequence. A trafficked child is a piece of meat in their eyes.

Treating girls and women as property is prevalent in patriarchy. Men rule, and the role of women is to cater to their needs. Women are subordinate and are to be treated as such, with far less rights. Patriarchal norms are still prevalent in the U.S. where women continue to fight for their rights. This notion that men feel entitled to sex is an integral part of patriarchy. Once again, women are to be used and often discarded, which is intrinsic to sex trafficking. 

A society based on treating everyone in a dignified and egalitarian way will not easily lend itself to objectifying one gender. Childhood is a good place to start. Starting at the elementary level, schools should develop curriculums that emphasize the equality of girls and boys and how everyone is entitled to basic rights because we are all humans. I am not saying that the only way to stop the plague of sex trafficking is to develop a holistic curriculum that includes feminism. It is simply one crucial way. Community leaders, churches and other local groups have a role to play. Parents must start raising their children in nonpatriarchal ways. Parental education is not the scope of this essay, but it does point to the need for enlightenment on all fronts in the elimination of patriarchy.

In recent years feminism has taken a backseat, and it is time for it to get in the front and center. Women of all ages and backgrounds must push for a feminist and holistic agenda in our schools. We must cooperate with men who are our allies. When girls are forced into prostitution because patriarchy rules, they are not only degraded, but the ripple effects of this degradation sullies all of us. As a woman, I feel humiliated. I feel ashamed for myself, my daughter, my sister, my mother. It affects all of us. 

Celebrating Independence Day and Fighting for Independence for Human Trafficking Victims

By Shannon Myung

What comes to mind when thoughts of the 4 th of July emerge? For many Americans, the thought might give the medulla oblongata, the part of the brain that helps to control our heartbeat and breathing, some internal nostalgia from the excitement and joy the fireworks bring, both internally for the soul, and externally for the recipients’ viewing pleasure. Thoughts might gravitate towards a momentary giddy frenzy with the idea of being able to run around with a sparkler or two when the sun goes down, leaving room for the moon to light up the sky, along with the fireworks show. Fireworks can inevitably light the souls it touches with an experience that is unforgettable, both visually and internally. Some would self-diagnose a case of acute nervous anxiety at the mere thought of what goes on before the eyes have a chance to experience that bedazzling beauty and allure. There is, however, a peculiar aspect to all of this: How did the 4 th come to be? Four dates in particular, July 8, 1776, July 4, 1777, The War of 1812, and finally June 1826, marked the introduction of what we now celebrate as the 4 th of July.

July 8, 1776 marks the very genesis of readings of the Declaration at Philadelphia’s Independence Square. Exactly one year later, July 4, 1777, Philadelphia marked Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with bonfires, bells and fireworks. That momentous day eventually evolved, as many modern-day traditions have, into picnics, contests, games, military displays and yes, fireworks.

Now that we know how the 4 th of July came to be, the focus will turn to something much more sadistic, callous, and horrifying: the fight against human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of those topics that exists, because, well, trafficking exists. Our modern 21 st century society can seem normal to the average human eye and the thought of trafficking can seem so sickening to the average person that it is just not something to fathom. However, human trafficking is a real, modern-day challenge. 51% of victims are women, 28% children and 21% men.

Human trafficking is the process of trapping people using violence, deception or coercion and exploiting them for financial or personal gain. Often, people find themselves caught in this web of deception, because they are desperately trying to escape a poverty-stricken life and that often entails doing whatever is necessary to support family. In some circumstances, victims are promised jobs that they later find out are entirely different from what was envisioned. Circumstances like these force victims to be dependent on traffickers. They enforce the importance of providing victims of human trafficking with economic opportunities and community support to curtail dependency on traffickers, and eventually help them celebrate their independence, much like the United States celebrates its independence every 4 th of July.

There was a time when the 4 th of July did not exist the way it does now. It came to be just like other modern-day holidays, as a way to remember a day when something truly positive and inspirational came to be. Peering from the same lens, there is hope and faith that the world will continue to evolve for the better. There is hope that with time, effort and dedication in addition to passion-driven individuals, much like the ones who support One Bread Foundation, human trafficking will either be eradicated altogether, or will not be what it is today. One way you can support One Bread Foundation is by sharing this blog with friends and family members.

Resources and Further Reading

https://www.britannica.com/science/medulla-oblongata

https://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/history-independence-day

https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/human-trafficking

https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html 2021

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10879-016-9338-3

Juneteenth: A Continued Legacy

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

Today, June 19th 2021, 156 years after the last American slaves received word of their freedom, we celebrate Juneteenth. Although President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 abolished slavery in the United States, all slaves were not made aware of it until 1865. After those in Texas were notified, many African Americans considered June 19th to be the day when slavery actually ended. The following year, the day was commemorated with prayer, dancing, singing and feasting together.

As we celebrate today, we can reflect on the past year, full of uncertainty, change, increased attention to racial disparities and a pursuit of justice. This Juneteenth we can acknowledge and celebrate the progress that has been made since 1865, yet understand that the job is not yet done. We are called to work towards justice and be peacemakers. In Isaiah 1:17, the Bible says “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Although slavery was abolished in the 1860s, human trafficking, also known as “modern day slavery”, still exists and impacts many, including African Americans. 

In the United States, African Americans make up about 13% of the population, yet according to FBI data from 2012, it is estimated that 40% of human trafficking victims are African American. These lives matter. They hold equal value to anyone of another race or skin tone and they should be heard, seen, loved and respected. This sad reality is a part of a larger problem in the United States. Information shared by Chamberlain University suggests that social inequalities can lead to or be associated with poverty, which places someone in a vulnerable position that can be exploited by human traffickers. As you think about Juneteenth this year, keep advocating, fighting and listening. As Dr Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Those who celebrated the first Juneteenth teach us that even if some of us may be free and not living in slavery, this freedom cannot be fully appreciated until everyone can experience it.

Together, let’s acknowledge our shortcomings as a world, country and individuals and let’s work to ensure that all people are free. Let’s advocate not only for those who may look like us, have the same background, or share our life experiences but for every person facing injustice. Let’s not turn a blind eye to those suffering because most people are free; even one person facing injustice is worth fighting for. As we celebrate Juneteenth, would we approach this day with prayer as the first celebraters did. There could be prayers of thanksgiving for the justice we have seen and prayer for the freedom and protection of those currently enslaved or being taken advantage of. Would we reflect on God: our just redeemer and defender who sees and cares deeply for his children. Proverbs 23:10-11 say “Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.” Let’s join our strong and mighty savior as he defends.

You can make a difference in your community. We invite you to join One Bread Foundation in our fight to abolish child sex trafficking. Did you know you can 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 onebread.org/shop-now to learn more, start shopping and benefit rehabilitation centers across the United States.

Sources and Further Reading:

U.S. Census Bureau: Quick Facts

Characteristics of Suspected Human Trafficking Incidents, 2008-2010

Crime in the United States 2012

Why Black Women are More at Risk for Human Trafficking – and What Nurses Can Do to Help

Juneteenth: The History of Slavery and Human Trafficking

Sex Trafficking vs. Labor Trafficking: What’s the Difference?

By Meera Manoj, Contributing Writer

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, the most comprehensive and significant law against trafficking in the U.S., defines the following:

• Sex trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.”

• Labor trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.”

There are three main forms of labor trafficking: bonded labor or debt bondage, which is similar to indentured labor; forced labor, which occurs against the victim’s consent; and child labor. Labor trafficking victims are often harder to identify than sex trafficking victims because international victims, which make up the majority, are often mistaken for smuggled or illegal immigrants. Labor trafficking victims are often male, resulting in their cases being taken less seriously due to societal views on male victimization.

In 2016, a United Nations report estimated that 3.8 million adults and 1 million children were victims of forced sexual exploitation around the world. In terms of gender, a report from the International Labor Organization found that 99% of sex trafficking victims are women or girls. People who are trafficked are usually from unstable or impoverished communities due to their high vulnerability. Traffickers frequently track populations characterized by oppression, high rates of illiteracy, little social mobility and few economic opportunities, according to a fact sheet by the Department of Health and Human Services.  

The Department defines the most common methods through which victims of both sexual and labor trafficking are taken by abusers: recruiting, which includes proactive targeting or grooming behaviors; harboring, like isolation, confinement and monitoring tactics; transporting, which refers to movement and arranging travel; and obtaining, which includes forcibly taking victims or exchanging something for the ability to control them. For sex trafficking in particular, traffickers can also solicit—offer something of value—as well as patronize, or take something of value.

The TVPA combats all forms of human trafficking with a particular focus against the sex trade, slavery and involuntary servitude. The Customs and Facilitations and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009 amended the Tariff Act of 1930 by prohibiting the importation of goods which are made at the expense of human trafficking or forced labor. The Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act protects children from abuse and sexual exploitation. The Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 (CAFRA) mainly fights labor trafficking by warning property owners whose properties have been identified as being used to facilitate smuggling or harboring aliens. While it may seem counterintuitive, the CAFRA is an important tool because many employers turn a blind eye to the facilitation of criminal activity on their properties. The Mann Act of 1910 criminalized knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing an individual to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution or attempts to do so. 

As one can see, most laws are specialized to address sex trafficking. This is mainly because federal and state data indicate that sex trafficking has more investigations and prosecutions than labor trafficking. However, the U.S. State Department’s 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report states that U.S. victim service providers are reported to have assisted more foreign-national labor trafficking victims than sex trafficking.

To assist One Bread Foundation in our mission to rehabilitate children aged 8 through 18 rescued from sex trafficking, share this blog with your family and friends and sign up for our newsletter in the website footer below. 

Resources and Further Reading

Fact Sheet: Human Trafficking

The Prevalence of Labor Trafficking in the United States 

13 Sex Trafficking Statistics That Explain the Enormity of the Global Sex Trade

Mark Wynn’s Labor Trafficking Fact Sheet 

Dept. of Homeland Security’s Human Trafficking Laws & Regulations 

Do You Really Know the Origins of Memorial Day?

By Reetika Gupta, Contributing Writer

Every year on the last Monday in May, Americans observe Memorial Day. Historians also refer to the day as Decoration Day, as it originated in the years following the Civil War. The day is meant to pay tribute to everyone who gave up their lives in service to the nation. The custom of holding observances, which includes laying of flowers on burial sites, while remembering and honoring those who gave their lives in military service goes back to hundreds, if not thousands, of years. 

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the commander-in-chief of a Union veterans organization called the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) established the day as Decoration Day. It was designated for the purpose of strewing flowers and decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion. Major General John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. Many believe that the date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

Now … you just got a brush-up on the history of Memorial Day. Well, here is the catch: Regardless of how it’s celebrated, Memorial Day’s origins remain debated—and even controversial. The roots of the day are extremely complex and are, in fact, tied to slavery and the defeat of the Confederacy. 

The Disputed History of Memorial Day

The key story about the day’s bloody history has been nearly erased from public memory and most official accounts, including that offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the years following the Civil War, women, especially in the South, began tending to the graves of fallen soldiers regardless of which side they had fought for. This act of kindness and their willingness to overlook past divisions was lauded by many.  

Francis Miles Finch, an American judge, poet and academic associated with the early years of Cornell University, wrote the popular poem “The Blue and The Grey,” praising the efforts. Some scholars have noted that the practice of visiting and decorating graves with flowers represents the true roots of the holiday. Others point out President Lincoln’s commemoration of the dead at Gettysburg in 1863 as a possible origin of the holiday. 

The Forgotten Black History of Memorial Day

One of the earliest commemorations was organized by recently freed slaves. Historians like Pulitzer Prize winner David Blight have tried to raise awareness of freed slaves who decorated soldiers’ graves a year earlier to make sure their story gets told too. 

According to Blight’s 2001 book “Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory,” origins can be traced to May 1, 1865, when a large group of recently freed African Americans held a parade in Charleston, South Carolina, to honor fallen Union soldiers. At least 257 prisoners had died, many of disease, and were buried in unmarked graves. Black residents of Charleston decided to give them a proper burial. According to Blight, two reports were found in The New York Tribune and The Charleston Courier. A crowd of 10,000 people, mostly freed slaves along with some white missionaries, staged a parade around the racetrack. Additionally, 3,000 black school children carried bouquets of flowers and sang “John Brown’s Body” in praise of John Brown, an American abolitionist leader. This tribute “gave birth to an American tradition,” Blight wrote. “The war was over, and Memorial Day had been founded by African Americans in a ritual of remembrance and consecration.” 

Once the war was over and Charleston was rebuilt in the 1880s, the city’s white residents likely had little interest in remembering an event held by former slaves to celebrate the Union dead. Dr. Blight found that the African American origins of the day were suppressed largely by white Southerners who reclaimed power after the end of Reconstruction and interpreted Memorial Day as a holiday of reconciliation, marking sacrifices—by white Americans—on both sides. 

The fact that the freed slaves’ Memorial Day tribute is not as well remembered is emblematic of the struggle that would follow, as African Americans’ fight to be fully recognized for their contributions to American society continues to this day.

Resources and Further Reading

https://time.com/5836444/black-memorial-day/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/holidays/reference/memorial-day/

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/26/us/the-unofficial-history-of-memorial-day.html

https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-memorial-day

https://www.history.com/news/memorial-day-civil-war-slavery-charleston

ttps://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history

The Intersection of Sex Trafficking and Mental Health

By Constance Thum, Contributing Writer

Sex trafficking’s relationship with mental health is multifaceted, playing into sex trafficking before, during and after the experience. Besides the trauma of being held captive and the sexual abuse that most victims undergo, mental health issues predispose victims to sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. In light of this, mental health services should be offered to survivors of sex trafficking to help them better rehabilitate their daily lives, and there should likewise be greater awareness on the importance of mental health to better protect potential victims from predators. 

Sex trafficking is undeniably a highly traumatic event for any individual, leaving behind emotional scars and increasing the risk of mental illnesses like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, it was reported that participants experienced high levels of physical violence both prior to and during the time they were trafficked. Victims of sex trafficking may be emotionally abused in the form of threats, coercion and humiliation that produce mental and emotional disorders. The chronic distress and intense trauma of the trafficking experience often results in victims developing depression and anxiety, and an overwhelming 77% of participants in the study had possible PTSD. In extreme cases, victims of sex trafficking may even engage in self-harm or attempt suicide. The severity of mental illness because of trafficking may depend on factors like duration of captivity, violence and restrictions on movement. After sex trafficking, the mental illnesses induced from the experience may be further exacerbated by the stress of rehabilitating into society, and they may reduce a victim’s ability to cope with stressful situations. In addition, stigmatisation of mental health issues or self-isolation may prevent victims of sex trafficking from accessing the mental health services they require, which may lead to a perpetual cycle of shame and social withdrawal. 

Other than the mental health issues caused by sex trafficking, mental illness also makes individuals more susceptible to trafficking. The same study by the American Journal of Public Health found that girls and women commonly experienced violence prior to being trafficked, which may have increased their risk of mental disorders after trafficking. Loneliness and depression among adolescents may also allow predators to manipulate, control and coax girls into situations that put themselves at risk, thus increasing the vulnerability of being trafficked. A related study also highlighted how poor mental health may reduce the capacity of individuals to understand and make sensible decisions or increase their dependence on other people who may not always have their best interests at heart. Issues with mental health may therefore be a contributing cause and inevitable effect of sex trafficking. 

Consequently, understanding the complex relationship between mental health and sex trafficking is essential in protecting and caring for victims of sex trafficking. With regards to helping sex trafficking survivors, more resources should be allocated to rehabilitative services. Currently, there has been limited research done on the quality and effectiveness of mental health services provided to victims, and more studies should thus be conducted on methods of recovery. Moreover, the devastating psychological impact of sex trafficking and the disruption to victims’ lives may lead to increased difficulty in resuming daily activities. Besides psychological help, victims of sex trafficking may also require assistance with financial and legal matters, especially with regard to obtaining justice for their plight. Training courses for mental health professionals are key to responding to human trafficking, not only in early detection and identification of high-risk individuals but also to give victims the care they need and deserve. Most importantly, we should not stigmatise individuals with mental illness but instead encourage them to seek professional help. Social support is crucial to reinstating trust in survivors of sex trafficking, while also being mindful to not encroach on their privacy or breach their personal boundaries. Raising awareness on sex trafficking and mental health issues would be beneficial in creating a safer and respectful community for both survivors and potential victims. 

If you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of child sex trafficking victims, you may consider 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. Alternatively, you can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause. Please share this blog with friends or family members and encourage them to subscribe to our mailing list at one-bread.org. 

Resources and Further Reading

Mental health and human trafficking: responding to survivors’ needs 

Mental health issues in survivors of sex trafficking

The Relationship of Trauma to Mental Disorders Among Trafficked and Sexually Exploited Girls and Women 

The Underbelly of Seattle's Sex Trafficking

By Alexandra Sullivan, Contributing Writer

Sex slavery is not unheard of in Seattle, Washington, and the areas around it. There is a continuously rising share of sex trafficking cases. In fact, the industry has run rampant within the last few years. 

All types of trafficking have been on the rise in the Seattle area. Aurora Avenue is just one of many places that have seen a large increase in prostitution due to shutdowns of sex service websites. Child trafficking is especially rampant in King County, with an estimated 500 teens working as sex slaves every day. In King and Pierce County, one girl makes a pimp about $150,000 a year on average, thus there are gangs trading harems of victims. More and more victims are piling up. 

There have been plenty of individual cases as well, such as one child trafficking case of a 12-year-old involving Craigslist and hotels in Seattle. Another case was that of 25-year-old David Delay of Lynnwood, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison for using social media to recruit young women and teens into prostitution. 

Thus, it comes as no surprise to find that one of the biggest sex trafficking rings in modern history was exposed in Seattle. It took the police over three years of investigating and monitoring before they busted the culprits. On February 28, 2019, five different spa owners were charged, along with a warrant for a sixth, for promising several women stable jobs in the U.S., only to force them into prostitution at these massage parlors instead. Working alongside the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, officers served warrants to an alleged human trafficking network involving multiple massage parlors and spas. 

One of the first massage parlors that prompted the investigation was an unmarked storefront called the "Magic Touch." They had a fairly large operation with locations in Bellevue, Kent, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Olympia, Lacey, Puyallup, Renton, Tukwila, Seattle and Federal Way, as well as in Eastern Washington cities such as Richland, Kennewick, Wenatchee and Spokane. They recruited both abroad and inside the United States, often through a messaging app called WeChat. 

The victims were mainly from China and were between 20 and 60 years old. There were claims of horrible working conditions and 20-hour workdays, seven days a week. Victims were often under video surveillance and followed by the suspected organizers. After the suspects were arrested, many of the women disappeared, though several stayed and continued to work with advocacy programs. 

Several Seattle-based organizations provide programs and assistance for victims and those wishing to stop this injustice. They use all sorts of methods, including apps development, victim assistance, volunteer work, extensive advertising and education on sex trafficking and its signs. By funding organizations like these that directly help survivors, One Bread Foundation is helping to rehabilitate children aged 8 – 18 who are rescued from sex trafficking. To help, consider donated as little as $1 a month to our 1 in a Million campaign. Read more and donate at one-bread.org/donate. 

Have You Heard of Omegle?

By Paul O’Connor, Contributing Writer

For people of various ages and circumstances, COVID-19 brought an abundance of free time. For some, this meant more time spent outdoors. Others were inclined to turn toward activities such as reading, playing chess or solving puzzles. But many young people turned increased attention to online and social media platforms. The usual platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram predictably soared in popularity and use, but the pandemic contributed to the emergence—and in some cases the re-emergence—of some lesser-known platforms.

One of these platforms is an anonymous, free online chat service called Omegle. Originally launched in 2009, Omegle has exploded in popularity over the course of the pandemic. First, there is a chat feature in which you’re paired anonymously with another user. In the forum, you’re free to chat about any topic with the stranger, and in many circumstances, links to outside social media or chat accounts are shared. The two users are free to stay in the forum as long as desired; however, the chat ends when one of the users leaves. Next is a “spy” feature, where a question or prompt is submitted anonymously by an Omegle user, and two different users are placed in a chat forum to discuss the question or prompt. The writer of the question or prompt can watch over the discussion, but they’re invisible and cannot contribute. Finally, there is the mega-popular conferencing feature. With this, users talk with others face to face much like Facetime or Skype. Users have the power to disable their cameras, but the primary format is a face-to-face video chat with live audio. Identities of users remain anonymous within the “conferencing” feature. However, as in the chat forum, nothing prevents users from exchanging personal information or links to outside social media or chat accounts.

There is another dimension to the “conferencing” feature: an unmoderated section. This feature is also a part of Omegle’s video chat service. Whereas the regular conference feature is claimed to be monitored, the unmoderated section, as its name suggests, is not. As a result, users frequently come across sexually graphic material, some live and others prerecorded and attached as promotion for outside accounts. In fact, on almost every feature within the service, monitored and unmonitored, users will come across pasted links to outside accounts and quickly ended chats, often as promotion for sexual content. As with most social media and online services, there is a designated age barrier to Omegle’s unmoderated section, but it is extremely easy to breach. There is no age verification process. As a result, it is easy for a child below the appropriate age to see the stated age restriction and proceed into the text chat or video chat forum. 

Websites without an age verification process that advertise pornography and feature adult content are not uncommon. In fact, most mainstream pornography websites don’t have age verification processes. However, what’s unusual about Omegle is the fact that children are encouraged to participate in the “moderated” features, which are displayed alongside this other service. With just a few clicks, children can transition from a theoretically friendly space to a place that Omegle admits is filled with unsafe adult content. And this fact is made worse by the reality that many adults on the unmoderated side of the service look for exactly this type of situation: curious children who stumble onto a side of the service they aren’t equipped to handle. As a result, the prospect of a child being manipulated is considerable. 

For parents with children with access to the internet, the threats posed by Omegle and similar services may pose a challenge. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for broaching the topic of safe online activity with children. The main thing to understand is that even on anonymous platforms such as Omegle, actions have meaning and nobody has the luxury of acting without consequence. By nature, Omegle is an interesting and appealing service that appeals to both children and adults. Interactions on Omegle can be enjoyable, and anonymity can have a liberating effect on conversation. However, caution is necessary. Take the time to talk to your children about the dangers of Omegle and similar sites. 

You can help spread One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause by sharing this article with your family and friends and signing up for our newsletter in the website footer below.