Many stories have been told for years of child sex trafficking across the world. One of these stories was plastered across the New York Times this week for all of the Earth to see. I just wish all the world had seen it. The tale is about a young girl named Nicole, age fourteen, who ran away from her home and was forced to take refuge with the price of sex. Nicole is now seventeen and free of the men, but never of the horrors. Nicole says that at times she would be threatened if she would not have sex with the men to be thrown out of the streets. What I, as many other people, have trouble grasping is the fact that streets in these parts are death traps. Thus Nicole, as many others, was ordered to choose between death or rape. Nicole was in this hell for fourteen months until she finally made an escape from the pimp who held her captive in his garage, as only a sick human being would. At first Nicole believed that this horrible man loved her and that they were a couple. It eventually became apparent that their relationship was much more (or less) than that.
Studies have shown that about 1.6 million children run away from their homes each year. Two thirds of these children return to their homes within a week. That last one third number is what’s most important though. That last one third are the ones who become child prostitutes. This means that over 533,333 children are almost undoubtedly forced, sold, or willingly brought into prostitution each year. These adolescents trade their innocence for food, money, drugs, a place to say, or their lives. And consequently they become half living shadows. Many of these minors wind up in an abusive relationship which makes it even harder for them to leave the streets.
Although many laws have been passed to help this, teenage prostitutes are usually seen as teenage criminals rather than the underage victims they truly are. Another important note to think about is how much this criminalistic* job has grown over the last few years. Why? The internet! A detective stated one of her alarming thoughts on this matter; “ ‘ Gangs used to sell drugs, now many of them have shifted to selling girls because it’s just as lucrative but far less risky’ ”. Why should selling human beings be less risky than trading a plant?!
As the economy is stuck in tight holes, places where children are cared for afterward their captivity are disappearing. States are continuing to cut programs and services such as the; mental health services, child welfare agencies, and residential programs where the children can receive counseling that many adolescents rely on. After living in prostitution children learn to trust no one. This usually results in difficulties with authorities and the minor committing crimes. Where does lead them? Back on the street. And thus our county, nay, our world is stuck in a never ending circle of hell.
*word does not exist in traditional english
