The high school student posts a video not aware of the danger it could cause. Most people see a smiling teen living her best life. A predator sees that she has her letterman on that indicates which school she attends. He notices her license plate shines visible letters and numbers and her address screams in the background.
The statistics are staggering: 130 people worldwide are trafficked every hour. Over 20 years ago, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was created to bring resources to end trafficking. Since 2010, January has been National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. As January comes to an end, the discussion of how to combat trafficking must continue to be in the forefront.
“Oftentimes it is a person who has met someone online that has persuaded them to meet them at a location. And has put their trust in them to the point that they are too far into it that they do not know how to get out,” officer Tiffany Neal said. “These people are often groomed and distanced from their loved ones so much that they may not feel like they can ask for help.”
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Many teenagers are not appropriately equipped to understand when red flags appear. They don’t recognize predators luring them into an attack. Students have to observe their surroundings and interactions more closely and cautiously. Many of them have come to be aware of social media apps such as Instagram, facebook and many more as they have been used as gateways to teens and children for predators to utilize. Being vigilant isn’t just a trait, it’s a necessity.
“There are numerous red flags that predators will make when attempting to attack,” counselor Aracele Garcia said. “Meeting people online who quickly want to take conversations offline. Someone who tries to separate you from friends, family, or supportive adults. A person who controls who you talk to, where you go, what you post online. Jobs that require you to pay money upfront, give vague details, and push you to start immediately. These are just some ‘warning signs’ if you see them, tell a trusted adult.”
Several students and community members would be surprised to learn that human trafficking doesn’t just happen in other countries or in major cities, it happens right here in Montgomery County. Just last month MCSO (Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office) arrested a Houston woman on child-trafficking charges following a multi-agency operation. It involved a missing juvenile and a missing 18-year-old female both believed to be sex trafficked. This horrendous event should fuel community members with action to fight for every victim to be turned into a survivor.
“I’ve luckily never been affected by human trafficking but that doesn’t mean everyone is as lucky as I am,” sophomore Autumn Lewis said.“It’s sickening to know that students my age and maybe even my peers are going through something I can’t even wrap my mind around. Scared faces, crying children and worried family members are images I see when I think of human trafficking, but I also imagined it across the world, not in my back yard.”
Students are affected by human trafficking more than one would assume. There are no double standards in the world where evil things such as human trafficking exist, whether they are a boy, girl, young or old everyone feels the effects that develop with human trafficking in the community. The cruel reality is in this unfair world, people must carefully observe every corner to ensure their safety.
“Human trafficking can affect students by developing paranoia and anxiety by the possibility that it could happen to them,” sophomore Lila Hudson said.”It impacts not just the person being trafficked but the ones around them as well. Human trafficking could happen to anyone, not just stereotypical teen girls. It makes me feel uneasy having to double check my plans and surroundings just to feel safe.”
Families, friends and even teachers are affected by the pain and devastation that a child they know and love could go through the monstrosity of human trafficking. No one deserves a life of mistreatment and worry. Every victim deserves to become a survivor.
“Just the idea that real humans in the world believe they have the power to do what they want to other people is devastating to me,” English teacher Grant Hetherington said.”Thinking about this affecting my students or their families is absolutely terrifying, no child should ever have to live in a world controlled by fear.”
