Based in Sarasota, Florida, Selah Freedom recognizes that nearly all “survivors” in their anti-sex trafficking programs have been victims of child abuse. For 11 years, they have built a solid foundation to bring freedom to their survivors of the sex trade through five life-saving programs: Awareness, Prevention, Outreach, Residential and Organizational Consulting. They work closely with law enforcement, the court system, school districts and community groups. However, the challenge remains to educate the general public that those with prior childhood sex abuse are most at risk of being recruited into sex trafficking.
There is a distinct link between child abuse and sex trafficking in America, yet most don’t make the connection. And while all factions of society work cohesively to educate parents, educators, healthcare workers and others to spot the signs of child abuse, thousands of children and youth slip through the cracks. As a result, they could become prey to those who lure them into sex trafficking.
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-Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing epidemics worldwide, including in America.
-It is a $99 billion industry worldwide.
-California and Texas lead the US in sex trafficking, followed by Florida, # 3.
-Any child is at risk of child abuse and sex trafficking irrespective of ethnicity and socioeconomic levels.
-The average age for entering sex trafficking is only 12 - 14 years old.
Perhaps no greater public awareness occurs than in April when Americans observe National Child Abuse Prevention. This is a chance for state and local organizations to validate their commitment to communities working together to prevent child maltreatment before it occurs and provide support to those in need through valuable resources.
Unfortunately, the confluence of a devastating pandemic and the worst economic crisis in nearly a century have increased the risk for child abuse and neglect.
Unfortunately, the confluence of a devastating pandemic and the worst economic crisis in nearly a century have increased the risk for child abuse and neglect.
There is a distinct link between child abuse and sex trafficking in America, yet most don’t make the connection. And while all factions of society work cohesively to educate parents, educators, healthcare workers and others to spot the signs of child abuse, thousands of children and youth slip through the cracks. As a result, they could become prey to those who lure them into sex trafficking.
-Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing epidemics worldwide, including in America.
-It is a $99 billion industry worldwide.
-California and Texas lead the US in sex trafficking, followed by Florida, # 3.
-Any child is at risk of child abuse and sex trafficking irrespective of ethnicity and socioeconomic levels.
-The average age for entering sex trafficking is only 12 - 14 years old.
Unmonitored access to internet technology can lead to child abuse and sex trafficking. One in nine youth receives online sexual solicitation.
According to the National Library of Medicine, human trafficking indicates that sexual abuse is the most damaging type of child maltreatment, creating susceptibility to exploitation among both boys and girls.
Sexual abuse is the strongest predictor of human trafficking: the odds of human trafficking were 2.52 times greater for girls who experienced sexual abuse. There was an 8.21 times greater risk for boys who had histories of sexual abuse.
When any abuse or trauma goes unaddressed, it creates vulnerabilities, especially when it comes to sexual abuse. The guilt, shame, and confusion created can be easily exploited by traffickers and those with ill intent.
When any abuse or trauma goes unaddressed, it creates vulnerabilities, especially when it comes to sexual abuse. The guilt, shame, and confusion created can be easily exploited by traffickers and those with ill intent.
What is grooming?
Grooming is simple yet effective. First, a trafficker identifies or creates a need the potential victim has, such as the need to be accepted, wanted, loved (especially by a father figure), have stability, protection, escape reality, and more. Then, the trafficker isolates the victim until the trafficker is the only person who can fill the victim’s needs.
The trafficker exploits this dependence. As a result, someone already vulnerable because of untreated trauma from past experiences is victimized again.
The emotional and psychological vulnerabilities of unaddressed childhood sexual abuse can create a dangerous situation. Traffickers can identify a vulnerability from miles away, terming them “masters of psychology.” Each trafficker has a different recruitment method to deploy in correlation to a vulnerability.
· To exploit the need for love and value, the trafficker may become the victim's father figure.
· To exploit the need to feel accepted and included, the trafficker may become the best friend or roommate.
· To exploit children in the foster care system and a need to feel wanted, the trafficker may become a family figure
· To exploit the desire to escape reality, the trafficker may introduce drugs and create a dependency.
Traffickers have a plan of manipulation to exploit any need they encounter because it is their full-time job and where all their time and attention goes.
What is the solution?
Issues as complex as human trafficking have no easy solution. Still, Florida is paving the way to eradicate sex trafficking in radical ways: Two years ago, the state legislature passed a law (CB HB 519) mandating the provision of comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, and age-appropriate K-12 health education curriculum that focuses on the prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.
Grooming is simple yet effective. First, a trafficker identifies or creates a need the potential victim has, such as the need to be accepted, wanted, loved (especially by a father figure), have stability, protection, escape reality, and more. Then, the trafficker isolates the victim until the trafficker is the only person who can fill the victim’s needs.
The trafficker exploits this dependence. As a result, someone already vulnerable because of untreated trauma from past experiences is victimized again.
The emotional and psychological vulnerabilities of unaddressed childhood sexual abuse can create a dangerous situation. Traffickers can identify a vulnerability from miles away, terming them “masters of psychology.” Each trafficker has a different recruitment method to deploy in correlation to a vulnerability.
· To exploit the need for love and value, the trafficker may become the victim's father figure.
· To exploit the need to feel accepted and included, the trafficker may become the best friend or roommate.
· To exploit children in the foster care system and a need to feel wanted, the trafficker may become a family figure
· To exploit the desire to escape reality, the trafficker may introduce drugs and create a dependency.
Traffickers have a plan of manipulation to exploit any need they encounter because it is their full-time job and where all their time and attention goes.
What is the solution?
Issues as complex as human trafficking have no easy solution. Still, Florida is paving the way to eradicate sex trafficking in radical ways: Two years ago, the state legislature passed a law (CB HB 519) mandating the provision of comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, and age-appropriate K-12 health education curriculum that focuses on the prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.
Selah Freedom is working with researchers at the University of South Florida in a first-ever, court diversion program for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation to help them turn their lives around by offering housing, job training, counseling and other services. The researchers’ work could become a model for similar programs around the country.
Florida legislation has passed the Bill (HB 1439 ) that prohibits public lodging establishment from offering hourly rate for accommodation; increases criminal penalties for soliciting or procuring another person to commit prostitution or purchasing services of person engaged in prostitution; provides for additional court-ordered requirements, minimum mandatory period of incarceration, & civil penalty; provides that human trafficking victim expunction of criminal history records does not apply to specified offenses; removes requirement for specific evidentiary standard when determining human trafficking victim status in absence of official documentation, and creates a Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking.
Selah Freedom’s Prevention Team offers monthly virtual training opportunities, among other initiatives, to elevate public awareness. This month is “Freedom for Teens,” a video-based training for those who want to expand their understanding of sex trafficking, exploitation, recruitment and more on Thursday, April 21. Sign up today, here
Florida legislation has passed the Bill (HB 1439 ) that prohibits public lodging establishment from offering hourly rate for accommodation; increases criminal penalties for soliciting or procuring another person to commit prostitution or purchasing services of person engaged in prostitution; provides for additional court-ordered requirements, minimum mandatory period of incarceration, & civil penalty; provides that human trafficking victim expunction of criminal history records does not apply to specified offenses; removes requirement for specific evidentiary standard when determining human trafficking victim status in absence of official documentation, and creates a Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking.
Selah Freedom’s Prevention Team offers monthly virtual training opportunities, among other initiatives, to elevate public awareness. This month is “Freedom for Teens,” a video-based training for those who want to expand their understanding of sex trafficking, exploitation, recruitment and more on Thursday, April 21. Sign up today, here
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