Sex trafficking | Linda Smith | TEDxPortland

Summary

The video script addresses the serious issue of child sex trafficking, using the story of Lacey to illustrate the deceptive and abusive tactics traffickers employ. It highlights the need for societal change in perception, language, and laws to protect victims and punish perpetrators. The speaker calls for raising awareness, supporting stronger legislation, and recognizing the signs of trafficking to prevent exploitation and protect children.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Awareness: The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the reality of child sex trafficking.
• 👋 Language Matters: The use of terms like 'John' and 'prostitute' obscures the true nature of child sex trafficking, which should be referred to as exploitation and victimization.
• 🔍 Identifying Signs: The script highlights the need to be vigilant for signs of trafficking, such as secret relationships, unexplained wealth, or ownership symbols like tattoos.
• 📚 Education: It is crucial to educate ourselves and others about the signs of trafficking to protect potential victims.
• 👧 Lacey's Story: The script tells the story of Lacey, a victim of trafficking, to illustrate the devastating impact on individuals and the failure of the justice system.
• 🏛 Legal System: The speaker criticizes the legal system for often treating victims as criminals and perpetrators as ordinary men, rather than recognizing the severity of their crimes.
• 📉 Law Enforcement: There is a call to action to improve and enforce laws that protect children and punish those who exploit them.
• 🌐 Global Issue: The script points out that child sex trafficking is not just an issue in other countries but is happening within the United States, involving 'typical American men'.
• 📉 Age of Victims: The average age that children are lured into prostitution is between 12 to 14, indicating the vulnerability of this age group.
• 🛡️ Protection: The speaker advocates for societal change, including changing perceptions, language, laws, and individual responses to trafficking.
• 📈 Progress: While progress has been made with more states making it a felony to buy sex with a child, there is still much work to be done to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script?

The main issue discussed in the video script is child sex trafficking and the societal and legal challenges in addressing it, including the stigmatization of victims and the leniency towards the perpetrators.

What is the significance of the tattoo mentioned in the script?

The tattoo is significant as it represents a 'brand' used by traffickers to show ownership of the victims, indicating that they are in danger and being exploited.

Who is Lacey in the context of the script?

Lacey is a fictional character used in the script to illustrate the story of a child who fell victim to sex trafficking, highlighting the manipulative tactics used by traffickers and the tragic consequences for the child.

What is the average age at which children are lured into prostitution according to the script?

According to the script, the average age at which children are lured into prostitution is between 12 to 14 years old.

Why were the men who bought sex from the child victims not usually jailed in the past?

In the past, the men who bought sex from child victims were not usually jailed because the language and societal perceptions often labeled the child as a 'prostitute' and not as a victim, leading to a lack of legal action against the buyers.

What is the role of Shared Hope International in the fight against child sex trafficking?

Shared Hope International plays a role in analyzing and grading the laws of every state regarding their protection of children from sex trafficking, advocating for stronger laws and raising awareness about the issue.

What is the importance of changing societal perception and language when it comes to child sex trafficking?

Changing societal perception and language is crucial because it helps to accurately identify victims and perpetrators, leading to more effective legal action and societal support for victims, and less stigmatization.

What is the 'Dear John' letter mentioned in the script and its purpose?

The 'Dear John' letter is a symbolic message to potential buyers of sex, warning them that society is aware of their actions and will not tolerate their involvement in child sex trafficking. Its purpose is to deter potential buyers and support justice for victims.

How has the legal landscape regarding the buying of sex with children changed over the years according to the script?

According to the script, there has been significant progress with 48 states, including Oregon, now making it a felony to buy sex with a child. However, there is still a need for enforcement and ensuring that these laws are not reduced to misdemeanors during legal proceedings.

What are some signs that might indicate a child is being trafficked for sex, as mentioned in the script?

Some signs mentioned in the script include having an older boyfriend who keeps secrets, unexplained wealth, new expensive items, signs of ownership like tattoos, and physical injuries that the child tries to hide.

What actions can individuals take to help combat child sex trafficking according to the script?

Individuals can help combat child sex trafficking by changing their perception of victims and perpetrators, using accurate language, supporting strong laws, enforcing existing laws, and being vigilant for signs of trafficking to protect children in their community.