Human Trafficking

Lately I've been feeling very numb inside, as I'm sure many of you guys know. I've taken it out on friends and family, and I have become regretful of this. But I have stumbled upon a topic that has helped me start feeling again... what exactly these feelings are is hard to describe... it's a mixture of pain, empathy, love, helplessness, and hope.
At any rate, I have learned that worldwide, 27 million people are victims of human trafficking. Now, if you're like the average American, these words are probably just a convenient label for an atrocity you'll never have to face and so dismiss it as unfortunate but not your problem. You hear it in the news, tune out and that's the end of it.
But do me a favor and just imagine how you would feel if these women and children who are exploited, raped, and beaten were women and children in your lives that you cared about. What if it was your mother? Your sister? Your daughter? Aunt, grandmother, best friend? What if it was you?
Approximately half of the people who are on the receiving end of these terrors are under the age of 18. They're still practically babies. They're robbed of a chance at a normal life before they can even decide what it is that they'd like to be when they grow up.


"In South Asia, traffickers will pay $150 to parents for their child's life. Brothel owners can purchase the same child from the trafficker for about $1000. For traffickers, sex slavery is a lucrative business, generating over 7 billion dollars a year. Trafficking is often controlled by organized crime syndicates.

Victims of human trafficking are subject to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, beatings, starvation, dehumanization, and threats of murdering family members. In the case of traffficking for sexual exploitation, girls often have their virginity sold first, followed by multiple gang rape to break down their resistance. Since the bodies of young girls are not ready for sexual intercourse, this often results in abrasions, making the girls susceptible to HIV/AIDS and other diseases."


But there is hope for those who have escaped. A grassroots organization called the Emancipation Network was founded to help the survivors of human trafficking get their lives back together.

"We help survivors of slavery rebuild their lives after rescue from slavery, with sustainable income, education and help reintegrating into society. We work to prevent slavery in high risk communities such as red light and refugee communities, by creating jobs for adults and through volunteer trips and donations to our shelter partners for rescue, school fees, emergency needs and reintegration."

The Emancipation Network also help these survivors by teaching them how to make beautiful crafts in order to provide themselves with an income, which is not only beneficial financially, but also proves therapeutic.
One of these gorgeous pieces of jewelry is available to win at The Contest Corner if you are interested.
I hope that you are touched by this.