Videos

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month

HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE: (888) 373-7888 TEXT: 233733

In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness month, we will be posting videos illustrating the various forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.  The purpose of these videos is to heighten awareness of the ways our children can be vulnerable to exploitation and/or fall victim to human trafficking. The more we learn about the many methods perpetrators use to entice and exploit children, the better prepared we are to protect them. Hopefully, these videos and the information they provide will enable us to start a dialog with our children and other members of the community spreading awareness and furthering our efforts to eradicate this heinous crime.

We encourage you to share these videos on your personal social media platforms. Suggested hashtags are provided for each video.

Sextortion

Sextortion is a relatively new form of sexual exploitation that occurs primarily online and in which non-physical forms of coercion are utilized, such as blackmail, to acquire sexual content (photos/videos) of the child, obtain money from the child or engage in sex with the child. The following PSA made in collaboration with The Dept. of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children illustrates the disturbing trend of online sexual exploitation or “sextortion.” In this short video, we see how a teenage girl is blackmailed into sending explicit videos to someone online she thought she knew.

Share and use #stopsextortion, #1is1toomany, #humantraffickingawarenessmonth

Stop Sextortion Before It Starts!

What is sexting? Sharing/receiving sexually explicit messages or nude/partially nude images usually via cellphones.

Safety in the digital age is a new challenge faced by our children. Kids have access to digital communities at younger and younger ages without the knowledge they need to stay safe. As caregivers, the most important thing we can do to keep our children safe online is to talk about it. The following video was created by Thorn (wearethorn.org), and provides a great entry point to discuss the issue of “sexting.” Watch it with your children, and share it with your friends.

Share and use #stopsextortion, #noshame, #friendsfirst

Learn the Facts

Human trafficking, it’s a global epidemic and the numbers are staggering. This one minute video illustrates the enormity of the issue worldwide.

Share and use #stophumantrafficking #humantraffickingawarenessmonth

Take Action

It may seem like an overwhelming issue, and you may ask yourself, what can I possibly do about it? The answer is not that complicated. Learn the facts, learn to recognize signs of human trafficking, and most importantly, talk to your children. The average age of children trafficked into prostitution is 12 to 14 years old, so educating your children on this issue is essential to keeping them safe. We found some great resources to help you start the conversation. Netsmartz.org, a program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, provides a wealth of information for parents and children on internet safety, children as victims, cyberbullying and much more. They also provide videos of real-life stories of children that have experienced exploitation in their lives. Here’s one video, Amy’s Choice, which recounts in her own words, her encounter with a man she met online.

Share and use #stopchildtrafficking #1is1toomanyj

In Her Own Words

“Human trafficking is a local crime. It is a crime that’s happening to your neighbor’s child. It is a crime that is happening in your city…”

Shari’s Story is a real-life account of two American teens who were lured into a child trafficking ring and exploited for commercial sex at motels and truck stops. Listen to insights from an FBI agent and a Texas prosecutor as they talk about how children are recruited, the methods pimps use to coerce and trap victims and the psychological trauma the victims endure. Listen to Shari tell the story of how she and her young cousin were forced into prostitution with no possibility of escape but for a 911 call from a trucker.

Share and use #stopsexexploitation #1is1toomany

Shari’s Story from iEmpathize on Vimeo.

Additional Resources

Download, print and share the following pdf resources provided by Shared Hope International.

Internet Safety Guide: Links, tools, suggestions and discussion starters to keep your kids safe online

What is Sex Trafficking: An infographic displaying the players, victims, and industry around sex trafficking.