Victoria's perspective

Getting caught up with the sex trafficking group Discussion on here.  I had no real interest in learning about sex trafficking before I took small group communication 230.  It shows up in the news sometimes but not as often as it should.  I didn’t realize that there were so many cases in the Seattle area until I started doing further research.

With furthering my searcher I wanted to discover how and why people were being trafficked for sex.  I know that people can be pulled of their streets at random but that is not always the case.  There are what has known as bookies and pimps like there are for prostitutes. Sex trafficking can be done at any age and any gender or race.  There is a lot of trust put into some of the relations between the pimp and the girl.  They can be longtime friends, partners and even family members.  I ask myself how is that possible, how can you let someone you know do that to you?  I honestly can’t answer that question because I have never been in that situation before.  I feel that like in everyday life you put so much love and trust into a relationship that sometimes it can get so out of hand so fast that before you know it you are over your head and in a bad citation.

To quote: Human trafficking is perpetrated in every country, rich or poor. It is the second largest, fastest growing organized crime in the world. Anti-slavery advocacy group Not for Sale estimates that there are over 30 million people toiling as modern day slaves around the globe today, more than any other period in human history.  http://www.somaly.org/slavery . This site is a great tool to have as a resource in getting the first line of communication out to the public.  It answered some of my initial questions I had about how and what.  I am looking into more of now what can be done in order to stop or reduce the impact sex trafficking has on us.

Sex trafficking in the United States.

Before join the sex trafficking group I don’t know about the sex trafficking in U.S. But
after joining the group I found so many problems about this. The United States is a
destination country for international trafficking: transportation of foreign nationals into
the U.S. for purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. The State Department estimates
that approximately 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked annually in to the United States
alone. Victims brought to the U.S. originate from Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe,
and Africa. Foreign national women and children brought to the U.S. for sex trafficking
find themselves forced to work in massage parlors, hostess clubs, commercially-fronted
brothels, residential brothels, escort services, and strip clubs.

Washington State is a hot bed for sex trafficking because of the major ports and the I-5
channel. Sophisticated criminal networks are smuggling thousands of people from around
the world into Washington—from Canada, through Sea-Tac Airport, through the Port of
Seattle, and along the I-5 corridor. The FBI coordinated a cross-country sting in February
2009, with local and federal law enforcement. Seattle was listed as the number one spot
for underage prostitution out of the 29 cities that participated. Key "track" areas in Seattle
where children and women are forced to work:

• 11th Avenue and East Pike Street
• 600 block of Thomas Street
• Aurora N. between 85th and 105th
• Aurora N. motels (court hearing in October 2009 to determine closing motels)

-Nisha

Washington State Law’s Set National Precedent

I have been aware of the atrocities of human trafficking for the past few years; in fact, it is the reason that I am on a trajectory to becoming a behavioral psychologist. My long-term vision is to work with victims in safe houses and recovery centers in Southeast Asia.

Over this past year I have been researching how I can impact this issue in the short-term. This directed me to discover disturbing statistics. South Seattle’s SeaTac area has been in the top three worst places for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) in the Nation three years in a row, Seattle’s average entry age is thirteen and their life expectancy is a mere, 3-7 years (FBI detective Banks with Innocence lost Taskforce). Being a born and raised “Seattleite” I found this a hard pill to swallow. Yet, I can also be proud of how Washington has led the Nation in harsher laws to protect our communities. This past legislation session I worked as an advocate with Washington Engage in Olympia (http://waengage.com/) and have had the privilege of seeing nine of twelve sex trafficking bills signed into law. Including making businesses verify age in person in order to post an adult add online. Currently, backpage.com’s verification process is to simply checking a box online “verifying” your age is 18 or older. This makes it very easy to post unwilling miners. This will now be illegal in Washington, and will take effect in July of this year!! Here in Washington we have set a new precedent and I hope other States will adopt such laws. It is important that we unite as a nation with a clear voice, that our children are not for sale!

If you feel the need to impact your community regarding this issue please consider donating to the Genesis Project. They are located at the heart of the problem is SeaTac and offer hope for a new life. http://www.gpseattle.org/where.html

Of statistics

I'll be honest – when I joined this group in my class I didn't really care about sexual abuse victims, or consider it to be much of a problem. It's easy to ignore problems that you don't see every day, problems that hide in the dark shadows of society. When I looked at the Genesis Project Seattle website I came across this page of statistics and they gave me pause.

Learning that there are 100's of thousands of victims of domestic sex trafficking really hits home when you start to put some of those statistics into frame in your personal life. I grew up in a small town of barely 40,000 residents. When I think about growing up, when I think about being 13, and living in small town Washington it really becomes concrete to realize that at any one time there are more than three times the population of my home town are trapped in prostitution, many as young as my then 13 year old self.

The impact became even more local when I learned that there were nearly 400 underage prostitutes in Seattle alone. With barely more than 2,000 students attending the North Seattle Community College this means that were these victims lucky enough to be in school and receiving an education, almost 1 in 4 of my classmates would be involved in abusive, sexually predatory relationships.

Being able to look around at a class, and imagine a quarter of my classmates as victims of sex trafficking has made it real for me. It's made me care. I hope that visual helps you care too – if it does please consider supporting The Genesis Project. Visit their take action page and take your action. Learn more about the plight of these victims, and donate or volunteer to help their plight.

Give them a fighting chance!

Hey Ya'll this is Monica, this is my first time EVER writing a blog so bare with me :)

I never really realized how serious Sex Trafficking was until I had to do research on a well known women's activist Somaly Mam. I read her book The Road of Lost Innocence and it was truly eye opening. Like a lot of people I never really realized this was a problem in our society today. Not only Worldwide but within our own communities. From reading the blog or if you've heard about any of the work we are trying to do and if your interested in the topic at all, I would highly recommend this book. I will be honest it is a bit brutal, Somaly Mam was sold into slavery at the age of 10 then sold by her master to a brothel where she was forced into prostitution. From 13-20 she was raped, beaten and tortured, but she didn't let that stop her. Once she was some what free she made it her duty to seek change. Instead of letting all of the horrible things that had happen to her take over her life she fought to find some peace, to help other girls like her get help. She has saved over 3,000 girls in her home country of Cambodia. Not only does she take part in the rescues she has opened facilities to help the girl cope. She teaches them skills that will help find them work and she councils the girls. The fact that one person has done so much makes you wonder how much change you could do as a individual, well at least that's what it's done for me, that's why when we were given the assignment to do something for the community I knew right away I wanted to do something with sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is the 3rd ranking organized crime in the world. That means not only dirty people taking part in this but also corrupted government, cops. It makes you realize how sick this world really is and because of what? $$$. No child should be robbed of their youth. If Somaly mam made such a huge impact think of what we could do in a group setting. If your interested in this crime, her story check out this website. It is easy to follow and it's highly informational.

http://www.somaly.org/slavery

I hope to see everyone at the training to help volunteer for the Genesis foundation this saturday. Like Molly said, if your not interested in volunteering it's still a great way to learn about Sex Trafficking and it gives us all a chance to help within our own community, that's where it all starts!! (Information within the link below)

http://www.gpseattle.org/ai1ec_event/volunteer-public-awareness-training/?instance_id=7

Local Solutions to Worldwide Problems

Sex slavery is a major problem across the world and victims are innumerable. Many people in the Seattle area don't even realize that the problem is also occurring right here in our local neighborhoods and businesses. I know I certainly didn't. Or perhaps I just didn't want to.
 

That is, until I joined this Communications Small Group course at North Seattle Community College. Becoming a member of this team inspired me to work on fixing a big problem in our area that needs as much help and support as possible. Now we are banding together to bring awareness and aid to victims of sex trafficking in Washington State. Working alongside the student body at NSCC, nearby corporations, community organizations, and primarily; the The Genesis Project a local agency based in SeaTac. They provide safety, supplies, and support to countless people affected by this terrible situation.
 

I urge everyone to familiarize themselves with their mission and help in any way possible. All of the donations we collect will directly benefit them. Their website: http://www.gpseattle.org/ offers helpful links to statistics about the problem, support opportunities, and upcoming events. Most notably, a training session for future official volunteers for the Genesis Project to work directly with victims and provide emotional comfort. Here is the basic info:
Training for The Genesis Project:



Saturday, May 12, 2012 • 11:AM- 6PM


Hosted by The Genesis Project Safe House


206.326.0977


The Corridor


2819 S 208th St


Seattle, WA 98198


This training is specifically for women who want to volunteer for the GP center working with young girls who have been forced into sex trafficking and want to get out of the life (applications/background check forms will be available to fill out that day)
Those who want to attend and learn more about DMST and how SeaTac is working in helping these young girls with providing a safe place of hope for a new life are more than welcome come!
Please RSVP by May 10th, 2012
Payment of $25.00 (includes: training, lunch, and background check)
This fee will be collected at check in or you can pay in advance go to:www.gpseattle.org
through paypal. Please state for training May 12, 2012


MUST ATTEND ENTIRE TRAINING TO BE ELIGIBLE AS A VOLUNTEER


Blessings,
GP Staff

E-mail: thegenesisprojectseattlle@gmail.com
www.gpseattle.org
206.326.0977

Thanks to all! I hope that we can unite behind this local problem and start a movement to end it worldwide!

Unity Against-DMST

For me joining this group is something new. Our project is something good for our community.
It is not just an ordinary project with meaningless goal. Our goal is to help raise awareness of the victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) in SeaTac. We also need your support to help us to spread our message. The average entry age of DMST victims is thirteen. When I was thirteen, I was a growing up with the loves from my big family and friends at school. It is a pity for these victims to not have a normal life as we were. Let’s help them out!

We are holding a supply drive in North Seattle Community College campus for these young girls who have been forced into sex trafficking and want to get out of slavery. Those who wish to contribute in our efforts can help us collect:

·         Women’s socks (New)

·         New or lightly used sweat pants

·         Sweat shirts

·         Blankets

·         T-shirts

·         DVDs

You can bring donations to the North Seattle Community College Women’s Center, located right behind the front desk in Student Success Services, in the College Center building.                                           

Donations will be collected until May 31^st.

Every little bit counts and we really appreciate your help.