human trafficking
Research Essay – Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a booming international trade, making billions of dollars at the expense of millions of victims. Many are children, are robbed of their dignity and freedom. Holly was just a 14 year old girl who was depressed and seeking out love and affection, when a pimp easily lured her into human trafficking. This happens every day all around the world. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, has launched a Global Initiative to fight human trafficking. This initiative was launched in London back in March of 2007. This process is designed to be the turning point in the world wide fight against human trafficking. (FBI.gov) Holly Austin Smith is a survivor of human trafficking. When Holly was just 14 years old, she was lured into running away with a man she had met once. Holly was severely depressed. She jumped at the opportunity of escaping her dull life. Little did she know she ran into the clutches of a sex trafficking ring. Within hours of running away, she was forced to work as a prostitute in Atlantic City, New Jersey for a month. One day an officer found her on the street and realized she was a minor. He later realized Holly was a victim of sex trafficking. The pimp that raped and lured a child into prostitution served only 365 days in jail. It was only recently that it clicked for Smith: she was never a prostitute. She had been a 14-year-old girl who didn’t think she was pretty enough to wear dresses. She had been a victim who was manipulated and exploited. Now, at 34, Smith considers herself a survivor of child sex trafficking. She has chin-length blond hair and a Chinese symbol that means “power” tattooed on her hand. Today Holly is breaking her silence. She began speaking to spread awareness and give victims the justice she never had. Smith travels around the country to support and empower others who are — like she once was — young, insecure and afraid. (Smith) Much of
Human trafficking is a booming international trade, making billions of dollars at the expense of millions of victims. Many are children, are robbed of their dignity and freedom. Holly was just a 14 year old girl who was depressed and seeking out love and affection, when a pimp easily lured her into human trafficking. This happens every day all around the world. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, has launched a Global Initiative to fight human trafficking. This initiative was launched in London back in March of 2007. This process is designed to be the turning point in the world wide fight against human trafficking. (FBI.gov) Holly Austin Smith is a survivor of human trafficking. When Holly was just 14 years old, she was lured into running away with a man she had met once. Holly was severely depressed. She jumped at the opportunity of escaping her dull life. Little did she know she ran into the clutches of a sex trafficking ring. Within hours of running away, she was forced to work as a prostitute in Atlantic City, New Jersey for a month. One day an officer found her on the street and realized she was a minor. He later realized Holly was a victim of sex trafficking. The pimp that raped and lured a child into prostitution served only 365 days in jail. It was only recently that it clicked for Smith: she was never a prostitute. She had been a 14-year-old girl who didn’t think she was pretty enough to wear dresses. She had been a victim who was manipulated and exploited. Now, at 34, Smith considers herself a survivor of child sex trafficking. She has chin-length blond hair and a Chinese symbol that means “power” tattooed on her hand. Today Holly is breaking her silence. She began speaking to spread awareness and give victims the justice she never had. Smith travels around the country to support and empower others who are — like she once was — young, insecure and afraid. (Smith) Much of