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