Human Trafficking

[Jade Tigress]

This case sickens me.

The case of Antoinette Nicole Davis, a North Carolina mother accused of selling her 5-year-old daughter, Shaniya, into prostitution, highlights one of the most heinous -- albeit rare -- forms of trafficking within the U.S.

Something else to consider:

The average age of a female victim's first involvement in prostitution, according to the study, was between 12 and 14.

"That, shockingly, means a number get in when they're incredibly young, and that's all the more horrifying," Lagon said.

The only caveat to his praise, he said, is a concern that adults swept up in raids are sometimes charged as prostitutes when they, too, may have been subjected to coercion or pulled into the trade as minors.

The onus is on society and government to stop the trafficking of American children, he said. Citizens should pay attention to signals that something is amiss with a child and be careful not to "sneer or stigmatize" when they see a prostituted teen.

And this I agree with wholeheartedly:

Government, meanwhile, should toughen its punishments for child trafficking and more actively target the "johns" and pimps who make the trade possible, according to Lagon.

"That person has to be punished like they've committed a crime akin to slavery. This is something that deserves decades in prison," he said.

It was also mentioned that a study was done in 2001 that estimated up to 325,000 American children were at risk for sexual exploitation including child pornography, trafficking for sexual purposes, and prostitution. The number astounds and saddens me. Even 1 is too many.

Article.

 

[Jade Tigress]

Also:

Indonesian Sex Slave Breaks Silence
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/11/17/indonesia.sex.slave/index.html

 

[Sukerkin]

It is indeed a very disturbing 'trade'.

I have no objection to a woman voluntarily making her money by use of her physical assets, if it is her choice to do so or what she see's as the best way of dealing with her circumstances.

All other instances of the 'sex trade' are both immoral and illegal, de-humanising and enslaving those caught in its claws. Some of the evidence that has come out over here in England, about oraganised and intelligently covert groups exploiting minors is truly shocking.

 

[Carol]

My mom told me one of the NC papers mentioned that Shaniya's father is a wreck. This isn't the first time that someone has murdered a family member. Some years ago, someone murdered his wife.

I swear I just don't understand this **** :angry: