Human trafficking, otherwise known as modern day slavery, seems distant from our own lives. After attending a student-run human trafficking conference held at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City November 15, however, I learned that this monstrous crime is a relevant multi-layered problem rooted in poverty, vulnerability, and a lack of human dignity. One of the only ways to prevent human trafficking in the long run, especially in the realm of sexual exploitation of women, is to change society’s way of looking at the dignity of each individual.
First, we need to make our community aware of the problem in its true form. As Ms. Rachel Lloyd, Founder of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) and keynote speaker at the conference pointed out, media often conveys a false representation of victims. Media depicts human trafficking by showing young girls with chains across their bodies, duct tape over their mouths, and dirt strewn across their faces. These images may catch our attention, but they are incredibly dramatized and not always accurate.
A real victim does not have to be physically locked away from the outside world. In fact, many victims, especially young women who have pimps or are trafficked into the commercial sex industry, are physiologically and psychologically bound. They cannot escape because their aggressors threaten their family and even their lives if they try to leave. Other girls even develop a relationship with their pimp and believe that he reciprocates their love.
After overcoming this misconception about victims, we can now try to stop this illegal practice. First things first: we need to stop trying to be superheroes. We cannot eliminate human trafficking by merely roaming around the streets and picking up girls at night who are in compromised situations. If we are to stop this crime in the long run, we need to combat the roots of the problem.
“Targeting human trafficking is about targeting poverty, racism, and the spectrum of gender based violence,” Ms. Lloyd said in her presentation at the conference.
This task seems like a hefty load and a large responsibility. But one of the most important actions we can take is to simply be one thing – a mentor. Whether we are a mentor to a young boy or girl through nationwide programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters or Big Sister and Peer Leadership at Convent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich, we have the power to promote positive values like equality and acceptance.
“It is important to let the girls know that they are seen, heard, and valued,” Ms. Lloyd said.