It’s time we end the human sex slave trade, the only way to do this is to make it illegal for those that participate in it. I am not talking about the girls who are sold into slavery, I am talking about those that use these girls for sex and other things. There needs to be major jail time for a first time offense for the “Johns”. I am thinking 5 years or more to start with. If you think about it, they would still be getting off easy since the girls lives are ruined unless they can somehow escape.
The reason this is not talked about as much as it should be, is because no one want’s to talk about it. It makes people feel sick inside and ” it can’t happen here,” we tell ourselves. The problem is it does. There is only one way to stop it and that is to stop the demand. Since that is not likely to happen, we need to have a punishment that meets the crime. Those that use these people need to pay a stiff price. Which is why I say jail for 5 years or more.
Keep in mind that while I am focusing on the girl aspect that boys are also being trafficked.
The other thing we can do is to educate people about what’s going on. Also awareness for what to look for and signs that the victims show;
Children exploited for labor are often hungry or malnourished to the extent they may never reach their full height or they may have poorly formed or rotting teeth.
Children exploited for sexual purposes may show evidence of untreated sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, urinary tract infections, and kidney problems .
Children who are victims of trafficking can also be identified by environmental factors, including whether the child is living at the workplace or with an employer , living with multiple people in a cramped space, or not in school, attends school sporadically or has a significant gap of schooling in the U.S.
Forced labor may expose children to physical abuse or leave signs such as scars, headaches, hearing loss,cardiovascular/respiratory problems and limb amputation. They may also develop chronic back, visual and respiratory problems from working in agriculture, construction or manufacturing.
The psychological effects of exploitation include helplessness, shame and humiliation, shock, den and disbelief, disorientation and confusion, and anxiety disorders including post traumatic stress disorder , phobias, panic attacks and depression .
The signs are from are from ACF
National Human Trafficking Resource Center 1.888.3737.888