Typically, when we think of human sex trafficking we picture homeless girls being kidnapped of the street. Last week’s sensational news headline of a teenage boy kidnapped and sexually molested by two women from NM demonstrate that human trafficking may not always look the same. Everyone needs to be aware and take proactive precautions. Consider these real-life scenarios as a warning to protect yourself and those you love.
An educated woman expecting her first child traveled from another country at the invitation of a relative whom she did not know well. She was promised a job, a car and room and board. Did it sound too good to be true? Sure. But it was family. When the mom to be arrived, her documents, cell phone, driver’s license and cash were confiscated. Supposedly for safe keeping. She was forced to depend on the family member for everything! Soon she was put to work making food for the relative to sell. Soon she realized that the target was her child and she had been tricked into a baby selling scheme. Fortunately she was able to convince a sympathetic neighbor to help her recover her documents and get her on a bus to her real family.
Take the case of a runaway who needed a place to stay. She called a friend who was willing to let her sofa surf for a short while. She was there for only a few days when he began to suggest that she pay her way by exchanging sex for her room and board. Eventually she sought help from a pregnancy resource center. Or the 19-year-old who was persuaded to leave home with a seemingly caring older man. He took her to another state where she soon discovered that he controlled every detail of her life. Before long he had set up sexual encounters with other men for secretly videotaped sexual acts. Since she looked like a young teenager, the men whom she seduced thought she was underage. The videos were then used by her abuser to blackmail the males. This girl was subject to extreme verbal and sexual abuse, so she began using alcohol in an attempt to provide mental escape. She eventually was able to run away and landed up in a shelter to hide from her abuser. In one instance a woman being forced into prostitution had secreted her two year old child away so that the pimp could not use the child as a control. She was working on an exit strategy for herself. A young collage woman was invited to attend a party by an acquaintance. Once at the party, she was drugged and moved to a different city. She was held against her will by a sex trafficking ring for 3 years before she escaped.
All of these women walked away from their harrowing experiences with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They never saw the profits and endured unbelievable misuse and abuse. Most spent years in therapy to regain their self-esteem and struggled to regain normalcy. One began a losing battle with self-medicated drugs. Several still live with an STD.
There is help available. All of these women found help at the Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque. The staff there listened to their needs and gave them referrals to safe places. Go to www.pregnanthelponline.org to find a location near you. There are other organizations as well. Such as the SAFE House or Haven House for women being abused.
Prevention is the best way to avoid these horrific situations. Stick to the basic safety rules. Do not take rides from people you do not know well. Stay in groups. Never leave your drink unattended. Do not go places, especially new places by yourself. Never be alone with strangers. Double date with trusted friends. Stay in contact with your family. Share your friend’s phone numbers with family. Let your family know your schedule and keep them in the loop of your plans. Avoid internet hookups or dates. They are often not who they pretend to be. Stay aware of your surroundings. Call a safe house or a trusted friend of the same sex if you have to get away. Do not give your id or phone to someone else. The old adage of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is true. Watch out for yourself and those you love.
An educated woman expecting her first child traveled from another country at the invitation of a relative whom she did not know well. She was promised a job, a car and room and board. Did it sound too good to be true? Sure. But it was family. When the mom to be arrived, her documents, cell phone, driver’s license and cash were confiscated. Supposedly for safe keeping. She was forced to depend on the family member for everything! Soon she was put to work making food for the relative to sell. Soon she realized that the target was her child and she had been tricked into a baby selling scheme. Fortunately she was able to convince a sympathetic neighbor to help her recover her documents and get her on a bus to her real family.
Take the case of a runaway who needed a place to stay. She called a friend who was willing to let her sofa surf for a short while. She was there for only a few days when he began to suggest that she pay her way by exchanging sex for her room and board. Eventually she sought help from a pregnancy resource center. Or the 19-year-old who was persuaded to leave home with a seemingly caring older man. He took her to another state where she soon discovered that he controlled every detail of her life. Before long he had set up sexual encounters with other men for secretly videotaped sexual acts. Since she looked like a young teenager, the men whom she seduced thought she was underage. The videos were then used by her abuser to blackmail the males. This girl was subject to extreme verbal and sexual abuse, so she began using alcohol in an attempt to provide mental escape. She eventually was able to run away and landed up in a shelter to hide from her abuser. In one instance a woman being forced into prostitution had secreted her two year old child away so that the pimp could not use the child as a control. She was working on an exit strategy for herself. A young collage woman was invited to attend a party by an acquaintance. Once at the party, she was drugged and moved to a different city. She was held against her will by a sex trafficking ring for 3 years before she escaped.
All of these women walked away from their harrowing experiences with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They never saw the profits and endured unbelievable misuse and abuse. Most spent years in therapy to regain their self-esteem and struggled to regain normalcy. One began a losing battle with self-medicated drugs. Several still live with an STD.
There is help available. All of these women found help at the Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque. The staff there listened to their needs and gave them referrals to safe places. Go to www.pregnanthelponline.org to find a location near you. There are other organizations as well. Such as the SAFE House or Haven House for women being abused.
Prevention is the best way to avoid these horrific situations. Stick to the basic safety rules. Do not take rides from people you do not know well. Stay in groups. Never leave your drink unattended. Do not go places, especially new places by yourself. Never be alone with strangers. Double date with trusted friends. Stay in contact with your family. Share your friend’s phone numbers with family. Let your family know your schedule and keep them in the loop of your plans. Avoid internet hookups or dates. They are often not who they pretend to be. Stay aware of your surroundings. Call a safe house or a trusted friend of the same sex if you have to get away. Do not give your id or phone to someone else. The old adage of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is true. Watch out for yourself and those you love.
