Running head: PLEASE KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF MINORS

Please Keep My Daughter Safe: Human Trafficking of Minors

Debra A. Carter

NUR 3113

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

April 13, 2014

On my honor, I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment, and I pledge that I am in compliance with the
BSMCON Honor System.
PLEASE KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF MINORS 2

I was sitting on my friends front porch one warm July evening. After traveling more than

40 hours by plane, train, and boat, I was so glad to be relaxing with a cool coconut-ginger drink.

I had arrived to Bali, where my friend had been serving as a missionary for more than a year. As

we sat on the cinderblock stairs, a little boy maybe 5 years old came up to her with an

outstretched arm asking for money. She spoke to him in Balinese and he ran off. I didnt think

much of it. About 20 minutes later, a young girl about the same age walked up to me. Anna

talked to the girl, then the girl sat next to her. I asked her if the girl was alright. Anna knew this

girl. The little girls mother had sent the girl to stay with Anna for the night because she needed

to work. The inflection on work was unusual. Anna has always been one of the most direct

people I have ever known, thats why we get along. She went on to explain that work (with that

inflection) meant that it was a second job, or a night job. Because her boss, what we would call

a pimp, didnt know she had a daughter and she didnt want him to know she had a daughter. The

little girl would stay at Annas so she would be safe. Through my utter exhaustion, I was shocked

to see what a mother would do to provide and protect for her family. Then I remembered the little

boy who ran up to us earlier. I asked her the story about that little boy and his family, assuming

he was just looking for money to help get food on the family table. She told me that he too works

for a pimp. She was still trying to understand how the child was no longer with his family, but

she knew the man he worked for. That man employed the unwanted children, which was his

definition, not Annas. He would literally luring them with candy and food as payment. As the

kids got older, they would move up into other positions like labor or prostitution. At that

moment, I finally understood why my friend picked up everything and moved to the other side of

the world. She wanted to help and be a safe place for those without a voice.
PLEASE KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF MINORS 3

After visiting my friend, I thought it would be interesting to see if this is a localized

problem to developing nations or is it a global problem? The focus of this research is to introduce

the topic of child trafficking. I will also explore ways to protect children from exploitation, both

in the United States and around the world.

Each study defines human trafficking and child trafficking in slightly different ways. The

United Nations, The United States federal law, and advocate groups all share a similar

understanding, but they do not always agree on all the terminology. The most inclusive definition

I found defines child trafficking as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or

obtaining a child for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. It also includes

recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a child for or benefitting

financially from the commercial sex act of a child. (Walts, 2012) These children, both in the

United States and abroad, are considered among the most vulnerable population. As trafficking

victims, they are often victims of child abuse, sexual assault, and battery. (Walts, 2012) They he

endured physical, sexual, and emotional violence at the hand of their traffickers, pimps, or

employers. (Todres, 2012) In turn, these children also do not receive the medical attention they

need after violent assaults. Many have physical scars, communicable diseases, sexually

transmitted diseases, substance abuse problems, among other conditions as a result of their

exploitation.

This is where we can think about the Millennium Development Goals. Goal 6: Combat

HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases. In this population, it is difficult to educate these children

about diseases and protection. They are not in school or even in an environment that will help

bridge that gap. The goal is to have access to treatments and reverse the incidence of major

diseases. Reaching this goal is nearly impossible in this vulnerable population. These children
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are rarely allowed doctor visits, because it would be a huge risk for the traffickers or pimps to

take them to a clinic. (Todres, 2012) Therefore, many of these children deal with chronic

conditions that can be cured. (Walts, 2012)

Due to limited access to research from victims, it is difficult to discuss about health

outcomes. (Tyldum, 2010) Many victims live in fear and deal with many of the traumatic

psychosocial effects, therefore, they do not want to talk about their experiences. One study labels

this group as former victims of trafficking. (Tyldum, 2010) This is where evidence-based

research is so important. One researcher talked about the importance of building relationships

with victims over time to gather the most accurate information. It was sited that when you collect

data in a door-to-door survey fashion on sensitive information, you will normally collect

inaccurate data and a fair number of lies. Victims are reluctant to talk about sexual exploitation,

not to mention their experiences in prostitution. (Tyldum, 2010) Another study identified the

importance of using public health strategies in evidence-based research to assess the risk factors

for child vulnerability and exploitation. (Todres, 2012) What has been identified as a successful

intervention is ensuring confidentially when discussing health needs. When the health care

worker, social worker, or someone of the like, explains to that victim are there to help and

reassure them that they are in a safe place, this has been shown to be effective. Ensuring trust and

allowing them to know they have rights (if they are still in a trafficking environment) are

important messages to convey. (Todres, 2012) These are a few of the key areas of reassurance

that have been gathered through evidence-based practice.

Evidence indicates, that both nationally and globally, the children that are most

vulnerable to trafficking and extortion are those who are not in school. Children who do not go to

school or drop out early have a limited education and skills. These kids are prime targets for
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traffickers and those who will exploit children because they arent at home, they are out

wondering, and often looking for something to do. (Todres, 2012) We need to keep our children

at school.

Another area where there is an increase in exploitation is in urban settings. The majority

of urban children and youth have been exposed or have become victim of violent behavior.

(Tordes, 2012) With popular culture glamorizing this high risk lifestyle, children are intrigued. I

often see it played out as follow-the-leader. Children need role models to point out right from

wrong and this is another area where children seem to fall through the cracks.

Prevention is key in eradicating child trafficking. One study actually connected the

complex interplay between the individual, the environment, and the societal norms. (Todres,

2012) The most compelling information had to do with the home environment, including

safety/violence and peer group, and the role of the community, including school and

neighborhood. When you relate those factors to an urban environment, you can see how support

and involvement in positive activities changes the road a child walks. Those kids that go home to

an empty house or a troubled house go to the street for their so called family or support, they take

an entirely different path. That latter path can easily lead to a trafficking scenario.

In conclusion, there a many factors that bring children into the world of child trafficking,

whether by choice, neglect, or necessity. The key is to protect our children, if their parents cannot

to that, then others need to step up and set an example. Reading stories and seeing cases of what

kids are forced to do is heart breaking. A child of 9 years old is too young to get an STD.

I sometime wonder about that little girl in Bali. I pray to God she will never be forced

into a life of slavery, for sex or for drugs. My hope is that she and her mother were freed from

that life where her mom was forced to keep her second job just to make ends meet. I hope she
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was able to protect her daughter from her boss. Anna knew that if the little girl was discovered,

she would be working for her boss too.

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References

Todres, J. (2012). Assessing public health strategies for advancing child protection: human

trafficking as a case study. Journal of Law & Policy, 21(1), 93-112.

Tyldum, G. (2010). Limitations in research on human trafficking. International Migration, 48(5),

1-13.

Walts, K. (2012). An introduction to child trafficking in the United States. Childrens Rights

Litigation, 14(2), 2-8.