I have become more aware of the industry of sex trafficking as a result of living in metro Atlanta. What sex trafficking really involves sank in deeply when I saw the movie Taken in 2008. It is horrifying to know that this is going on all over the world. It is especially atrocious knowing it’s in my backyard and possibly being participated in by people in my own neighborhood.
Having a daughter and knowing that children her age and younger are being abused is a big impetus in my desire to be involved in fighting sex trafficking. I do not want her or any of her friends (or anyone at all, really) to become a victim of this terrible industry. It’s a very real threat. Statistics state that every month 7,200 men in Georgia purchase sex from a minor. Another study found that 65% of men who purchase sex with children live in suburban areas (outside of I-285). That is my area.
I have continued to think about why this issue strikes so close to home. Being a woman (80% of victims are women), a mother of a daughter, and living in Atlanta should be reason enough to want to be involved. I very recently realized that I also care as much as I do because there’s a possibility that I could have become a statistic myself.
I studied abroad for a semester during my junior year of college. I lived in Santander, Spain and took trips around the country and to a few other countries with fellow students during my stay. One of our class trips took us to Barcelona and all of its amazing architecture. I had a very bizarre encounter while we were touring Guell Park. Below is my journaled account and a few photos of that day.
November 9, 2002, age 20
I was walking around with [a fellow study abroad student] and then she headed up the stairs and I went straight. This older man (60s) asked me if I was Spanish and then asked me a few other questions. He asked me if I had seen the Gaudi museum here and I said that I didn’t know where it was. He said he’d show me and tried to take my hand but I refused. So he ended up grabbing my arm and heading toward some stairs. I was a little weirded out but then thought maybe he was just being friendly. [Why I thought some random man grabbing me and leading me in an unknown direction – which I just now realized was the opposite direction from my friend – wasn’t something to get away from fast, I don’t know.]
Me and the lizard
He asked me if I was here alone and I said I was with a group. We chatted while we walked. That question got me wondering what was up so I made sure we were around people. While we walked he’d kind of squeeze my arm like he was trying to feel it. I wasn’t sure what was going on but was really feeling quite uncomfortable. I was trying to figure out how I was going to be able to break away from him when [someone from our group] called my name and I saw her and [another student]. So I told the guy that they were my friends and broke away. I walked up to them and have no idea where he went. I didn’t see him again the rest of the time we were there. [The girl who called my name] said that they had seen me and followed us because they thought something wasn’t quite right. I am so glad they did.
Sure it doesn’t seem like anything really bad could have happened because he was older, but there is always the possibility that he did have some motive and was doing some sort of thing with other, younger people. I had only thought about the possibility of being robbed, but so much more could have happened. And I am in a foreign country. That’s way too scary. Maybe my thoughts are way out there, but I don’t know what the guy was thinking. I am always trying not to offend people. I think in this type of situation I just need to tell people I’m not comfortable because, I mean, I don’t know them. If they are normal people they should understand just fine. I really don’t want to think about what kind of danger I might have been getting into innocently.
In my photo album, this picture is labeled “My rescuers from the creepy old man!”
I will thankfully never know what might have happened. At that time I didn’t even know trafficking was a thing. Now that I know, I want it to stop. There are many ways to get involved in the fight against human trafficking. There are a number of organizations one can partner with and opportunities to spread awareness in the community.
Last year I partnered with Dressember. I wore a dress every day in December and shared facts, information, and companies whose profits fight trafficking or who employ survivors of trafficking. This year I will once again be donning dresses in December to continue to raise awareness and funds. I would love it if you would consider joining me in this cause by either participating with me or donating to my campaign. Last year my goal was $1000 and I reached it, thanks to my many wonderful sponsors! This year my goal is $2000. Please help me achieve my goal!
I used to sing this song all the time as a kid, even standing up while singing “And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today!”
It’s a very patriotic song that encourages us to do our part to keep America a wonderful place to live. However, I am aware that not everyone who lives in these borders has the freedom we equate with life in the U.S. Every year there are 100,000 to 300,000 people trafficked in the U.S. The average age a child is first recruited is between 11 and 14 years old. They are kidnapped, deceived, drugged, and/or abused and forced to sell their bodies for money to give to their captors. They are assaulted multiple times a day every day, vulnerable to disease, addiction, and violence. This should not be happening, here or anywhere.
I live in the outskirts of Atlanta, dubbed “Sex Trafficking Capital of the U.S.” Approximately 100 adolescent girls are sold for sex in GA each night. A report revealed that 7,200 men are paying for sex with adolescents each year in GA, and 42% of them come from my neck of the woods – north metro Atlanta outside of the perimeter (the suburbs). How can I ignore something that’s happening in my own backyard?
What can we do to combat sex trafficking? Obviously, we can choose to not pay for sex. Also, discourage others from doing so or making it seem like an acceptable activity. These seem like a given, but there are thousands of men in my part of the state doing just that each year. It’s not a victimless crime. We can learn signs of trafficking and stay alert for things that don’t seem right.
Our airport appears to be trying to be part of the solution by posting signs around the airport and in the bathroom stalls with helpline info. My latest trip through security, the TSA agent asked each of my children their names and if they knew who I was. Kids can be coached, but an effort is being made to try to catch traffickers.
We can support local and international agencies fighting sex trafficking through volunteering, donating money, and supporting other fundraising efforts. Wellspring Living has a residential program to restore rescued girls and women, upscale consignment stores to raise money, and annual events such as a golf tournament and gala. BeLoved Atlanta also has a residential program for rescued women. Georgia Cares works specifically with children who are victims of sex trafficking. Out of Darkness, Rescuing Hope, and Street Grace are other local agencies working to stop trafficking as well as rescue and restore victims. Many of them have volunteer opportunities.
There are awareness activities that you can participate in to become part of the movement to stop human trafficking. The End It Movement asks everyone to put a red X on their hand on February 22nd to show your desire to stop trafficking. The LBD.Project is a challenge to wear the same article of black clothing for the entire month of March to raise funds and awareness about trafficking.
This past December I participated in Dressember, wearing a dress every day of the month, sharing info on social media including facts about trafficking, organizations fighting it, and businesses who employ rescued women and men or donate profits to agencies who help rescue and restore trafficking victims. I also raised $1000 that went to IJM, A21, and McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center. It doesn’t seem like a lot but it’s a start and who knows what might come from me doing what little I can. It’s better than not doing anything at all and may even inspire others to get involved. If we all work together, our efforts can help create lasting change.
Do you support any organizations that are fighting slavery? Is there another local or international issue that you are involved with? I’d love to hear about it!
I am not someone who usually speaks up on issues. Often it is due to a lack of knowledge. Sometimes it is because I am not a fan of conflict or criticism and both of those usually come when a person states a position on something. However, I cannot ignore what the Bible says about pursuing justice and caring for the oppressed.
Give justice to the weak and fatherless, maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. ~Psalm 82:3-4
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. ~Proverbs 31:8-9
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. ~Isaiah 1:17
The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what he requires of you. You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God. ~Micah 6:8
Living in metro Atlanta, there has been one social justice issue that I have had more frequent contact with and have become increasingly more concerned about, especially as a woman and a mother. That issue is human trafficking.
We would like to believe that it is not happening here in the United States but a study from 2014 found that it was an almost $1 billion industry in our country, with $290 million of that being made in the metro Atlanta area (Urban Institute). Many of the girls are minors when they are trafficked, the average age being 15 (Shared Hope International). They are lured through social media connections or the promise of a job and are often trafficked over the internet through websites. Buyers average 40 years of age, live in the suburbs, and work regular jobs such as business professionals, law enforcement, teachers, and judges (11alive investigation of court records).
This should not be. Girls and women should be safe wherever they are. There should not be horrifying but true statistics like 25% of women are abused before the age of 18 and 1 in 5 women around the world are victims of rape or attempted rape.
There are many agencies that are fighting to reduce all of these statistics and working to rescue people caught in human trafficking around the world. There are some agencies that help with rehabilitation and recovery after being rescued. But the need is greater than the supply. Nationally there are fewer than 600 beds dedicated to long-term recovery for those rescued from sex trafficking, and those are only found in 23 states. Georgia is one of those states. Wellspring Living is an organization in Georgia that provides beds and are able to serve about 62 girls and women in their residential programs (2017 Annual Report).
With all of these staggering numbers, it may seem like an individual can make no significant impact. However, there are a number of organizations that individuals can partner with to spread awareness and contribute to the fight to end trafficking.
I heard about an annual event to help raise awareness and money to combat human trafficking a couple of years ago. It’s called Dressember. Advocates fundraise money that will go to organizations that are actively engaged in rescuing people from trafficking. Advocates also commit to wearing a dress (or a tie for men) every day in December “to reclaim and re-appropriate the dress as a symbol of freedom and power.”
This year I am going to be participating in Dressember. It will be a definite change from my normal jeans and sweater attire, but perhaps the obvious deviation from my standard uniform will spark conversations with others. If you would like to support me and the cause, you can make a tax-deductible donation by clicking here. You can also join my Dressember team and participate yourself!
Are there any causes for which you have a passion? What organizations are you part of that are doing good in your community?
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