SUMMARTIVE RESPONSE

Child prostitution in America in an under diagnosed epidemic and the first step to treating it is awareness.
I was first introduced to sex trafficking at the age of thirteen. I was watching television and while flipping through channels, I found myself on BBC gazing at children as young as five years old asking sexual tourists to ‘pick them’. I thought this was some sort of joke. Could this really be happening under our noses? How did I not know about this before? Yet most of all, I wondered what was being done to stop this.

In my sophomore year here in high school I was asked the question what I would like to study for the year, something that would hold my attention, something that would possibly change my outlook on life. My mind zoomed back to that documentary set in Cambodia, and the girls, my age, praying for sex. There was no question of what I wanted to learn more about.

Since them I have learned an exponential amount of information about this heinous crime happening around our world, INCLUDING in the United States. Slowly I began to answer the questions I had asked a year before.
My studies began with finding background information, a foundation on a house if you will. I developed a deep understanding about exactly what sex trafficking was. The first alarming fact I learned was in the blog post “Our Officials are Unaware”. I found that the officials here to protect our safety had no idea about the “Trafficking Victims Protection Act”. This act was made to put an end to sex trafficking, yet the law was being brushed away as a wind blows a leaf. Did you know that there are only five shelters in the United States to house women who had been previously been enrolled in sex trafficking. Why is this so outrageous? Because there are 17,500 people trafficked each year in the US. Do the math, that’s 3,500 people per shelter.

My finding took a leap when I found the website “www.captivedaughters.org”. “Captive Daughters” is a non-profit organization committed to ending the exploitative practice of sex trafficking, with a particular focus on girls and women. It was perfect. I had hit the jack pot. Little did I know that only a few months later I would develop a relationship with this organization.

Today, I have become an expert on sex trafficking. I ask myself what I can do to stop sex trafficking. And furthermore, how I can help you help. I answer this debate in my thesis; Child prostitution in America in an under diagnosed epidemic and the first step to treating it is awareness. Currently, I am working on answering this query in my thesis paper. This ten page (minimum) paper may be concerning, yet I am looking forward to it as it will help me prepare to create a major thesis paper in my senior year of college.

{18} 'Captive Daughters' Interview- RESPONSE

After receiving my interview back from 'Captive Daughters' I was overjoyed with their responses. It pertained to my thesis greatly. The woman who responded, Sandra Hunnicutt, answered my questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Some of the most beneficial things Mrs. Hunnicutt said are as follows:

     "At that time Human Rights Watch came out with a book, Rape for Profit, which detailed the Nepali to Indian sex trafficking.  I called the author up and asked what I could do.  She said if you do nothing more than public education, that’s enough." 

     The best way to stop human trafficking is to "increase overall public education, beginning in the 7th grade."

     The largest thing holding back the end to sex trafficking is "educating girls so they have more value in their homes/countries which reduces parental interest in selling them to traffickers.  Girls education is very powerful in the long run."

      Do you suppose that an average American is fully aware about the gravity of this problem?  "Not at all.  We’ve been at this for 13 years and its unbelievable how many people write and say they had no idea."

 Knowing this information I can now research this book, Rape for Profit, and possibly call the author (as Mrs. Hunnicutt did) and ask her a few questions! Sandra also expressed her own beliefs about the little knowledge our world has on sex trafficking and how it is hurting our society.

Taking in all this information, and much more, this interview was exceptionally beneficial. Thank you 'Captive Daughters'!

{17} Completed Interview Q and A ~ Captive Daughters

1.  How were you first introduced to child sex trafficking? 

In 1994-95 I accompanied my husband on a Fulbright Fellowship to Nepal.  There is an enormous trafficking system of Nepali females into India for prostitution. I noticed articles in the newspaper which didn’t make sense to me about girls be taken over the border into Nepal.   Later we foster cared an abandoned child from a village.  On the way up to get her, our driver said she came from one of the “worst girl trafficking districts in Nepal.”  I asked him what girl trafficking meant and he told me.  Then the earlier newspaper articles made sense to me.

2.  What and how was the non profit organization, ʻCaptive Daughtersʼ, started? 

Upon returning to the U.S. I began researching sex trafficking.  At that time Human Rights Watch came out with a book, Rape for Profit which detailed the Nepali to Indian sex trafficking.  I called the author up and asked what I could do.  She said if you do nothing more than public education, that’s enough.  As I had a background in non-profits, I decided to found a non-profit devoted to public education on sex trafficking.  I named it Captive Daughters.

3.  What is ʻCaptive Daughterʼs mission?

 
We’ve had many variations of our mission statement. 
Our current one is Mobilizing the public will to end the sex trafficking  of women and children through public education and creative media.

4.  How would you explain child sexual trade in America, compared to other Countries?  

It’s the same, pimps/traffickers luring, kidnapping or duping children and women into sexual servitude.    

       (a) Would you say America is the worst country in the world for this crime, or
another?   

     No.  Law enforcement and country attention might be better or worse in some places or      traffickers might be less or more in some places, but it all averages out to a thriving global industry utilizing women and children as sex slaves. 

     (b) How is the crime different in America than in other parts of the world?  

     It’s Not.

      (c) Is the defense of sex trafficking in America the strongest in the world, and if
not, where is the strongest? 
     Like everyone, law enforcement, countries, states are struggling to combat trafficking,  success varies and with successes, traffickers are able to change their methods faster than law enforcement can deal with them.

5.  How might the American defense system strengthen their resistance against child sex trafficking?  

Increase overall public education, beginning in the 7th grade.

     (a) What is the largest thing holding back the end to these illegal acts of selling children?  

     A unified global approach by law enforcement and judicial systems while ending state corruption that encourages it.  Also educating girls so they have more value in their homes/countries which reduces parental interest in selling them to traffickers.  Girls education is very powerful in the long run.

6.  How big of a role is new technology playing in the exploitation of child? 
A big role.  Traffickers are able to move large bodies of people throughout the world through the global transportation system.  Cells phones allow them to maintain strict surveillance of their operations and of course the internet is essential to their work.
7. Do you suppose that an average American is fully aware about the gravity of this
problem?  

Not at all.  We’ve been at this for 13 years and its unbelievable how many people write and say they had no idea.  Captive Daughters is not alone, other ngos say the same thing.

8. What would you suggest people do to help end child sex trafficking? 
Well first I would ask you to stop limiting yourself to child sex trafficking.  These children have a birthday and turn 18 and then society dismisses them as non-children.  They are considered grown ups then, although they are victims who may never recover.   In limiting your scope to this problem you are not giving the public the full magnitude of the problem.

9. What resources would you suggest I look into for further research on this topic? 
Dr. Katherine Farr’s book on the Global Sex Trade is excellent.

10. Anything else you would like me to know?  

Include those over 18 in your thinking.

{17} Questions for 'Captive Daughters'

How were you first introduced to child sex trafficking?


What and how was the non profit organization, ‘Captive Daughters’, started?


What is ‘Captive Daughter’s mission?


How would you explain child sexual trade in America, compared to other Countries?

     (a) Would you say America is the worst country in the world for this crime, or another?

     (b) How is the crime different in America than in other parts of the world?

     (c) Is the defense of sex trafficking in America the strongest in the world, and if not, where is the strongest?

How might the American defense system strengthen their resistance against child sex trafficking?


What is the largest thing holding back the end to these illegal acts of selling children?



How big of a role is new technology playing in the exploitation of child?



Do you suppose that an average American is fully aware about the gravity of this problem?


What would you suggest people do to help end child sex trafficking?


What resources would you suggest I look into for further research on this topic?


Anything else you would like me to know?

{15} ECPAT's Vision- RESONSE

As you can tell, the ECPAT is a wonderful international organization. It is a shame more people don't know more about it. It still amazes me when an organization's (such as this one) ONLY purpose is to help. While growing up in this world I have been constantly surrounded by selfish people and groups. Hence, it is sadly astonishing to me that ECPAT wants nothing in return other than to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. I wish more of us were like that.

{15} ECPAT's Vision- NOTES

Vision

-"Realization of the right of all children to live free of child prostitution, child pornography and child trafficking for sexual purposes."

Mission

- a global network of organisations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes

- seeks to encourage the world to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their rights of freedom and are secure from all forms of sexual exploitation

Who They Are

- a network  composed of ECPAT groups based all over the world

     >In 1996, the network consisted of 17 groups. By 1999, it had grown to 53 groups and, in 2007,       there are over 80 groups in more than 70 countries

     >groups are very diverse

- the administrative and coordinating unit of ECPAT International is based in Bangkok, Thailand

-"ECPAT works to build collaboration among local civil society actors and the broader child rights community to form a global social movement for protection of children from sexual exploitation. Its membership reflects the richness and diversity of experience, knowledge and perspectives that arise from working in widely different contexts."

 -groups are involved in the use of various initiatives to protect children at local levels, hold workshops and other educational forums to extend and exchange knowledge. Lastly they represent and advocate for key issues at the international level on behalf of the network

 

http://www.ecpat.net/EI/Ecpat_vision.asp

{14} Soft Hands. Kind Heart. - RESPONSE

I have known about this The Body Shop hand cream, "Soft Hands Kind Heart", for awhile now. Yet only recently did I make the connection of it to my blog project. I believe what The Body Shop and ECPAT is doing is a truly innovative and an exciting idea. To think a make up shop and a non-profit organization have joined together in order to change the world shows me we still may have hope in humanity. What is also noteworthy is The Body Shop/ECPAT's goal is not solely to raise money, but more importantly to spread awareness. This awareness is what I am striving to prove this world needs through my thesis. Thanks to The Body Shop and ECPAT, I can begin to demonstrate this indispensable item.

 

http://plaskis.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/soft-hands-kind-heart.jpg

{14} Soft Hands. Kind Heart. - NOTES

-The Body Shop and ECPAT, in collaboration, have created a campaign to stop sex trafficking of children and young people.

-The proceeds from every Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream sold are donated to our campaign partner ECPAT

-campaign aims to raise awareness, raise funding for vulnerable children and young people, and inspire those with power to create change

-Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream is available now at The Body Shop, in-store and online

To Contribute:

1. Tell your friends and family about our campaign. Help us to spread the word about the horrors of this global sex trade. 

2. Buy our Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream, or make a donation to ECPAT 

3. Report a suspected incidence of child trafficking by writing to protect@ecpat.net 

4. Learn more about the issue by reading our full report on Global Child Trafficking for sexual purposes or the summary report.

5. Find out more about our innovative Progress Cards which have been developed to support the next phase of our campaign.

"Traffic stopping facts" 

Human trafficking is the third largest (1) and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. (2)
1.8 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade though this figure is thought to be much higher due to the underground dealings of the traffickers. (3)
Reports show that sexual exploitation is the most likely purpose of trafficking (4)
Trafficking exists in countries all over the world. It doesn't only exist in the poorest countries. (5)

(1) UNFPA 2006
(2) UNGIFT 2008
(3) ILO 2002
(4) ILO 2005
(5) UNICEF UK 2003

PARENTAL RESPONSE

MY NAME as author of the blog: Katherine Wilkins
TITLE OF MY BLOG : Children 4 Sale
NAME OF PERSON WITH WHOM I SHARED MY BLOG: Karen Ottenstein
RELATIONSHIP OF PERSON TO ME: Mother
DATE I SHARED MY BLOG: 10/09, 12/09, 2/24/10

COMMENTS  FROM RELATIVE WHO LISTENED TO MY EXPLANATION AND READ MY BLOG:


   Having reviewed this blog a number times over its evolution, I am impressed by Katherine's expanding knowledge on this difficult topic. I have learned from her writings. Additionally, the process itself is interesting. I am able to review an outline of the information gleaned from the source, then read Katherine's interpretation of this information, her feelings around the material and how it has effected her. As a parent, it is always intriguing to discover your child's feelings around her environment. 
   I am impressed by the variety of resources that were used. 
   I did have some difficulty in reading the notes where the writings and the background were both purple. I did like that the notes and responses were in different fonts.
   I am intrigued by Katherine's response to the recent article on the Baptists who were transporting Haitian children illegally. I do not know the source of the information (presumably the popular press), nor do I know the intent of the Baptists. NOne the less, the idea that the children were being abducted for nefarious purposes is pure speculation. I think that a critical eye is important when reading an article in the press. Regardless, I am glad that there was a current issue that touched upon this somewhat remote subject matter. For me, this article really brought this topic home for me. 
   Regarding the article on the 14 year old girl who put her nudity on MySpace for all to see, I wish that I had a clearer idea of how Katherine felt about this action. The article is entitled "a mistake", but this activity (social networking by computer) involves an area in which Katherine is intimately involved and I am not. Many of her thoughts around this activity are contrary to my own. I would have liked to better understand how this article effected her. 
   I appreciate Katherine sharing her work with me. I am happy that her sharing her work with an individual outside of the classroom is an important part of her education. I am honored to be a part of it. 

{13} A Silly Mistake- RESPONSE

This debate about adolescents has been controversial for years. This article is particularly interesting to me due to the fact that my school has been dealing with this issue quite a lot this year . The points that the maker (The Young Turks) of the video pointed out were new to me. Yet now that they have been explained they make a lot of sense. The most eye opening opinion to me was when the maker compared the case of a pictures of a young girl and an adolescent masturbating. This is something that many, including myself, would never think of, but they make sense. You may be curious why a topic on child porn is on a child sex trafficking blog. This is because child pornography is closely linked to physical sex with children. They are sisters, different in some ways, yet so close in issues.

{13} A Silly Mistake- NOTES

-there was a case where a fourteen year old girl put a picture of herself nude on Myspace

     >the debate arose whether or not she should be put down as a sex offender for the rest of her life

     >in the end she was given 6 months probation

          +many think this was even too drastic

     >the maker of the video believes: 

          +that the girl should have had to take the picture off the internet and have a conversation with her parents. That's what parents are for.

          +he compared this case to when an underage boy or girl masturbates, does this mean they are a child molester? No. So why is this any different?

          +this girl made a terrible mistake, but that doesn't mean she has to regret it for the rest of her life

          +her biggest punishment will be having to deal with it at school. No law discipline will ever match that

          +the law enforcers arrest people willy nilly to cover their butt. They would get in a lot more trouble if they didn't arrest someone they should of rather than if they arrest someone they shouldn't have.

-cases such as these continue to be a contriversy across the world

{12} Truley The Act of G-d? -RESPONSE

So far this has been the article that has effected me the most so far. To hear about a report (written on sex trafficking) just days ago, showed me the true life I am living in. I believe that regaurdless of "the Babtists" intentions they should be harshly penalized. If they were indeed taking the children to give them a better life, then why couldn't they just get the legal documents? Why was it all a big secret? Why were they taking children away from their parents? This is plainly nothing short of kidnapping in one of the largest degrees. To think how much Haiti and it's inhabitants are all ready going through at this time, this is certainly not making it any better. I cannot wait to hear these kidnappers conviction and disapline.

{12} Truley The Act of G-d? -NOTES

-10 US Baptists tried to take 33 children out of Haiti without permission

    >”they knew what they were doing wrong”

    >the Baptists say “G-d told them to”

    >these people now must get tried in the US because the judicial system was ruined by the resent earthquake in Haiti

    >the major question now is whether these people were acting in good faith (as they say) or as child traffickers

        +the only cold fact known on this is that they had no paper work or permission, and they knew it

        +however if they were indeed acting in good faith, then the courts may be more lenient

    >members of the church group from Idaho are insisting they were “only trying to rescue child victims of the quake” although “few had any experience in international charity”

    >they have yet to be charged

    >one of their lawyers has stated that they are being treated very poorly

    >the 33 children, ranging in age between 2 months and 12 years, were being sheltered in a temporary children’s home

        +one nine year old girl (crying) said that she, as most of the other children, were not orphans, they were told they were going on vacation and their parents would visit them

    >the government is estimating that the rise in celebrities adopting children from other countries (such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) has made the trafficking of children seem lawful, celebrated, and glamorous

    >when asked a mother (44) of five said that many parents were giving some of their children away to foreigners to give them a better life. she said "I've been thinking how I will choose which one  I may give." she also stated "My only fear is that they would forget me."

    >due to the Haiti’s overwhelmed government they have halted all adoptions unless they were in process before the earthquake took place.

    >the government stated that since the earthquake “Sex trafficking has been rampant in Haiti.” due to this the Prime Minister Max Bellerive's personal authorization is now required for the departure of any child.

    >currently the kidnapped children are trying to be reunited with their family, so far only one child has

Children of the Night- RESPONSE

When reading this, of-course I was in horror of Carissa’s terrible life story, but I was also delighted. Very often when I read news stories online they talk very little of actual people going through prostitution, instead they speak of harsh statistics and startling facts. Yes, these make you open you eyes and say “wow! really?! I didn’t know that!”, but personally I find it much more moving when you hear right from the source. I understand that one does not have to see to believe, but after hearing stories such as this, it really sets in about what it truly go on around the world and how we have no other choice than to fix it.
My favorite part of the news story from USA Today was when Carissa’s mother explains why she left her daughter. At first it sounded like her mom just threw her out of the house. Yet as it was explained more, Carissa’s mother just wanted the best for her daughter and she thought that she was making the strongest decision.
I can’t wait to read more stories such as this and I hope others do the same.

Children of the Night- NOTES

>in Fresno a women, Carissa Phelps, remembers standing on the chilly street sides ‘eyeing costumers’ as she sees girls do to this day on the same streets
    + Carissa’s story is quite similar to others; while wondering around she found     herself starving. A man was quick to notice this and consequently bought her a     hotdog and a pepsi and brought her into her living hell
    +”it was the beginning of a like she never though she’s survive”
    +now she is 31 and a graduate of a law and business school
    +she is currently starring in her own documentary about her life of prostitution     growing up
    + Carissa has made it her life goal to mentor girls and boys who have gone     through similar horrors as she and to create a safer neighborhood
        ~one of the places she is currently volunteering is at a series of non-profit         houses that house and counsel children who wish to get off the street
            *this place is called “Children of the Night”
            *the founder of “Children of the Night” said that children being             forced into prostitution is “America’s dirty little secret”
    + Carissa says that although it may not seem like a big deal she hopes that one     day the world will call children forced into prostitution ‘prostituted children’ rather     than ‘child prostitutes’, this is because saying ‘child prostitutes’ places the blame     on the innocent child

How Carissa’s sex story began:

>the horror began when Carissa’s mother dropped her off at a Fresco Juvenile Hall, about 70 miles from her home
    + Carissa states that at this time ‘her life was a blur’
    +all she truly remembers is feeling hopeless
    +when asked why her mother chose to do this she said “I was desperate for her     to be somewhere safe and not to run away from me anymore”
    + Carissa recalls having a criminal record and being rebellious as a child, a     product of a dysfunctional family
    +what Carissa mother didn’t realize was the group home she left her daughter at     was only for children who had severally broken the law, thus they brought her to     a group home. Here she hated it and instantly ran away
        ~the pattern of being brought into group homes and then running away         continued for years, until she eventually made the street her home
>at 13 Carissa stole a car and was thus placed in a juvenile facility
    +here she met a counselor who she began to realize truly cared about her. from     this she learned that she could trust men. the counselor encouraged her to go to     school, and she did!
> Carissa dreams for her community include:
    +organizing community leaders
    +buying and then converting abandoned buildings
    +fundraising
    +talking to community officials and neighbors
    +and much, MUCH more
   
>"I shine a light on the problem. If that's all that I do, it's worth it."
But is she ever too haunted by the past to move forward? "Only when I'm not working on and trying to fix it," she says. "I want to somehow change the situation that I came from so that if there was another Carissa following 30 years behind me, something different would happen for them."

>is has been estimated that around 100,00 to 300,000 children in the USA have willingly turned to prostitution
    +this number is much higher then most realize

Our Selfishness- RESPONSE

While reading this report I had many reactions to it, mostly anger. The first thing that struck me was the fact that the Buddhist Monks are allowing this to happen under their noses. I know Buddhists as amazing and spiritual people, some of the last to OK the exploiting of the next leaders of our world. Consequently, this is something I do not understand.
Next, I was quite intrigued about the idea of changing your name to relieve yourself from the, what shall I call it, horrors of your life. I wonder why Lin Lin and Thin Thin are such popular names. I wouldn’t be surprised if it meant something like ‘Hope’ or ‘Joy’ so when someone said their name the girls would be reminded that there is still beauty in the world.
What also struck me was the idea that men will not wear condoms. I cannot think of a reason why they wouldn’t other then because they are, and excuse my french, total assholes.
Lastly, I would like to state how selfish our government must be to purposely not help these girls so they continue being paid the big bucks to ‘help’. If this is true, I want  the government and our police officials to step back and think about why they’re really in the position they are in. If their reason is money, I hope to G-d they pick a new job because money will NEVER over shadow lives as long as their is love in this universe.

Our Selfishness- NOTES

In Burmese the military is struggling with the child prostitution problem and thus is trying their best to shield the problem from the public’s eyes. The following is what they wish for you not to see:

> 13 and 14 year old girls being paraded, modeled, marketed, at a nightclub while men stare and pick their next rape victim
>these girls, staring at the floor pulling on their short pleather hemlines and pulling up their low cut shirts, trying to hide what little cleavage their young bodies have
>girls being sold at 100$ a night, like meat
>why is this all happening? the Burmese government, mostly Buddhist Monks, have decided to tolerate such horrors as what is stated above “for now”.
>the high sex trafficking rate in Burma is so high due to the ongoing plummeting of the economy
>when girls are taken into prostitution they most often call themselves by a name not their own. The thought process behind this is that if (for example) Jackie committed a wrong doing under the name of Jenny, it would not truly be Jackie. The most popular names girls change their names to are Lin Lin and Thin Thin
>One girl spoken to in particular, Lin Lin, told the reporter that she chose to go into sex trafficking to support her mother, father, and younger brother. She states “it was not a hard decision to make”
    +the irony behind this is during the day she is studying to become an advocate of     the law
>Another girl, Thin Thin, says she was originally a hairdresser, but sleeping with foreign men (called sex tourists) got her 3 times more money
>because of this sexual epidemic, around 360,000 people in Burmese are living and thus dying from HIV as of 2005
    +this means that 1 in 3 sex workers are infected with HIV
>Many girls say they want the men to wear condoms, and even supply them with such, but rarely do they men accept the protection
>Other nearby countries with similar problems to the ones listed above include China, France, India, and Thailand
>one of the scariest possible facts being estimated at this date is the military may not being doing much about this world wide problem because they get paid so much to stop it. thus as the problem continues to grows and they continue to work (or not for that matter) their wallets get bigger still while innocent girls struggle on the streets to live.