educate empower and equip sex trafficking resource guide for youth leaders

8/9/2019 Educate Empower and Equip Sex Trafficking Resource Guide for Youth Leaders

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Educate, Empower, and Equip… to keep America’s Children Out of Sex Trafficking

This resource guide purposes to

educate, equip, and empower youth leadersabout child sex trafficking in America, so that they can

educate, equip, and empower the youth who are in their care.

Elise Mullins, Kristen Cummins, and Mary ClayRaising Awareness Project

Class MD544- Sexually Exploited ChildrenAugust 2012


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Table of Contents

Section I- Introduction to the Resource Guide

Introduction to this Resource Guide page 3

The Goal of this Guide page 5

Section II- Child Sex Trafficking Topics

What is It? Human Trafficking is… page 6

Who Does This to Others? page 8

Why Does This Continue? page 13

How Does the Media Affect This? page 16

How Does the Internet Impact This? page 19

Section III- Getting Involved: Having a Voice & Taking a Stand

How Does the Bible Speak to This? page 22

How Can I help? page 26


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Section I. Introduction to this Resource Guide-

1. Identify the Need:

Our group is composed of individuals who work with youth in various capacities andwho are concerned over the rising danger and epidemic of sexual exploitation and childtrafficking. We can no longer live as if we are unaware that this is occurring on our domestichome front. We are compelled to try to make a difference by raising awareness in youth, as wellas in the influential adults in children’s lives, such as parents, teachers and youth leaders.

This resource tool was compiled in order to bring the necessitated awareness to preventchildren from falling into the traps of predators and traffickers who would have them to be theirnext victims. Instead, we desire the youth from this generation to become those who are well-

equipped to address the ills of the trafficking situation so that they can take up the cause andgenerate awareness amongst their own generation. This guide is designed for American youth between the ages of 11 and 18 years of age. The resources listed herein can be utilized accordingto the demographic needs of the specific group being considered.

This guide will be helpful for youth to learn about different aspects of the dangers oftrafficking in our world today, but it is also a helpful tool for the influential adults in youth’slives who might want to do a teaching, parent seminar, or event about the topic.

Existing awareness tools designed for youth are scarce and often fail to relate specificallyto the youth culture. They seem to lack central components that we see as invaluable to both prevention and intervention modalities. This model provides a focus on encouraging youth toestablish their identity and worth in Christ. Knowing who are in Christ is the most vital resource

in helping youth to identify the lies that the media perpetuates concerning their value or beautyand which make them susceptible to the lies of culture that objectify them according to theirlooks or sexual prowess.

This model will also help to buffer the barrage of attacks that youth face daily byequipping them with tools, resources, and ministries that will strengthen their resolve to not becaught unawares. Once educated, empowered, and equipped to make a difference, they are lesslikely to be led down the destructive tracts that the slow ebb of society, media, and sexual predators would like to see them go. We aspire to see youth learn to stand up, to be a voice, andto make a difference for those in their own generation. The youth of today have limitless optionsof how they can become involved in either helping those who have already been affected bychild sexual exploitation and trafficking, as well as, unlimited potential in turning the tide of

prevention, so that millions others won’t be affected because the awareness brought through theyouth of their own generation.

2. Analyze the Need

Existing tools which bring awareness tend to focus upon sexual exploitation andtrafficking overseas and are not aimed specifically towards youth in America. However, youth in


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America remain a group whom are at risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking. They are bombarded with perversity throughout the media and live in a highly sexualized culture, yetlargely remain unaware of how they may be victims of supply or contributing towards thedemand of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. Equipping those who work withyouth with a practical and simple holistic means to raise awareness amongst youth will serve to

help prevent children from being lured away by predators. It will also enable them to help othersfrom falling into the same trap.

Why is the need important?

Without practical tools to equip influential leaders to raise awareness amongst youth, a person can be left feeling daunted by the task even though they have the desire and passion to bring awareness. Consequently, they might be discouraged from even attempting to take onsuch a task.

Why isn’t it being met or how does it need to be met better?

The need is not being met effectively partially because of the misunderstanding of thedefinition of human trafficking. Child sexual exploitation is largely misunderstood as childrenwho are trafficked (i.e. moved) to a different location and is connected with images of far awaycountries, like India or Thailand.

But the truth is, and the law states, that regardless of the means used to coerce a child, if a person is under the age of 18, they are still considered a victim- even if they gave some form of

consent. People need to become aware that domestic trafficking occurs throughout America andthat the children of America are vulnerable to it. Awareness tools that are relevant to youth, andthat specifically relate to situations in their life, are essential.

What will happen if this need is continued to be unmet?

If this need continues to be unmet, persons of influence in a child’s life will remain

unable to effectively bring awareness to the dangers of domestic sex trafficking. Consequently,many children will continue to be victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking purely becauseof a lack of knowledge. Furthermore, children will not be mobilized to utilize their skills to bring

awareness to others.Sex trafficking is not a problem that is going away. In all reality, it will only continue toworsen without swift and serious intervention. This generation needs to be empowered andequipped with truth and strength over how to approach this epidemic in a meaningful way.

It is the hope of the authors that this guide can be used to help educate, empower andequip youth leaders and youth, to be part of the solution of turning the tide for their owngeneration.


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The Goal of this Guide-

This guide is meant to be a resource to educate, empower and equip youth leaders in

America so that they can in turn, educate, empower, and equip the youth whom they serve.

Educate-

This guide educates its readers about the prevalence and scope of sex trafficking in theUnited States. We gathered relevant literature in the field, both in print, and internet links andmulti-media formats, and compiled it in a way that those who work with youth (parents, teachers,youth leaders, etc) could easily find relevant information and draw from in order to runawareness assemblies, youth meetings, and even parent meetings on this topic in their schoolsand churches. This guide is also user friendly for the youth who would like to be educated on it

themselves.

We have done the homework for these youth leaders. We have gathered helpful toolsand resources so that they are able to choose which resources best fit their focus and needs asthey implement their own awareness campaign. Since the goal of this project is awarenesstraining more for the preventative side, the resources will be heavily tipped towards that endinstead of towards the rescue side of things.

Empower-

This guide empowers readers with a Biblical perspective of the value and worth ofindividuals, and of the need to develop a healthy spiritual identity that helps to guard against thedesensitization of culture and grooming tactics of perpetrators.

This guide empowers the youth to make healthy choices for themselves and how tointervene safely and effectively when they see red flags with teens around them. We willempower them to develop and use their voice.

Equip-

This guide equips youth leaders with tools and resources to develop a basic levelawareness to this problem of sex trafficking in America. None of us needs to reinvent the wheel.Therefore, this guide provides the names of books, YouTube videos and internet links that willhelp the youth leaders to dream up ways that they, and the youth that they lead, can become partof a voice of prevention and change for the epidemic of child sex trafficking in America.


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Section II. Child Sex Trafficking Topics

1-

What is it?

Human Trafficking is:

Educate

Human trafficking involves the recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring orreceiving a person. It may occur internationally, but it also occurs domestically,

right here within the borders of the United States.

There are 27 million people in slavery today, which is more slaves than ever inhistory. 1

There are several exploitative purposes of human trafficking, including sexualexploitation, such as prostitution, forced labor/debt bondage, slavery or servitude,

marriage, removal of organs, or war.

American children are victims of human trafficking. Many become prostitutedthrough threats, force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, payments or abuse of

power or position of vulnerability to establish control over another person.

When a minor is trafficked, even if consent of the child is given, the child has still been trafficked and has been victimized.

EmpowerWhile it might be shocking to realize that sex trafficking occurs at all, it is likely even

more shocking to discover that it occurs right here in America- if not within our owncommunities, then very likely around the corner and down the street from us. Even more

disturbing is the fact that children are prime targets for sex traffickers precisely because they

are young and vulnerable. The age of a child is the prime factor which makes them at risk of

being preyed upon and sexually exploited. The average age of entry into prostitution and pornography in the U.S. is 12 to 14 years old.2

High concentrations of children are prostituted in areas where youth are present, such as

malls, schools, adult entertainment venues, including strip clubs, adult video stores, massage parlors, apartment complexes, hotels, malls, schools, adult venues.

3 “New York State Office

of Children and Family Services reported in 2007 that an estimated 2,253 domestically sextrafficked youth are in New York City on an annual basis.” 4

1 Bales, K. (2004). Disposable people: New slavery in the global economy. Berkeley, CA: Universityof California Press. 2 Ibid,. 30.3 Shared Hope International, The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America's

Prostituted Children.(Vancouver, WA: Shared Hope International, 2009), 17. 4 Ibid,. 12.


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These are staggering statistics for New York City, but let’s not be fooled that this is justan inner-city phenomenon. Middle class children from the city and the suburbs are also

likely victims of domestic trafficking in the U.S. Profits from the commercial sex industryglobally is $33.9 billion per year. 5 These numbers indicate that an epidemic is occurring,right here, right under our nose. And it is up to us to speak up, to raise awareness, and to

make a difference.

Equip

Not For Sale Human Trafficking Statisticshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfZdSsYTB4&feature=related

Child Sex Trafficking in the United Stateshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsEmKDqDt4

Human Trafficking in Californiahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa_Wo4hbh50&feature=related

CNN: Child Sex Slaves in Americahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PLAPvxbYTM&feature=relmfu

Do you know Laceyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfo2pmBVrCI

Child Sex Trafficking on the Internet – ‘Selling the girl next door’ Documentary (maywant to skip the beginning) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRZ1NDR0Rc

Abducted Girl, An American Sex Slave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQR27EgWsE&feature=related

100, 000+ Child Prostitutes abused in the USAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTejdoltf9c

Books about Sex Trafficking

Bales, K. (2004). Disposable people: New slavery in the global economy. Berkeley,CA: University of California Press.

Belser, P. (2007). Forced labour and human trafficking: Estimating the profits.

International Labour Office [ILO], 14.

Jewell, Dawn Herzog. Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom: Sex Traff icking, global prostitution & the gospel’s transforming power . Grand Rapids: Monarch Books: 2008.

5 Belser, P. (2007). Forced labour and human trafficking: Estimating the profits. International LabourOffice [ILO], 14.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfZdSsYTB4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsEmKDqDt4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa_Wo4hbh50&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PLAPvxbYTM&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfo2pmBVrCIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRZ1NDR0Rchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQR27EgWsE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQR27EgWsE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTejdoltf9chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTejdoltf9chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTejdoltf9chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQR27EgWsE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRZ1NDR0Rchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfo2pmBVrCIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PLAPvxbYTM&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa_Wo4hbh50&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsEmKDqDt4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfZdSsYTB4&feature=related


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2- Who does this to others? Predators: who they are and what they do

Educate:

Educate About Predators-

A predator is someone who seeks out a child or teen with an intention to use themfor their own purposes- whether for forced labor or sexual exploitation.

A predator looks at people as objects instead of as people of dignity, value andworth. This objectification is how they can seek to profit from what is clearlydangerous, damaging, and potentially deadly, to their victims.

A predator may “target children (specifically those ‘not living with their parents’) because of their vulnerability and gullibility, as well as the market demand foryoung victims.”

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Predators who seek to traffic children “prey on victims as young as 12.

Traffickers have been reported targeting their minor victims through telephonechat-lines, clubs, on the street, through friends, and at malls, as well as using girlsto recruit other girls at schools and after-school programs.” 7

Predators have strategies called ‘grooming techniques’ that enable them to gain

access to kids and lure them into a relationship. It then becomes easier to misuse

the kid’s trust and begin to abuse or exploit them for sexual purposes.

Educate About Grooming Techniques-Grooming Techniques are actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of

befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child. The goal is to lowerthe child's inhibitions so that they will not resist the sexual advances made by the perpetrator or by those the perpetrator has passes the child off to for sexual activity:

Older boyfriend: A main tactic used by traffickers/pimps to prey on youth is toinstitute a cycle of intimacy and violence. It is not unusual for a trafficker to first

develop an intimate relationship with a targeted youth as a “boyfriend.” Thissometimes is referred to as the “lover - boy tactic.” The trafficker uses a child’sdesire for affection to lock her into the relationship with him8. Men, usually 18-25, seek out vulnerable girls from broken lives, with learning difficulties, or

6 www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.html 7 www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.html 8 Ibid,. 35.


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mental problems. They manipulate her by wooing her with elaborate gifts,romance, and flowery words. This is meant to lead to sex and falling blindly inlove. Then the Loverboy begins to enslave her. He followers her where ever shegoes, asks her to do sexual favors for friends, and may ask that she get his nametattooed on her body to show her fidelity. Soon, the Loverboy begins to insist that

she prostitutes herself, and may threaten her with beatings, and possibly threatenher family. The Loverboy will watch the girl as she begins to work as a prostituteso that she cannot escape. Finally, the Loverboy forces her to forfeit all hermoney and earnings.9

Dating Violence: Violence including grooming, abuse, assault can be part ofdating relationships. It usually starts with emotional abuse. Dating violence canoccur on the first date or well into a relationship. It may grow to include physicaland sexual abuse including repeated rape. Boyfriend abuse can be part of the progression from dating to prostitution. Both male and female partners can besubject to such abuse. Understanding the right to a safe and positive dating

experience can reduce teen vulnerability to further abuse and trafficking.

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Familial Trafficking: A family member trades or rents their child for sexual use by another in exchange for money, food, drugs, etc. In Salt Lake City, “an 11-year old was removed from her biological parents’ care due to drug use by the

parents. Two years after the removal, the child disclosed in therapy that her parents forced her to watch pornography with her brother and then engage in sexacts for the entertainment of their parents and their parents’ friends. The parentsoften charged the spectators a fee payable in money or drugs, especially crystalmethamphetamine.”11

Target Children in Child Protective Services: “Group homes, foster carehomes, etc., can be targeted by traffickers/pimps who take advantage of theconcentration of vulnerable youth and systematically recruit from theselocations.112 The My Life, My Choice Project based in Boston, Massachusetts,found that of the first 40 girls they worked with who were living in group homewithin the foster care system, 38 had been approached by a pimp forrecruitment.”12

Preying on Runaways: Minors who run away from home attempting to escapetheir environment are quickly approached by predators. “Runaway and homelessyouth in Salt Lake City in February 2008 found that of the 32% of youth who had

been victimized through ‘survival sex,’ 50% indicated that they had been soughtout and solicited by the adult perpetrator.”13

9 Jewell, Dawn. Escaping the Devils Bedroom. Grand Rapids: Monarch Books, 2008, 6310 http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/types-of-violence/dating-violence.cfm 11 11 Shared Hope International, The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America's Prostituted

Children.(Vancouver, WA: Shared Hope International, 2009), 33. 12 Shared Hope International, 35.13 Shared Hope International, 18.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/types-of-violence/dating-violence.cfmhttp://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/types-of-violence/dating-violence.cfmhttp://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/types-of-violence/dating-violence.cfmhttp://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/types-of-violence/dating-violence.cfm


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Empower :

As hard as it might be to believe that there are some people who would causewillful harm and danger to children, we must be willing to look at this reality because this

danger will not disappear on its own. We can no longer hide behind the ‘luxury ofdenial.’ The U.S. government has proof that human trafficking is occurring “in all 50states.”

14 The reality is that sex trafficking in the United States can involve “school -age

children- particularly those not living with their parents.” 15 Of the total humantrafficking incidents opened for investigation between January of 2008 and June 2012 bythe U.S. Department of Justice, 40% of these cases were about the prostitution or sexualexploitation of a child. 16

There are three ways we can learn to help. First, we can learn the characteristicsof predators and traffickers, and their grooming techniques so that we develop a safetyradar that alerts us when we see that someone fits a profile of these dangerous types.

When there is someone who is questionable according to these profiles, then it is the rightthing to do to bring this to an adult’s attention so that adults in roles of authority can helpassess the validity of the concerns.

Second, we can help to prevent new victimization by raising awareness amongothers about the danger of those who would seek to harm children.

Third, we can help prevent new victimization by learning how to identifysomeone who might be at risk. To the degree that we develop an attunement to the ‘red

flags’ then we are able to help others develop similar awareness too. We can also helpvictims who have already been affected by trafficking. Instead of blaming victims, wecan be part of the voice of mercy and grace, a voice substantiated by actions that promotethe healing and restoration that these individuals so desperately need.

Equip

Resources on the Characteristics of Predators, their Strategies & Grooming Techniques

Air Force Space Command article- Characteristics of Sex Offendershttp://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123289051

Dr Phil article on Sexual Predator Warning Signs http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/266/

A Training for Probation Officers on ‘Grooming Techniques of Predators-http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdf

14 www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.html 15www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.html 16 http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdf

http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/266/http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://www.drphil.com/articles/article/266/


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Domestic Sex Trafficking: The Criminal Operations of the American Pimp http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/humantrafficking/vs/documents/Domestic_Sex_Trafficking_Guide.pdf

Kids are not for salehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0OzgfxB6G4&feature=relmfu

Sex Trafficking: How it workshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOpws3XgwY&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Not for Sale: End Human Traffickinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo&playnext=1&list=PL1B04B9AF8416B7F6&feature=results_main

Books on Predators and their Grooming Techniques

Baker, Dr. Leigh M. Protecting Your Children from Sexual Predators. (2002) St.Martin’s Press.

Hare, Robert D, PhD. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of The Psychopaths Among Us (1999).

Salter, Anna C. Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists and Other Sex Offenders (2004)

Sax, Robin. Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep

Kids Safe. (2002)

Resources on the Children at Risk and Victims of Trafficking

U.S. Department of Justice article- Characteristics of Suspected Human TraffickingIncidents, 2008-2010http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdf

U.S. Department of Education: Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools. A Fact Sheet forSchools on the Human Trafficking of Children in the U.S.

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.html

Probation Officer Training about Predator Grooming Techniques http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdf

Internet Safety Quiz http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/other/InternetSafety.htm

http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/humantrafficking/vs/documents/Domestic_Sex_Trafficking_Guide.pdfhttp://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/humantrafficking/vs/documents/Domestic_Sex_Trafficking_Guide.pdfhttp://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/humantrafficking/vs/documents/Domestic_Sex_Trafficking_Guide.pdfhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0OzgfxB6G4&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0OzgfxB6G4&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOpws3XgwY&NR=1&feature=endscreenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOpws3XgwY&NR=1&feature=endscreenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo&playnext=1&list=PL1B04B9AF8416B7F6&feature=results_mainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo&playnext=1&list=PL1B04B9AF8416B7F6&feature=results_mainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo&playnext=1&list=PL1B04B9AF8416B7F6&feature=results_mainhttp://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdfhttp://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://www.missingkids.com/en_US/other/InternetSafety.htmhttp://www.missingkids.com/en_US/other/InternetSafety.htmhttp://www.missingkids.com/en_US/other/InternetSafety.htmhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/training/ProbationOfficerTraining/documents/groomingpresentation1.pdfhttp://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdfhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo&playnext=1&list=PL1B04B9AF8416B7F6&feature=results_mainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo&playnext=1&list=PL1B04B9AF8416B7F6&feature=results_mainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOpws3XgwY&NR=1&feature=endscreenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0OzgfxB6G4&feature=relmfuhttp://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/humantrafficking/vs/documents/Domestic_Sex_Trafficking_Guide.pdfhttp://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/humantrafficking/vs/documents/Domestic_Sex_Trafficking_Guide.pdf


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Resources of Modern Day Examples of Predators and Child Sex Trafficking

Characteristics of a Predator- the Jerry Sandusky Storyhttp://yourlife.usatoday.com/sex-relationships/lifesolutions/post/2011/11/penn-state-

sandusky-characteristics-of-a-predator/566361/1

Child sex trafficking: A story of a girl who managed to escapehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FvNbLyGFD0&feature=related

CNN: Girl Tricked into Sexual Slavery (From Mexico)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5bv2us3DPc&feature=relmfu

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/sex-relationships/lifesolutions/post/2011/11/penn-state-sandusky-characteristics-of-a-predator/566361/1http://yourlife.usatoday.com/sex-relationships/lifesolutions/post/2011/11/penn-state-sandusky-characteristics-of-a-predator/566361/1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FvNbLyGFD0&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FvNbLyGFD0&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5bv2us3DPc&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5bv2us3DPc&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FvNbLyGFD0&feature=relatedhttp://yourlife.usatoday.com/sex-relationships/lifesolutions/post/2011/11/penn-state-sandusky-characteristics-of-a-predator/566361/1http://yourlife.usatoday.com/sex-relationships/lifesolutions/post/2011/11/penn-state-sandusky-characteristics-of-a-predator/566361/1


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3- Why does this continue?Society’s subtle support of trafficking

Educate

“American culture glorifies unrestrained sex and is normalizing commercialsexual exploitation.”17

Every person contributes in subtle ways to the demand for sexually

trafficked minors by tolerating the normalization of sexualization in our

culture.

‘Pimp’ is a word that has become glorified in our modern world. It now

refers to something that is cool, improved, or better than it was previously.

Traffickers/pimps, facilitators, and buyers are using the Internet and other

technology, as well as magazines, to expand their marketing base (28)

Over a two-year period, an 800% increase was seen in the number of

children reporting that technology was used in some way to facilitate

prostitution (28).

Empower

The World’s view of sexuality

Sexual images and references are laced throughout music, magazines, movies,and advertising. One does not have to search hard to find an explicit photo. Society believes that sexual drive should not be controlled once ignited. Because of this, it has become common for younger and younger students to engage in sexual activity.

The world sees sex as a token of status for a male and value for a female. The

belief is pervasive that if a guy really loves a girl, then they will get in bed together. The pressure to have sexual experiences and to talk about them amongst peers is increasing at

an alarmingly younger and younger rate. The world’s casual attitude about sexualinteractions infects us to believe that the sexual choices we make are no big deal.

Dawn Herzog Jewell, author of Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom, provides someharrowing statistics for us to consider: “84 percent of music videos on BlackEntertainment Television included sexual imagery – most commonly sexualobjectification and women dancing sexually,” and “27 percent of teen-rated videogames

18 contained sexual themes… 46 percent of female characters had pronounced

17 Jewell, Dawn Herzog. Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom, page 65.18 This is from a research study with a sample of 880 games, 396 of those released in 2001.


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cleavage, large breasts, or provocative clothing.”19 Magazine advertisements haveincreased their nudity and suggestive dressing from 28 percent in 1983 to 49 percent in

2003.20

“In a sexually charged society that both encourages promiscuity and

covets the innocence of youth, it follows that the demand for young victims will

rise to meet the cultural glorification of underage sexuality.An example of the demand effect created by buyers can be found in theactivities surrounding large events, such as the Sundance Film Festival held in

Salt Lake City, the Ultimate Fighting Championships held in Las Vegas each

year, and the Super Bowl held in different cities each year. Law enforcementnoted that during these events traffickers move victims into the city in response to

the expected increased demand resulting in a higher incidence rate of adults and

minors arrested for prostitution in both locations.”21

Our Subtle Support

The world’s distorted view of sexuality perpetuates the trafficking of minors for

prostitution by reinforcing lies and sanctioning the reasons for the demand.Sexualization transpires “when a person’s value comes only from his/her sexualappeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is

sexually ob jectified.”22

It is easy to be naïve to our roll in generating the demand of sexually exploitedchildren. We may not have purchased commercial sex or have a sexual preference for

children, but instead, we have still become part of the normalization of sexualization in

our culture in more subtle, indirect ways.Sexual images and references are laced throughout music, magazines, movies,

and advertising. For example,

Maybe we enjoy watching “Pimp My Ride?”

Maybe we listen to sexual degradation prevalent in music, repeating lyricssuch as the Pussycat Dolls, ‘ Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot likeme?’

Maybe we still go to concerts that have inappropriate stage antics amongstyoung dancers and singers?

Maybe we still shop at stores who have their teenage models wear provocative clothing?

Maybe we still watch the television shows highlighting racy underage

activities?

Maybe we read the popular novels that involve sexualized teenagerelationships?

Maybe we promote teenage dating at young ages because we think it iscute?

19 Jewell, 69-7020 Jewell 7021 National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking by Shared Hope International, page 16. 22 Jewell, 66.


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Maybe we think that it is “normal” and some sort of “rite of passage”when teens date around and get their hearts ‘broken’ at young ages?

We must ask ourselves where have we actively or passively accepted these

aspects of culture? We must consider how do we model these beliefs to others? What dothe teens who are around us notice in the choices that we make? How do we use these

examples in culture as ‘teachable moments’ for the teens who are watching us? It is crucial to recognize ways in which both our actions, and our inactions, havesupported the demand for exploited children so that we can rid ourselves of all forms of

participation, even the subtle ones.

Equip

CNN: Underage sex for sale on the internethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zK72mxdZZs&feature=relmfu

CNN Craigslist and the Sex Trade:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPg0k6hTZHo

‘Men paid to rape me via’ Craigslist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRqSH_xS4rE&feature=relmfu

Child pornography fact sheethttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2451

“The Importance of Media Literacy in Preventing Child Sex Trafficking” Holly Smith

in Washington Times http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-

out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-

tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600

Tammy’s Journey Through Abuse and Into Prostitution at Age 15 http://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/RescueRestore/DomesticRescueRestoration/Stor iesofHope.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zK72mxdZZs&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zK72mxdZZs&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPg0k6hTZHohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPg0k6hTZHohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRqSH_xS4rE&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRqSH_xS4rE&feature=relmfuhttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2451http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2451http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2451http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/RescueRestore/DomesticRescueRestoration/StoriesofHope.aspxhttp://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/RescueRestore/DomesticRescueRestoration/StoriesofHope.aspxhttp://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/RescueRestore/DomesticRescueRestoration/StoriesofHope.aspxhttp://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/RescueRestore/DomesticRescueRestoration/StoriesofHope.aspxhttp://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/RescueRestore/DomesticRescueRestoration/StoriesofHope.aspxhttp://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/jun/19/importance-media-literacy-preventing-child-sex-tra/?goback=%2Egde_2051349_member_126646600http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2451http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2451http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRqSH_xS4rE&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPg0k6hTZHohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zK72mxdZZs&feature=relmfu


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4- How does the Media affect this? Media’s influence of ‘normalizing’ attitudes and lifestyles

Educate

o Mass media is creating a mass sexualization of today’s youth through thesexualized images, messages, and products geared towards young people.

o The media’s campaign to target young people with early sexualization creates a

desensitizing effect. Desensitization is “a psychological process that has often been involved in explaining viewers’ emotional reactions.”

23 Though this waswidely studied in relation to media violence, the same principles apply to whathappens to viewers in response to the hyper-sexualized culture that media promotes.

o The net effect of this desensitization process is that, over time, those exposed tothe barrage of images and messages communicating this hyper-sexualizedmessage will incrementally adopt it as fact, and begin to alter themselves to liveup to it.

o This early sexualization of today’s youth creates a slippery slope that groom theyouth for earlier sexual encounters, as well as for more of an openness to the othersexualized encounters that predators and traffickers would like to entice themtowards.

o All one needs to do is look at the current trend in Halloween costumes for young

girls- they are suggestive, sexualized, and seductive, and geared for 10-18 yearolds. 24 We must stop and ask ourselves, if we are promoting sexualized costumesat this young age, then is it any surprise that our youth will continue dressing thatway at older ages?

Empower

The Rock of Ages is a movie that recently hit the theatres, starring Tom Cruise.The plotline evolved from a clean coming of age story to one where in this sweet, Mid-western girl who came to California to live her dream in the world of Rock-N-Roll, has to

work as a stri pper in order to ‘make ends meet.’The overarching message that is communicated through her experience is one that

makes it seem like being a stripper is a vocation that sometimes you just have to fall backon. It is a grossly false portrayal of the pain and trauma that truly exists in that world ofsexual exploitation, and of the scars and danger that exact its price.

23 http://www.bookrags.com/research/desensitization-and-media-effects-eci-01/24 http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/10/28/eye-candy.html


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But, what this movie, and other mass media projections, specifically the newwave of reality television shows do is ‘normalize’ extremely early sexualizedexperiences.

They desensitize the viewers to the fact that it is not really a healthy nor a goodthing to be ingesting this information because it is not edifying in any way, shape or

form. It might be entertaining, but is it edifying? Is it really ‘no big deal’ when a young toddler on Toddlers and Tiaras

Beauty Pageant Reality Show dresses up like the prostitute played by JuliaRoberts in the movie Pretty Woman

Is it really ‘no big deal’ when the teenage moms from shows like TheSecret Life of the American Teenager and The Teen Mom Reality Showbecome celebrities because of their choices? Is it really okay that theirrelational and sexual exploits are splashed across magazine covers as iftheir teenage love affairs are something to glamorize or learn from?

Is it really ‘no big deal’ when a show like Little Miss Perfect Reality Show

These television shows and movies neutralize the effects of people’s choices and

gives a false presentation of what life is really about. They are called ‘reality shows’ as ifto convince us that what is represented is how people truly live in the midst of their lifechoices. But these shows do not show the full array of consequences; they show thedetails that make for good programming.

Their objective is to get good ratings for the show. They are going to ‘juice up’the drama to make it interesting, without showing what life is truly like for theseindividuals once the cameras are gone and the lights are off.

All of this just seems a little too easy for predators and traffickers who live to break down the defenses and protective barriers of youth in order to convince them thatwhat they can offer them is not danger and pain, but rather, fun and exciting.

The predators and traffickers have less work to do to when we as a societynormalize young sexual relationships and seduction as if it is ‘normal.’ When media and

marketing makes all of this serious life stuff seem appealing, fun, and without seriousconsequence, then sexual predators and traffickers have a lot less work to convince youthto step into and live a young, fun, and sexualized life.

Equip

Effects of Media

Documentary on how media misrepresents womenhttp://www.missrepresentation.org

Effects of Mass media on Teens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgUE4BeWM-g

http://www.missrepresentation.org/http://www.missrepresentation.org/http://www.missrepresentation.org/


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How Media Desensitizes us to Violence

Youtube Video on Media’s Desensitizing Effects in Relation to the Colorado Massacre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iPAD_ansd0&noredirect=1

Article on Desensitization and Media Effects related to Violencehttp://www.bookrags.com/research/desensitization-and-media-effects-eci-01/

How Media Impacts Clothing:

Newsweek Article entitled, “Eye Candy: Little Girl’s Halloween Costumes…” http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/10/28/eye-candy.html

Video about Celia Rivenbark’s Book - Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like A Skank .http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c45_1193594971

How Pageants Train Young Girls

The Little Miss Perfect Showhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Gq6xV0jeg

Little Miss Perfect- Ashley’s Transformation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG3hy_xz-xc&feature=relmfu

Toddlers and Tiaras Prostitute Costume for a 3-Year-Old

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T5qN8bfpC4

You tube video comparing the natural beauty of girls with the Little Miss Perfect showhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYK8VwYqeQ

How Media Promotes Certain Lifestyles through Reality TV

“Human Barbie” Gives Daughter Liposuction Voucher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZqEQigPXE&feature=related

14 Year Old Prostitute Worked on Moms Bed & Got Pregnanthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT7cBVNZYE8&feature=related

Article on Teen Mom Shows Taking Over Reality TVhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2081928,00.html

http://www.bookrags.com/research/desensitization-and-media-effects-eci-01/http://www.bookrags.com/research/desensitization-and-media-effects-eci-01/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/10/28/eye-candy.htmlhttp://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/10/28/eye-candy.htmlhttp://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c45_1193594971http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c45_1193594971http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Gq6xV0jeghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Gq6xV0jeghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG3hy_xz-xc&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG3hy_xz-xc&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T5qN8bfpC4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T5qN8bfpC4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYK8VwYqeQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYK8VwYqeQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZqEQigPXE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZqEQigPXE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT7cBVNZYE8&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT7cBVNZYE8&feature=relatedhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2081928,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2081928,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2081928,00.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT7cBVNZYE8&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZqEQigPXE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYK8VwYqeQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T5qN8bfpC4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG3hy_xz-xc&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Gq6xV0jeghttp://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c45_1193594971http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/10/28/eye-candy.htmlhttp://www.bookrags.com/research/desensitization-and-media-effects-eci-01/


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5- How does the Internet impact this?Online dangers

Educate

The media makes it seem as if sex trafficking usually occurs through the use ofkidnapping or brutal force, but traffickers use a variety of other techniques to draw intheir victims.

Traffickers use deceptive tactics such as false job advertising or promises of opportunitiesthat will never actually be realized. In America, many of these job postings or travelopportunities are posted on the Internet.

They convince a person that the opportunity is real, and coerce the person into coming infor an “interview.” When the person shows up, he or she is exploited throughcommercial sex.

Facebook, Myspace and Craigslist are some of the websites that have been used to

advertise prostituted children.

The accessibility of online porn makes it all the more likely that children who are not

necessarily looking for it, will still find it. “Sadly, the average age of first exposure toonline porn is only 11.”

25

Empower

Online Pornography:The internet presents new challenges in the battle against due to the accessibility

of “The growth of the Web worldwide has made online pornography available to millionsof people, generating $2.5 billion annual revenue in the US alone.”

26

“40 millions America adults visit online porn sites regularly.”27

That is anastounding statistic, but it is due to the gross availability and privacy that the internet

offers. Prior to the internet, people had to go to a store to purchase magazines in order to

view pornography. That took much more time, effort, and had the risk of being

discovered. But the internet affords instant availability in the privacy of one’s own home.There is plenty of availability, accessibility and therefore, seemingly, no risk. But that isall part of the lie. Viewing pornography is a slippery slope that easily leads to more and

more involvement.

25 Jewell, 76.26 Jewell, 75.27 Jewell, 75.


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“Cyber sex is a new form of virtual prostitution in which entrepreneurs in theInternet sex industry are expanding ways to sell flesh online.”28 This is very lucrative forthem because they need only pay to have one set of photographs taken, and yet, they canuse the same photographs to sell to an unlimited number of customers for years and years

to come.

Online Job Opportunities and PurchasesPotential victims are lured in because of the potential of something better for their

lives, whether it be a job opportunity, success, stability, or a promising relationship.As youth leaders, we need to help teenagers become aware of these tactics. A

potential job opportunity should be researched before someone assumes it is legitimate.For example, if there is a company listed on the job posting, that company should beresearched to make sure it exists and is reliable. A job that is advertising for young,single women that requires little to no qualifications should be avoided.29 If there isinformation missing such as an employer’s name and contact information, website, or joblocation, then those should be seen as red flags.

The same caution should be observed when shopping online for a new car,electronic item, or sporting equipment. If a teenager has to go to someone’s house orother meeting spot to pick up an item purchased online, then that teenager should beaccompanied by an adult.

Online Dating

Some traffickers take a more direct route and use online dating or social mediawebsites to attract girls. They may meet online, and over time, portray themselves as aloving potential boyfriend, slowly gaining the trust and affection of a girl. This is agrooming technique that is done via the Internet, yet can still elicit the same kind ofemotional attachment.

In conjunction with gaining trust, the trafficker may also try to desensitize theteenager to sexual ideas by sending increasingly graphic pornographic pictures1. After acertain amount of time, the proclaimed boyfriend will set up a meeting time with the girl.At that point, he will sexually exploit her either by force or by her own willingness sinceshe has been manipulated into believing that he cares for her.

Unfortunately in America, teenagers cannot expect most people to be trustworthy.Teenagers need to be taught that even the most attractive and well-meaning guys can bevery deceptive. They should be guarded against strange messages or unknown friendrequests on Facebook or other social media. They need to be guarded against unknown people that suddenly seem interested in them on the online chat forums. To be precautionary against such messages, teens should have restricted privacy settings andlearn what kind of information should be kept private. Any identifying information thatcould help locate their whereabouts should be kept confidential when online: socialsecurity number, address, phone number, the city and state they live in, the school theyattend, etc.

28 Jewell, 77.29 Shared Hope International, The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America'sProstituted Children.(Vancouver, WA: Shared Hope International, 2009), 38.


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Equip:

National Report on Domestic Sex Trafficking, page 38http://www.sharedhope.org/Portals/0/Documents/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009.pdf

Tips for online safetyhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/~/media/files/pdf/channels/parenting/help-protect-your-children-online.ashx

Internet Safety: Building Character and Building Wallshttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety-Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdf

Internet Filter to downloadhttps://www.bsecure.com/offers/focusonthefamily.aspx

Department of Justice Project Safe Childhoodhttp://www.justice.gov/psc/publications.html

Keeping Kids Safer on the Internethttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954

Internet Safety Quiz for Adultshttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3600

Online Victimization of Youthhttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2530

Protect Children Onlinewww.netsmartz.org

Social Networking Cautionshttp://onguardonline.gov/articles/0012-kids-and-socializing-online

Books on Online and Internet Safety for Teens:

Hansen, Chris. To Catch A Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home. (2007).

Parcell, Lynne. Child Safety Online: The Kickstart Guide to Protect Your Child From Internet Dangers. (2012)

Willard, Nancy E. Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn toUse the Internet Safely and Responsibly. (2007)

http://www.sharedhope.org/Portals/0/Documents/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009.pdfhttp://www.sharedhope.org/Portals/0/Documents/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009.pdfhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/~/media/files/pdf/channels/parenting/help-protect-your-children-online.ashxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/~/media/files/pdf/channels/parenting/help-protect-your-children-online.ashxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/~/media/files/pdf/channels/parenting/help-protect-your-children-online.ashxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety-Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdfhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety-Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdfhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety-Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdfhttps://www.bsecure.com/offers/focusonthefamily.aspxhttps://www.bsecure.com/offers/focusonthefamily.aspxhttp://www.justice.gov/psc/publications.htmlhttp://www.justice.gov/psc/publications.htmlhttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3600http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3600http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3600http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2530http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2530http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2530http://www.netsmartz.org/http://www.netsmartz.org/http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0012-kids-and-socializing-onlinehttp://onguardonline.gov/articles/0012-kids-and-socializing-onlinehttp://onguardonline.gov/articles/0012-kids-and-socializing-onlinehttp://www.netsmartz.org/http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2530http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2530http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3600http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3600http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954http://www.justice.gov/psc/publications.htmlhttps://www.bsecure.com/offers/focusonthefamily.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety-Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdfhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety-Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdfhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/~/media/files/pdf/channels/parenting/help-protect-your-children-online.ashxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/~/media/files/pdf/channels/parenting/help-protect-your-children-online.ashxhttp://www.sharedhope.org/Portals/0/Documents/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009.pdf


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Section III. Getting Involved: Having a Voice & Taking a Stand

6- How Does the Bible speak to this?Why a strong identity in Christ matters

Educate

We are bombarded with lies from the world, the media, and the Devil (who is a liar!).These ‘voices’ try to tell us who we need to be in order to be accepted, affirmed andloved. But they lie. And these lies aim to distort our self-image. Only God’s Word hasthe power to restore the truth. It is God’s will that we know His heart and love for us.

o “He made us accepted in the Beloved (Jesus)” (Ephesians 1:6)

o “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width

and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passesknowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-

19)

The promises in God’s Word help to build a solid foundation in Christ. Teens need toknow that they are not a mistake. No one is here by accident. Every person is meant to

be alive and their life matters. God knows us intimately. Even before we were in our

mother’s womb, He knew us. o “Before I formed you in your mother's womb I (God) chose you. Before you were

born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)o “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalms 139:14-18).

o If a teen has a tough time believing either of these promises in their heart, then itwould be good to explore it with them, praying through what makes it hard for

them to believe these promises that preceded their first breath of life.

Identity and worth can never rest on what we do, nor on how well we achieve something.We will all make mistakes, but those mistakes do not define us. “When teens understandtheir worth in Christ, they can reject negative thinking that peers, insecurities and problems hurl on them. Just because teens fail, which they will, doesn't mean they are afailure.”30

o “Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”(Romans 8:37)

o “ Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)

30 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/teens/your_teen_needs_you/build_your_teens_identity.aspx


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Empower

The Value of a PersonAll human beings were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). Because of the

value God puts on life, all persons should be treated with dignity and respect. Value is

not determined by race, gender, or status, but all are valuable in Jesus Christ (Galatians3:28).

Every human being is loveable and worthy of God's love, simply because they

are made in His image. God the Father inscribed in the body of His Son the value and

worth of every person. He was willing for His Son to hang on a tree to convey to

every person the immeasurable worth that they carry. Therefore, irrespective of

what one has done or has had done to them, you contain infinite value. Rather than allowing media, pop-culture or even other people to define us, we can

find our true identity and value in Christ. We were once in darkness and sin, but because

of Jesus we have been saved and made alive. He has chosen us and set us apart with

purpose. Because of His grace and love for us, we have hope for the future. In Him, we

find belonging in God’s family.

Biblical view of sexualityAmerican culture today has become very sexualized; however, sex is not a topic

typically discussed in church settings. The Bible has much to say about the topic.Teenagers need to build a healthy view of sexuality based on God’s Word rather than thedistorted view of society.

In the Bible, sex is presented as a gift that should be protected, treasured, and preserved for marriage. The reward of purity before marriage and faithfulness inmarriage will be great. Sexual feelings are natural, but they should not be acted upon

until true love in the context of marriage (Song of Songs 2:7)Restoration is possible for teenagers that have already engaged in sexual activity.God is a forgiver and the one who gives new life.

o “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have

passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

God desires to bring His redemption into every area our lives, even our sexuality.

o “Do you not know that body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were

bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,

which are God’s.” (2 Corinthians 6:19-20)

God chose Rahab, a prostitute, to save the people of Israel and be a part of Hislineage (Josh 2:1-24). He accepts us even when we are sexually broken, just like thewoman with the alabaster jar of perfume, the woman at the well and the woman caught inadultery (Luke 7:36-50, John 4:4-30, John 8:1-11), His love heals our sexual brokenness.


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Equip

Related Websites:

The Father’s Love letter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDo_FIjFg&feature=related

We will Wait Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84hwz8YHJg&feature=player_embedded#!

We Will Waithttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsAr7jpz2c&feature=player_embedded#!

Girls Eyes Only

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctnZtHB52Q&feature=player_embedded#!

Target or Treasure? – by Caitlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYxLY-MEDhQ&feature=player_embedded#!

What your teens need to know about sex http://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/what_your_teens_

need_to_know_about_sex.aspx

Pure again http://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/pure_again.aspx

Videos / Songs:

Journey of the Beloved- refusing the labels the enemy gives & accepting Christ’s instead.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT68S0lTOTE

Misty Edwards: Arms wide open (what does love like?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhnKiq76QMg

You Have Ravished My Heart – Brian and Jenn Johnsonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYsG3LDN4BY

Books on Protecting the Innocence of Youth

Anderson, Neil. Winning the Battle Within: Realistic Steps to Overcoming SexualStrongholds. (2008)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDo_FIjFg&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDo_FIjFg&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84hwz8YHJg&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84hwz8YHJg&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsAr7jpz2c&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsAr7jpz2c&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctnZtHB52Q&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctnZtHB52Q&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYxLY-MEDhQ&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/what_your_teens_need_to_know_about_sex.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/what_your_teens_need_to_know_about_sex.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/what_your_teens_need_to_know_about_sex.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/pure_again.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/pure_again.aspxhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhnKiq76QMghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhnKiq76QMghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYsG3LDN4BYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYsG3LDN4BYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYsG3LDN4BYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhnKiq76QMghttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/pure_again.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/what_your_teens_need_to_know_about_sex.aspxhttp://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity/what_your_teens_need_to_know_about_sex.aspxhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYxLY-MEDhQ&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctnZtHB52Q&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsAr7jpz2c&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84hwz8YHJg&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDo_FIjFg&feature=related


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Anderson, Neil and Miller, Rich. Leading Teens to Freedom in Christ: How to Win the Battle for our Young People. (1997)

Arterburn, Stephen. Every Young Man’s Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real Worldof Sexual Temptation. (2009)

Arterburn, Stephen. Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle: Honest Conversations About Sexual Integrity. (2010)

Ethridge, Shannon and Stephen Arterburn. Every Young Woman’s Batt le: GuardingYour Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World. (2009)

Ethridge, Shannon. Every Young Woman’s Battle Workbook: How to Pursue Purity in aSex-Saturated World. (2004)

Gresh, Dannah. Six Ways to Keep the “ Little” in Your Little Girl : Guiding Your

Daughter from Her Tweens to Her Teens. (2010)

Gresh, Dannah. Six Ways to Keep the “Good” in Your Boy: Guiding Your Son from HisTweens to His Teens. (2012)

Levin, Diane E. and Kilbourne, Jean. So Sexy So Soon: The new sexualized childhoodand what parents can do to protect their kids. (2008)

Lundy, Eric and Leslie. Teaching True Love to a Sex-at-13 Generation: The UltimateGuide for Parents. (2005).

Smith, Timothy. The Seven Cries of Today’s Teens: Hear Their Hearts, Make theConnection. (2003).

Books on warning signs in a teen dating relationship

Bancroft, Lundy. Why Does He Do That: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men (2003).

Evans, Patricia. The Verbally Abusive Relationship How to Recognize it and How to

Respond. (2010).

Levy, Barrie. In Love and In Danger: A Teen’s Guide to Breaking Free of Abusive Relationships. (2006)

Murray, Dr. Jill. But I Love Him: Protecting Your Teen Daughter from Controlling, Abusive, Dating Relationships. (2000)


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7- How can I help? Become a voice of change to this generation

What Can I Do to Help If I’m A Youth Leader / Parent / Teacher?

1. Do some research on what local organizations are in your area.

Contact them to see if they could use some volunteer help.

Take some teens with you to volunteer.

If it goes well, then make serving together a regular event, even once every monthor two maintains a realistic consistency that is both manageable, but also a blessing.

2.

Ask the local organizations whether they offer training classes for parents, teachers,youth leaders, or teens.

If so, you could have them come to your home, classroom, or youth group, to give a presentation about what their organization does.

You could provide a raffle, bake sale or coffee cart that night to raise money to giveto the organization.

Maybe the organization offers community service hours for teens and so teens couldacquire the service hours they need to get anyway, but do it for a cause that now isdear to their heart.

3.

Be willing to be personally involved in teen’s lives. Start a small group with 5-7 teens that would be relationship-based, but with a shared

focus.

It could be focused on any sort of shared activity (like a sports club where you go tolocal sporting events together, a Bible study, movie club, sewing club, service club,etc).

The point is that everyone is excited to come and enjoy healthy time to interact withyou as the leader and with each other.

4. Begin a monthly game night where you gather teens for a night of board games and

cards. Teens can bring along their favorite games or they can just play the ones that you

provide. There are so many board games out there now, some use video clips,others just cards, dice, and the like.

The point is to foster healthy and fun interaction over the games.

It provides a nice time to sit and talk and connect about what is going on and can be an on-ramp for later more meaningful dialogue.


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5. Begin a movie club where you will gather to watch different appropriate movies anddiscuss the themes in them.

The movies should have symbolic meanings and edifying themes, or else moviesthat teach harder lessons but would still be meaningful to watch and discus. (The

C hronicles of Narnia, Dead Poet’s Society, The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings,To Save a Life, Soul Surfer, etc).

Teens could dress up according to the theme of the movie or offer prizes for theteen who brings the most creative snack.

Give them 20 minutes to co-write a sequel to the movie and discuss why they hadcertain characters behave in certain ways. Discuss whether the sequel is realisticand believable. Discuss whether they would want to star in or even go see theirown movie.

6. Healthy adult relationships are the best inoculation against the wiles of perpetrators and

others with impure motives. When teens know that they matter, that they are loved and cared for by healthy,

loving and caring adults, then they do not need to go to other teens to try to getthese deep emotional needs met.

Same age friendships are not meant to be the place that they learn about how tohave healthy relationships. Rather, they are to learn that from the healthy adultsaround them, and then their peer friendships are the place where they get to practice these healthy skills. Genuine relationships with adults is the training ground for the skills that they will then practice in their peer friendships. If weexpect their peers to teach them healthy relationship skills then we have sorelyundervalued and dismissed our role as leaders, parents, and teachers.

See a great article called, “Wired but Dis-Connected: Helping Kids EstablishGenuine Relationships in a Networked World ” by, Benjamin Kerns. This article

is found at http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/

7. Watch a movie such as "Taken" with teenagers.

Have a discussion afterward about the movie- discus the themes, characters, anddetails. Write out a few questions before hand so if the teens don’t initiate any

questions, you are not at a loss. You could throw questions in a hat and eachteen picks out a question then answers it aloud. Or write down different pivotal

conversations in the movie and have the teens act out different ways that scenecould have gone that may have led to a different plot.

Discuss how the situation could have been avoided, specifically as it relates totraveling abroad with other young people. What precautions should be taken?What does wisdom say while travelling in a foreign country? This even appliesto travelling around a city in America where they have never been.

Have them bring their phones, ipads, laptops, or other electronic devices and do atutorial with them about safety while travelling. Help them develop an ICE (In

http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/http://www.youthworker.com/youth-ministry-resources-ideas/youth-ministry/11637727/page-2/


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Case of Emergency plan). Help them to find apps or websites that would beeasy to access in a time of need. Encourage them to make a folder or placewhere those sites will be easily accessible in case of an emergency.

8.

Host a focus group discussing safety precautions around internet usage. Let the students discuss what they feel is important to watch out for, and then educate

them on any areas they are unaware of.

This kind of group could focus on any area surrounding sex trafficking - society's perspective of human value vs. God's perspective, how media affects teenagers, etc.

Assist the teens in putting together their own presentation so that they can learn howto prepare a teaching as well as get public speaking skills in the process.

9. Host an event/fundraiser that will be fun for teenagers, but can also be a platform used toraise awareness.

Parents could gather together to promote a fun theme- and there could be parentversus teen competitions (races, games, sports, trivia games, etc).

Teens seem to love having competition with things between themselves.

If they have a chance to beat the adult leaders or parents, or even to make themlook silly (rent a dunk tank or do a pie eating contest) then they will be extramotivated to participate.

10. Have a competition where teams in the within youth group or classroom raise money.

The team who raises the most money for a ministry against sex trafficking wins.

Offer some big prize for the winning group. The prize could be a special dress

day, a special lunch or outing with a teacher or leader whom they love beingaround, or

The teenagers can be creative in how they find ways to generate funds. The mostcreative ways earns extra points that will help balance out against those whomight do a simpler, less creative way, but make more money.


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What can I do to help if I'm a teen?

1. Start a blog with your friends about teen safety.

It will be a fun project that you get to do together.

You will have a wonderful product to show for all of your time and efforts.

It will encourage other teens to step up and do something similar.

2. Refuse to shop at stores like Ambercrombie & Fitch because of the way that theyadvertise with sexy teen models.

Shop at stores that honor the teens who they sell to.

Visit the store and talk to the managers, politely telling them why you refuse toshop at their store and asking if they’d be willing to change their marketing so it ismore honoring to the teenage customers.

Search websites and catalogs for great examples of clothing advertisements thatare cute and fashionable, but not inappropriate. Visit those stores and explain to

them how much you like and appreciate the value they place on teens by how they present them in advertisements.

3. Do a basic fundraiser.

Try a car wash on a Saturday morning and give the proceeds to an organizationthat is working to fight sex trafficking.

Clean out all of your closets and gather everyone’s stuff together for a bigrummage sale. You could give the proceeds to a sex trafficking organization oreven donate clothes to the ministries who help girls start professional careers aftercoming out of trafficking.

4. Host a benefit concert.

You could use cool local bands who teens already know and like.

Or headline some of the high school/garage bands (the guys who have their own band but who just do it for fun). They have no other outlet to perform theirsongs. They will be stoked to get an audience, and you will have a great andeasy upbeat night for teens to gather together.

Include time during the concert to speak out and raise awareness about sextrafficking.

5. Order cheap rubber bracelets with a message on them such as "Stop Sex Trafficking" or"Become Aware" or something else creative.

Make an art competition or a slogan contest where schools and churches will allwork on the artwork and slogan for the bracelets. The winner of each will beawarded a chance to share their inspiration and why they created what they did.

The bracelets with the chosen slogan can be handed out or sold along with a smallinsert giving a few facts about sex slavery and the related artwork. Have an


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assembly or event ‘unveiling’ the finished product. Let the slogan winner and theartwork winner speak.

Everyone who participated receives extra bracelets to share and give away.Everyone who attends gets a bracelet. Other bracelets could be purchased to besent to other countries or for other causes. When the teens wear the bracelets they

will be asked what they mean and awareness will spread.

6. Choose the topic of sex trafficking for a paper or even a group project at school.

You will be able to gather lots of resources on it and learn for yourself.

Find a way to present the information you learn in an appealing manner- on adisplay board, on a website or facebook page.

Print out pamplets and hand them out at church or school.

7. Begin a Twitter account.

Tweet facts about child sex trafficking to raise awareness among other teens. Offer cool give-aways for teens who tweet the most accurate facts within a certain

time frame (like a certain 3-day period).

Have the winner come up with the next twitter contest in a related field.

8. Design a cool T-Shirt.

Have a t-shirt design contest similar to the bracelet design idea in #5.

Include safety tips or numbers that teens need to know.

Sell the t-shirts to raise money or auction them off and give the proceeds to arelated cause.

9. Start a strategy group in your school to bring awareness to your school.

Make flyers, posters, and plan a school assembly to share your cause.

Find a teacher, counselor, or adult at school who would be excited to serve asyour advisor for this group.

This will help you get some extra input, resource, and ‘pull’ with the other adultswho can open doors of opportunity for you and help you to see your dreams forthis group come to pass.

10. Make a question & answer YouTube discussion. Do a spontaneous Q and A time on the street corner asking people specific

questions about sex trafficking in America. (let them know that you are postingthis video on You Tube so they can choose to participate or not).

Discus what you found most helpful to know as you have become more aware ofchild sex trafficking.

Add some cool music and encourage your friends and families to view it to see


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how many views you get.

11. Put together a talent show for your school, church, or community center where teens canshowcase their talents.

The message could be centered on developing who you are and enjoying the

uniqueness about yourself and others. It could be called ‘Don’t Sell Out’ and could intersperse moments or facts about

not letting the world, culture, or others define you.

Charge a small fee for the show and the winning acts get to choose which charityor organization related to sex trafficking that the proceeds go to.

Resources on Becoming a Voice:

CNN Freedom Project: Teens help fight human traffickinghttp://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/teen-helps-fight-human-

trafficking/

High School Students Learn to Fight Trafficking at Summithttp://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21216818

Campaign Advertisements which can be downloaded and printed outhttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1290

Tiny Hands International: The One Girl Prayer Initiative and Prayer Bracelethttp://www.tinyhandsinternational.org/

Practical tips to prevent the sexual exploitation of childrenhttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en _US&PageId=4036

How to report Child Sexual Exploitation (download cybertip-line video)http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2936

The Polaris Project: For a World Without Slavery. The link below is a state by state maphttp://www.polarisproject.org/state-map

Sex Trafficking in America: Practical Ways to Help Victims and Prevent Exploitationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhE9rDzX3k (video) http://www.frc.org/traffic

**Disclaimer: Some of the media contains explicit sexual content and therefore it may not be appropriate to use asection of the clip depending on the audience.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21216818http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1290http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1290http://www.tinyhandsinternational.org/http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=4036http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=4036http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2936http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2936http://www.polarisproject.org/state-maphttp://www.polarisproject.org/state-maphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhE9rDzX3khttp://www.frc.org/traffichttp://www.frc.org/traffichttp://www.frc.org/traffichttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhE9rDzX3khttp://www.polarisproject.org/state-maphttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2936http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2936http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=4036http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=4036http://www.tinyhandsinternational.org/http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1290http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1290http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21216818