"I'm glad you're sharing about this important topic. Nobody likes to admit this is happening, but we need to recognize that it is."
Judy Graybill
As Judy wrote, it is important to talk about sex trafficking since several studies and reports from law enforcement highlight that a high percentage of child and teenage sex trafficking victims are or were foster children. At the same time, our Facebook and blog post also generated some strong reactions because of the image we used. Some felt that having an image of a girl* in a provocative outfit was exploitive. We subsequently changed the image, but we wonder whether that was a mistake.
Perhaps the issue for those who were repulsed by the image was that they simply don't like knowing and seeing evidence that in the U.S. thousands of foster child end up being sold into prostitution. Maybe in trying to be sensitive or "PC," we actually became part of the problem - downplaying the severity of a crisis that is permanently maiming thousands of foster youth each year.
If you saw the image, did you feel it was exploitive? If so, how would you showcase this child abuse?
Did you feel that the image was offensive? Some wrote that they were not offended, but at the same time, they were also uncomfortable sharing the post with others for fear that people might just see the image and overlook the message.
Do you think we should have removed the image?
How obscene does the situation have to get before action is taken to help these very vulnerable children!
"It doesn't matter how they are dressed or what they look like, they are still children and should be protected." Rick Allen, Packaging Specialists Inc. SW
Until yesterday, did you know sex trafficking was such a huge crisis? It also happens to be a $32 billion industry internationally and only second to the illegal drug industry.
Did you know that the average starting age for prostitution is now 13 years old according to Rachel Lloyd, executive director of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (gems) in Harlem, New York?
Did you know how strong the connection is between foster teens and sex trafficking victims? The FBI just close a national case called Operation Cross Country, the bureau's eight such operation, where they arrested 281 pimps and saved 170 children, many who were foster children and most who were never reported missing by "parents, guardians and the entire child welfare system designed to protect them."
Again many commented that they would like a way to help these foster kids today rather than waiting for politicians and government agencies to put in solutions that may minimize instances of foster teens ending up as sex trafficking victims. In many cases, those foster kids who run away do so from a group home or shelter or from an abusive foster family environment.
One proven solution is to support efforts to reconnect children in foster care with their family members.
Studies show these children are generally happier and healthier plus as they grow older, they will have that family support that is so desperately missing for most children who end up as sex trafficking victims.
Foster youth need our support. As a society we have an obligation to protect these children. To do anything less, which includes avoiding sensitive and uncomfortable topics such as foster kids as sex trafficking victims, is to turn our backs on these children. As Edmund Burke wrote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing." We can certainly do more than nothing.
Do it for the children,
Richard
Richard Villasana
Find Families In Mexico
760-690-3995
PS. Share your thoughts and ideas below and share this post with others.
*Note: If you felt offended by the original photo, the image we used is of a professional model and not an actual sex trafficking victim.
