Thursday, June 26, 2014

Myths About Child Trafficking

This last week, 168 children were recovered by the FBI in a mass child prostitution sting.
One hundred. And sixty. Eight children. Kids in casinos and truck stops. Kids on street corners. But mostly, kids on the internet. The worst part? Most of these children weren't reported missing by their parents.
Myth #1:  "Meh, it's just a bunch of dirty refugee kids. At least they're in America. They should be grateful."
"These are not faraway kids in faraway lands. These are America's children."
-FBI Director James
Besides, why shouldn't "a bunch of dirty refugee kids" receive the same love and protection as America's children?
Myth #2: "It's consensual and plenty of these so called kids are old teenagers. Nearly adults. What's the problem?"
I present to you Nicole, former seventeen year old human trafficking victim. This video was released by the FBI on Monday.

Myth #3: "Plenty of teenagers are sexually active anyways. What's wrong with them doing it for money?"
Because rape is rape. Because abuse is abuse. Because it's not always consensual, and when it is, it's still a horrible life. Because every child has the right to the childhood. Because adults who try to speak up about sexual abuse that's been going on since their early teens are too often viewed as criminals rather than victims.
Because if I were to take a nude picture of myself right now I could be charged with both possession and production of child pornography. But the 281 pimps caught just now by the FBI have been getting away with it for years.
Let's focus more on tracking down the adults responsible than teaching children they can't speak up about their problems.

No comments:

Post a Comment