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Every day, worldwide there are people who live without freedom, without hope, and are forced into sexual actions or forced labour. They live in modern day slavery, known as human trafficking. The U.S. department of state explained it as a forceful act that affects millions worldwide, “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide” (BLUE CAMPAIGN). Loved ones, daughters, sons are being forced into a system where they’re coerced into some form of labour, where they lose themselves, and are made to feel like some item for the use of others. The question is brought up that in the face of injustice is empathy enough. Plainly stated, no. People should not stand by knowing that others, even children are being taken from their homes and forced to do manual labour or are raped for the pleasure of others. That doesn't mean that it is everyone's job to get directly involved and make it their life's purpose, but there are ways to prevent human trafficking that everyone can do. Realize that no matter the age of a person they can be susceptible to human trafficking. It is also very easy for children to become victims without even realizing that they are being manipulated into human trafficking. The article Understanding Human trafficking explains how it is a crime for someone under the age of 18 to perform commercial sex: “When a person younger than 18 is used to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion involved”(U.S DEPARTMENT of STATE). People can become victims without even knowing. To put a stop to this everyone needs to pull back the veil of ignorance and educate others on the injustice of human trafficking. People need to become aware of what it is, how it starts, and what is their part in stopping human trafficking. One thing everyone should be aware of, no matter their age, is the signs that they may be marked/scouted into the system. The Blue bell campaign shares methods, traffickers use to draw people into human trafficking, “Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations: Violence, Manipulation, False promises of well-paying jobs, Romantic relationships, Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime. Traffickers look for people who are easy targets for a variety of reasons, including: Psychological or emotional vulnerability, Economic hardship, Lack of a social safety net, Natural disasters, Political instability” (BLUE CAMPAIGN). Knowing these signs can help people prevent innocent girls and boys from being brought into a torturous system. Make a difference, be the change the world needs, and make a better, safe world for all the young people out there. Put a stop to human trafficking.

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Obraz Human trafficking concept, human rights violations, Stop ...

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Human trafficking: What firefighters should watch for - CSFA ...

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Hadassah Esteves

Injustice: Human trafficking

Activist: Evelyn Chumbow

I was brought to the supposed land of the free, but I was far from free. My work was endless, it never stopped. I watched over their kids, I cleaned, cooked, and cared for them. Was it too much to want to be a kid as well? I was only 9, but I was raising another child. I’m not their mother, nor am I related to them. I wanted to go and play, to be taken care of. But what did I get, I got beatings, they were never ending. They hurt me, the pain went deeper than  the physical pain I felt. I wanted to be free. Was that not my right? Everyone talks about helping those around you but where was my help? I’m trapped, stuck in a house made of chains. It ties me down,the chains wrap around me so tight I can’t breathe. Everyday comes with another pain. They were supposed to be my new family, but to them I was just their slave. I went to my other family, ran away from the chains that held me down. But they followed me.

“You said you were going to help me, send me to school. I want to learn. I want to learn!” I screamed, and cried. Not again this couldn’t happen again.

“You’re my family, you were supposed to help me. Take me away from that house, protect me. But you only took me from them so I’d be your slave too!” My labour was forced, unpaid and never ending. Or so I thought, I soon realized that it was up to me if I wanted my freedom. I learned that I couldn’t wait and hope for others to give it to me. Not even my ‘family’. I would break my chains, I wouldn't let others place more on me. After year after year of captivity, I escaped. And I will never go back. I am only 17, and I know there are others going through the same struggles. I will do everything in my power to help them. I will break their chains too. No one should go through what I went through, but others are facing it too so I believe it’s my responsibility to stop this injustice.

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Hadassah Esteves

Emotion: fear

Real life event: Amy’s story, Child Trafficking

When he first came I never felt safe around him. My mom left, the safety she made me feel left with her. Dad couldn’t do it, not on his own, so he got help. Don’t trust all the help you get. My aunt brought her boyfriend, John. He moved in with us, always felt eyes watching me and my brother. Eyes that were looking too deep, eyes that stripped me of my security and left me paranoid. Then it wasn’t just his eyes that stripped us. Every touch felt like a flash of ice cold water on my skin. It left me shaking, I dread every moment I spent with him, and then, he brought more. More shadows filled my house, it was filled more and more with darkness. I wanted to run, but what would they do to my brother? Then they started touching me. I felt like needles, stabbing into my skin, puncturing my veins, filling me with poison, leaving me paralyzed. I felt panicked, I tried to move but I couldn’t. I was drowning, I couldn’t breath, I kept scratching, screaming for a breath. A way to get out of the water before it could take from me what couldn’t be returned. Panic filled my heart but my screams were not enough. I couldn’t escape, and so I drowned and the water took what could never be returned. But this isn’t about drowning, it was never water that stole from me, and it wasn’t my life that was taken. I couldn’t stop him, I was afraid. I was alone. He used me and my brother. He preyed on us, used threats, it was like a gun was placed to my head and if I didn’t do what he said, he would shoot me. It terrified me. I feel like I can’t escape, I can’t run away, but I want to. I want  to hide, to crawl in a corner. Is it my fault? How do I escape from this ever ending torture. I can’t even remember how it started. All I remember is the feelings it left me, and those are the things I want to forget. Can I leave? I’m drowning, but not in water. Is there any way to escape? If I speak up, will I be struck down and dragged into an ocean of fear and pain. Maybe it is possible. The only way to find out is to try. I may be drowning but there is always the opportunity for me to swim.  I can swim, flee the pain, and if that’s an option then I will take it!

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Key points

1. Misinformation can crest a wrong view on human trafficking and how it is very prevalent in the USA

2. Young kids are groomed and grow a trauma bond with their groomers.

3. Trafficking holds a lot of shame which can prevent victims from seeking the help of others.

4. Trafficking can happen to anyone, it crosses all socioeconomic statuses.

5. Don’t be quick to judge a victim, it is never their fault.