Human trafficking is alive and well in today's society

[ausgirl]

I recently saw a film about human trading - where people basically kidnap women, girls and boys and put them into sexual slavery, often in Western countries where they are kept, usually until they die of some horrible disease or the become worthless - often they are killed then. While it was a fiction - there is no doubt that human trafficking is a very common thing that is on the increase. It is about the 4th highest illegal money earner below only such things as drugs. It just about breaks my heart to think that someone could think they have the right to take a persons life from them in order to profit from it. While slavery was outlawed some time ago, it still exists in many parts of the world and in many way. The saddest part is children who are as young as 5 or 6 being sold by their families into a lifestyle such as this, children who should not know about sex and sexual interactions but of running through fields, laughing and playing and growing up. It is just horrible.
Of course this type of thing would not exist if there weren't willing participants in what it had to offer - any new product that isn't a seller soon goes off the market.
I feel at a loss to know what to do in this area, how I, insignificant old me can make a difference in such a huge issue. My prayers are all that I have to offer. Who will join with me as the word says, when 2 or more agree on earth?:confused:

[kiwisongbird]

Hey there... praying is great - I can ask my girlfriend here who works in the area of rescue what else you can do if you like...

We are in the process of helping to pay for a young village girl to go to school here in the city - she's from a non-Christian family and will come here to live with a Christian lady and go to a Christian school - it will cost about 200 US$ per year for this... we figure it may be a 'school time' committment as how could we just 'dump' her when we feel like it? Her getting an education as well as being removed from her family at this time, could maybe mean that she will not enter into a life of slavery...

A YWAMER here in Chiang Mai met a women on the streets who was helping prostitutes - not a Chrisitian lady but a concerned Thai person - she and her sister were the only women of her generation from her village that were not working in the sex industry - the people are so very poor that the 'sell' their children - often they don't really know what into - often they do - but they have so many more to feed and the girls send them back money...

I'm encouraged that God has touched your heart and I hope others will be touched as well... we can help, we can make a difference...

Bless you heaps
Sharon LJ :)

[jaelgomer]

Ya know, I heard that here in the US, you get a much tougher/longer sentence if you are convicted of drug trafficking than if you are convicted of human trafficking. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but I heard it from a couple of people. Feel free to correct me. I just found that very interesting/sad.

[Pouye]

I recently saw a film about human trading - where people basically kidnap women, girls and boys and put them into sexual slavery, often in Western countries where they are kept, usually until they die of some horrible disease or the become worthless - often they are killed then. While it was a fiction - there is no doubt that human trafficking is a very common thing that is on the increase. It is about the 4th highest illegal money earner below only such things as drugs. It just about breaks my heart to think that someone could think they have the right to take a persons life from them in order to profit from it. While slavery was outlawed some time ago, it still exists in many parts of the world and in many way. The saddest part is children who are as young as 5 or 6 being sold by their families into a lifestyle such as this, children who should not know about sex and sexual interactions but of running through fields, laughing and playing and growing up. It is just horrible.
Of course this type of thing would not exist if there weren't willing participants in what it had to offer - any new product that isn't a seller soon goes off the market.
I feel at a loss to know what to do in this area, how I, insignificant old me can make a difference in such a huge issue. My prayers are all that I have to offer. Who will join with me as the word says, when 2 or more agree on earth?:confused:

This is the nitty-gritty pit of hell on earth. Most people don't even like to discuss it, let alone try to help. For many, the very idea seems unthinkable. It is the hellish side of the "sex" industry (which is more about money than anything else), and it flys in contrast to the glamorized world of pornography. There are a few brave people who are willing to help, but what is difficult is that those who are trapped in human trafficking don't know where else to go. They left with virtually nothing, and they are often from countries that they cannot get back into after their travel documents expire. They are at the mercy of those who "take care of them", basically. Whoever wants to help has to be willing not only to hide and protect them, but to take full responsibility of them (housing, financially, etc.). Many of them have no real work skills, very low education levels, and most certainly they will have physical/medical/emotional problems from abuse, drug use, and sexually transmitted (and other) diseases. To make matters worse, there would be legal problems for you if you tried to take them into your home. You might have to break immigration laws to do house them or provide them care.

It could come down to this:
Would you be willing to take 15 year old Trixie and Roxie into your home (most likely illegally), take full responsibility for their well-being, teach them English (or learn learn their language so you can communicate), pay for all of their medical and dental, provide them with an education, and do this for many years until they could become legal citizens in your country?


Some would say that the government can help... but they are often unwilling to help because those who are in these trades are often not citizens, and many times they are illegally in the country. Many times the young women do not want to be sent back home, simply because where they left from was a terrible situation, as well -- so they would run back into the arms of those who are their abusers.

When it comes to children, it is extremely sad. I cannot even imagine a more horrific life. Jesus' saying about a millstone tied around the neck comes to mind when I think of the people who would abuse such little ones.

There are some organizations out there that fight human trafficking. They are often under-funded and struggle to stay within legal bounds. Sad, but true.

Rock

[kiwisongbird]

Yeah, a friend of mine works with groups in the SE Asia area - he works alongside police as well and helps in the area of educationing the police as well as the people - sometimes this is difficult because of corruption and I guess often times he feels like he is pushing heavy stuff uphill - praying helps :) :)

[hoonah*]

What movie was it? Was it that movie "Spartan?" Mom watched it and told me about it a long time ago. So horrible...

[ausgirl]

No, I think it was just called "Human traffickers', it was a 2 part series type thing.