When I stumbled across (literally) the chapter president of the Red Thread Movement, Ksenya Plumb, on the Southern Utah University campus, I knew immediately I had to get involved. Not that stopping the (non-consensual) sex trade really needs any explanation…but when kids are involved, all my protective instincts kick in. The Red Thread Movement and Writing Out Child Abuse share a common thread, common goals…and common enemies. Here are some facts and figures directly from http://redthreadmovement.org concerning sexual slavery and human trafficking. (I have not independently verified these figures, as it’s 2:30 in the morning and I have a Spanish test tomorrow. However, I have no concern or doubt about posting these figures as reasonably accurate. Even more terrifying, they may actually be LOWER than the real numbers.) If you needed a better reason than these chilling statistics to take a stand, perhaps the fact that a huge number of those “statistics” are real, suffering children will suffice.
FACTS ON SLAVERY
3. Human trafficking is the world’s 2nd largest criminal enterprise behind narcotics
(U.S. State Department).
4. There are 12.3 million adults and children in forced labor, bonded labor, and forced prostitution around the world (Trafficking in Persons Report, 2010).5. Approximately 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girls… up to 50% are minors (U.S. State Department).
6. Child trafficking is an over $12 billion a year global industry, with over 2 million child victims
(UNICEF).7. The average age of entry for children victimized by the sex trade industry is 13 years old.
(U.S. Department of Justice).8. There are nearly 300,000 children at risk every year
for commercial sexual exploitation(U.S. Department of Justice).9. It has been estimated that 100,000 minors are in the commercial sex trade in the United States alone
(Polaris Project).10. By age 16, approximately 60% of Nepalese girls in the brothels in Mumbai have contracted HIV (K.I.NEPAL).
Reblogged this on Writing Out Child Abuse.
These statistics break my heart and bring tears to my eyes.
It’s sad that people can use others in such horrible ways for pleasure and profit. The good news is that more and more people are refusing to accept statistics like this, preferring instead to take direct action. The more people who do that, the more likely it becomes that we can end this criminal enterprise and all the harm that comes with it.
Thanks for stopping by, Karen!
This is sad.
Yeah. I wish it wasn’t so, but it’s what it is, right?
However, karma’s a MFer, and I have every reason to believe that Santa’s going to be extra good to me this year! Others…well, let’s just say what goes around comes around.
Good to see you!