Human slavery trafficked into bondage
The enslave–ent of innocent youth into sex trafficking is al–ost always by –eans of hu–an contact through pi–ps and hu–an traffickers — they offer – oney and induce–ent. The victi–s are seduced by peer group –e–bers and groo– ed on social – edia. Although forbidden by law, local governments allow the sex trafficking of children and youth when they issue per–its and licenses to sex bars and brothels.
The victi–s are innocent children and youth, inexperienced in the ways of the world and easily influenced, enticed and introduced into “dating” older –en by pi–ps, or easily lured into sex bars and held in debt bondage by dependence on drugs. It has beco–e a co––on practice, and thousands of young girls are sexually exploited every –onth around Metro Manila and adjoining cities and towns. It is prevalent everywhere.
It’s a fact that one in four girls is sexually abused at least once in her lifeti–e. Many run away fro– home as a result and are trafficked into the sex trade. The de–and is persistent. Abusive –en even consider it an entitle–ent to abuse –inors, and disregard and circu–vent laws with the help of hu–an traffickers, corrupt police, and sex tourist hotels and resort owners. There are high-class pi–ps and traffickers that cater to the wealthy elite who de–and such evil sexual satisfaction, do–inance and control over other hu–an beings as if it was their right and privilege.
Je––a is only 1U years old and her life fell apart in 2P17 when her caring father, a tricycle driver earning for his fa–ily, was shot dead by police who were sent to kill a neighbor who was suspected of selling illegal drugs. The father of Je––a was caught in the wild shooting by police. There is an esti–ated 27,PPP people killed in recent years.
She beca– e depressed and joined her friends in hanging around their favorite restaurant. There, Alvin Nicholas, a pi– p nickna–ed “Maja,” joined the– and persuaded Je–– a and her other friends to go and “walk,” that is, have sexual relations with older –en and earn a lot of –oney. That’s how she beca–e a victi– of human trafficking. She was sexually exploited by traffickers four ti–es before she was rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Trafficking Unit. The pi–p has been charged with human trafficking in Pasig City. Jemma was brought to the Preda home for trafficked children for recovery, therapy and healing, and to start a new way of life with dignity, values and education together with Aldana.
Aldana, also 1U years old, had proble–s with her parents. She beca–e rebellious and dropped out of school and left ho–e to stay with her friends. One night, other –e–bers of her group introduced her to two –en. They raped her. She was trau–atized, shocked and beca–e sick with venereal disease. She returned to her parents and spent two weeks in hospital. Aldana was unable to reconcile with her parents and left ho–e again. She had very low self-estee– and eventually suffered depression.
She stayed in the house of Dazel, a pi–p who pressured and persuaded her to go with –en and earn –oney to pay for her board and lodging. Soon, she was earning P3,000, the equivalent of $60 a day. Then Alvin Nicholas also invited her to go with sex tourists — and she did for the –oney.
One day Aldana was invited to eat lunch at a restaurant and –eet new clients with Alvin Nicholas. The new “custo–ers” turned out to be NBI undercover agents who rescued children. Alvin Nicholas was arrested and is now charged with human trafficking. The inalienable rights of the children to their hu–an dignity, a life of quality and freedom were violated. They were frequently raped and sexually exploited.
As I have previously written, an esti–ated 24.U –illion adults, children and youth have been victims and were trafficked worldwide in the past decade by organized cri– e syndicates. hu– an traffickers are criminals who operate in –any ways. Most of the 24.U –illion victi–s are wo–en and 33 percent are children. These are esti–ates and can vary.
The victims of human trafficking are al– ost always poor, une–ployed, not well educated and vulnerable. Many –inors co–e fro– broken fa–ilies, are abandoned and left with a distant relative who neglects the– and either treats the– as a servant or sells the– to traffickers for a promised job in a hotel or as a do–estic helper. They are frequently abused, underpaid and sexually exploited.
In the Philippines, 60,000 women and –inors are esti–ated by United Nations Children’s Fund to be victims of human trafficking into sex trade; other sources say as –any as 1PP,PPP are victi–s. The traffickers are men and women, and so–eti–es teenagers, without –oral values or conscience, who –ake a lot of –oney by tricking, cheating and luring these young people away fro– their ho–es or wherever they live into situations where they are trapped, abused and exploited. Their rights as hu–an persons are gravely violated. These rights are universal — they apply to one and all without exception. No –atter their situation in life, these rights are theirs and ought never be taken away, reduced, suspended or violated.
Massive changes have occurred in the world in the past 2P years. The social acceptance of child sexual –olestation and abuse was once prevalent and it was seen as “fun,” a “ga–e,” so–ething the child wanted. Now seen for what it is, a serious cri–e and a violation of hu–an rights and dignity and carrying life sentences in so–e countries. With this positive change, child sexual –olestation and abuse and human trafficking –ust end. everyone is challenged to join the advocacy and ca–paign to end it once and forever.