Child Sex-Trafficking
Sex trafficking is a booming business, AND our GenZers are the product. I am not speaking to you on the basis of cultural research; my daughter was a victim before I stepped in and unloaded every resource I had, from Washington, DC, to friends who worked within the FBI.
Thankfully, she was saved before her life turned into a nightmare.
One of America's most popular types is the multibillion-dollar sex-trafficking machines is the illicit massage industry. Another standard outlet is online image transfer. Meaning - as the digital age users are sending nudity of themselves, and others, to their friends and interested onlookers, online pimps are tracking for kidnapping or exclusive invites into the industry. Keep in mind; these pimps can locate the minor's specific location through advanced tracking software. This is how black-market kidnapping comes into play. The average age of capture is 10–16 years of age, which puts Generation Z as the highest-risk generation. Sadly, most parents ignore this depraved industry.
A SURVIVOR’S PERSPECTIVE
WHEN I WAS 14, I GOT INTO A REALLY BAD FIGHT WITH MY MOM. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER NOW WHY WE WERE ARGUING. I LEFT THE HOUSE SLAMMING THE DOOR ON THE WAY OUT. I WAS SO MAD. I JUST KEPT WALKING AND WALKING. I STARTED NOTICING IT WAS DARK AND I WAS DOWNTOWN IN A PART OF THE CITY I'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I SAW PEOPLE PARTYING AND HEARD CLUB MUSIC GOING. I SAT DOWN AT A BUS STOP BENCH, BUT NO BUSSES WERE RUNNING. IT WAS TOO LATE. A NICE CAR PULLED UP, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM. IT SEEMED LIKE MY ONLY OPTION AT THE TIME AND I WAS STILL TOO MAD TO EVEN THINK OF GOING HOME. I THOUGHT, WELL MAYBE I'LL JUST RIDE AROUND WITH HIM FOR A WHILE.
Here are 10 warning signs that a person you love may be in an at-risk situation.
IS EXCESSIVELY MONITORED OR CONTROLLED BY A SUPPOSED GUARDIAN OR AN OLDER PARTNER WHO CLAIMS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS.
BECOMES DETACHED OR SUDDENLY ISOLATED FROM FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS.
IS UNABLE TO GIVE ANSWERS ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULES, HOME LIFE, LIVING AND WORK LOCATIONS OR CONDITIONS.
HAS NUMEROUS INCONSISTENCIES IN HIS/HER STORY AND ONTRADICTORY PERSONAL INFORMATION (AGE, PLACE OF BIRTH, FAMILY LIFE).
HAS EXCESSIVE SECURITY MEASURES AT HIS/HER HOME OR WORK (I.E., SECURITY CAMERAS, BOARDED OR COVERED WINDOWS) OR CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF MEN/ WOMEN AT HIS/HER HOME OR WORK LOCATION.
SHOWS SIGNS OF PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE (BRUISES, CUTS, BURNS, SUBMISSIVENESS, MALNOURISHMENT); APPEARS FEARFUL ANXIOUS, DEPRESSED, JUMPY.
SUFFERS FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS (ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS), AN ARRAY OF OTHER PSYCHOLOICAL DISORDERS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, OR CHRONIC ILLNESS.
CARRIES MULTIPLE HOTEL KEY CARDS, LOTS OF MONEY, SHARP OBJECTS (WEAPONS).
THERE IS A SUDDEN PRESENCE OF AN OLDER BOYFRIEND.
GETS A TATTOO WITH A NAME THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN, OR THAT HE/SHE IS RELUCTANT TO EXPLAIN.
Child and teen sex-trafficking is real, scary and has devastating physical, mental and spiritual consequences for victimized youth. Between 244,000 to 325,000 American teens are considered “At-Risk” for sexual exploitation, and an estimated 199,000 incidents of sexual exploitation of minors occur each year in the U.S. More than 700,000 youth are trafficked across borders every year. All 50 states report cases every month of each year.
THE SHOCKING TRUTH
Traffickers shop for their victims online, at shopping malls, bus stops, at school, at after-school functions, foster homes…basically, anywhere teens hang out. The national average age of abduction is thirteen - placing the norm between 10 - 15 years of age.
Trafficking Boys
In 2017, 25% of abductions were boys. Today that percentage is 48%. Self-proclaimed LGBTQ boys kicked out of their homes were 3 times more likely to be trafficked.
"I WAS FIRST TRAFFICKED AT 12 AND NO ONE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT UNITL I WAS 14. MY MOTHER, SHE WOULDN'T CARE, SHE WOULD CARE IF I DIED, BUT THAT'S ALL SHE CARES ABOUT." - 14 YEAR OLD BOY FROM THE JOHN JAY STUDY
THE 13 SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILDREN
1. KNOW YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBERS.
2. LEARN HOW AND WHEN TO CALL 911.
3. IF YOU ARE SCARED OF SOMEONE, RUN TO SAFETY.
4. IT'S OKAY TO BE RUDE TO A GROWN-UP IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE UNSAFE.
5. LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN "OKAY" SECRET AND AN "NOT OKAY" SECRET AND BEWARE OF AN ADULT THAT ASKS YOU TO KEEP A SECRET FROM PARENTS.
6. DON'T LET ANYONE ON THE PHONE OR AT THE DOOR KNOW THAT YOU ARE HOME ALONE.
7. IF YOU EVER GET LOST IN A MALL, ASK THE CLOSEST STORE CLERK FOR HELP AND THEN STAY WHERE YOU ARE UNTIL YOU ARE FOUND.
8. AVOID SHORTCUTS WHEN YOU ARE WALKING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
9. IF YOU ARE EVER "SCOOPED, " SCREAM, KICK, BITE AND FIGHT AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO GET AWAY! NEVER TRUST WHAT THE "SCOOPER" TELLS YOU.
10. TELL YOUR PARENTS OR A TRUSTED ADULT IF SOMEONE IS ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. LISTEN TO YOUR "UHOH" VOICE.
11. ALWAYS ASK YOUR PARENTS FOR PERMISSION BEFORE GETTING ON THE INTERENT.
12. NEVER TALK TO PEOPLE ONLINE WITHOUT YOUR PARENT'S PERMISSION.
13. NEVER BE AFRAID TO TELL YOUR PARENTS OR AN ADULT IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO KEEP A SECRET THAT MAKES YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
13 SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS
Work hard to establish trust and communication with your children from day one.
Don’t ever leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether it is running or not. Not even for a few minutes. Abductors are watching!
Make sure you know how to find your children or contact your children at all times. Shopping malls are the #1 venue for abductors.
Have a “call list” of emergency contacts to call if they can’t call you. Place these numbers on their cell phone on a “speed dial.”
Take an active role in your children’s activities. Know ALL of the “friends” within their sphere of influence. Perform regular reviews of their cell phone calls, texting, and social media platforms. Ask them who these people are and what kind of proof do they have that these contacts are safe.
As tired as you may be, take the time to listen intently to your children when they tell you they had a bad dream. Abuse always shows up in dreams. There could be a reason. Trust your instincts.
Talk to your children about inappropriate reports on the news and get their perspective. Have a “sit down” talk with them about child and teen abductions.
Question and monitor anyone who takes an unusual interest in your children. Abductors are trained to be “overly friendly” with children.
Teach your children that they can be rude to an adult if they feel threatened in anyway. They need to hear it from you directly because this message often contradicts what they’ve been taught.
Teach children the difference between an “Okay” secret and an “Not Okay” secret. This could save their lives. Teach them never to keep a secret from you and that it is OK to confide in you with all secrets.
Have your children practice their most annoying scream. They may need to use it one day.
Check websites for registered offenders in your neighborhood! Do this often. Talk to your children about why it is important to avoid these individuals. Point out the houses they live in.
Keep your family computer in a central location that is easily monitored and avoid letting your children have internet access in unsupervised areas - like their bedrooms. This IS critical.
TALKING TO YOUR KIDS: THE FIRST TACTIC BEGINS AT HOME.
TIP #1: JUST DO IT. TALK TO YOUR KIDS SO THAT THEY TRUST YOU AND ARE WILLING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ANYTHNG. IF THEY ARE BEING GROOMED BY SOME PREDATOR, YOU WANT TO KNOW IT.
TIP #2: TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT WHAT TO DO IF THEY ARE THREATENED. YELL, RUN, FIGHT. THEY NEED TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS OKAY TO BEHAVE IN THIS WAY WHEN THEY ARE UNDER ATTACK.
TIP #3: TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. THIS GOES FOR ANY THREATENING TOPIC AND YOU WILL HAVE TO ADJUST THE TYPE OF WORDS YOU USE TO BE AGE - APPROPRIATE.
TIP # 4: MONITOR THEIR INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS. USE THE INTERENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR KIDS. KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT, WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS THEY USE AND WHO THEY ARE TALKING TO. IT IS HARDER THESE DAYS BUT COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR KIDS TO KNOW WHO THEIR "FRIENDS" ARE, BOTH IN REAL LIFE AND VIRTUALLY, IS IMPORTANT.
TIP #5 : KNOW WHEN YOUR CHILD MEETS SOMEONE NEW AND WHERE THEY MEET THEM. WHEN THEY COME HOME FROM SCHOOL, FROM THE MALL, FROM SPORTS PRACTICE, ASK THEM HOW THEIR DAY WAS AND IF THEY MET ANYONE NEW.
In conclusion, the safety and well-being of our children is a responsibility that cannot be overstated or neglected. In a world where threats like abduction exist, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive. We must educate our children about the dangers, equip them with knowledge and strategies to protect themselves and foster open communication so they feel comfortable discussing any concerns.
Remember, safeguarding our children isn’t just about protecting them from harm, but also about empowering them to protect themselves. After all, their safety is not just a necessity, it’s an absolute priority.
DOWNLOAD The Family Safety Guide for Human Trafficking HERE. Print it, then place it in a location the entire family can read, like on your TV stand.
IM CULTURE: Saving The Children