Bringing sex trafficking into the light
Sharon Baker aims to educate children earlier on the perils of sex trafficking and how they can protect themselves by knowing what to look out for.
Inside a prodigious three-ring binder Sharon Baker keeps with her are hundreds of papers, from news articles to academic reports to position statements, and they all tell the tale of a “revolting” phenomenon — sex trafficking.
“The more you learn, the more you’re repulsed,” said the president and founder of the nonprofit Women’s Information Network.
And what she found has spurred an effort to implement an educational program for the dissemination of information to both parents and children on the signs of sex trafficking.
Empower Youth has been used in schools and youth programs across 19 states to spread awareness on not only the issue itself but on methods of response and prevention. The five-session series from the nonprofit iEmpathize is intended for those in seventh grade and up. Page after page in Baker’s binder reflects her exploration into the intricacies of a trade that is “being hidden in plain sight,” and is anything but what is glamorized in films with pimps in extravagant suits and prostitutes in stiletto heels and short skirts, she said.
In reality, the average victim is an 11-13 year old, who could be prowled upon anywhere from afterschool programs to online chat rooms, Baker said. She believes this is about recognizing the reality of the matter, rather than hiding behind the “false modesty” of concealing from children what’s actually happening to their peers.
Baker wants to bring the education coordinator for Empower Youth to Rome to train anyone who deals with youth — from ministers to workers and volunteers with the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and juvenile programs.
John Uldrick, the minister to students and missions at First Baptist Church, is coordinating with fellow youth leaders to initiate an effective and open dialogue concerning the exploitation of children.
“Evil runs from the light,” he said. “We keep it at arm’s length too much.”
Baker said she becomes incensed when others express incredulity that
this criminal enterprise has made it into Northwest Georgia. She recalled the findings of Doug Crumbly — one of the organizers of End Slavery Georgia — who has found at any given time 10-15 solicitations on Backpage.com — a classified advertising website —connected to the region.
According to statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, reports of sex trafficking more than doubled between 2012 and 2016, going up to 5,551 from 2,367. The numbers are based only on calls, emails and online tips received by the hotline.
Despite the increase, there could be many more victims —who are predominately female, as males tend to get into the trade for survival — out there who are the subjects of a $32 billion industry, Baker said.
To traffickers, she said, victims represent sustained profit because they can be reused over and over again — a practice leading to drug use, malnourishment and the torment of being diminished to property.
“Heaven only knows what they’re being asked to do,” she said.