HomeChurch LifeService ProjectsWriting about Human Trafficking for Children.

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Writing about Human Trafficking for Children. — 7 Comments

  1. I’m pleased to see you tackling a hard topic in a thoughtful sensitive manner for kids. Well done.
    One point I wanted to raise: I’m not sure where you got the information that sexual slavery makes up a small percentage of child slavery. According to a recent statistic I read, overall (all demographics) it makes up somewhere between 70 and 80%. I just did a quick search on child sexual trafficking and trafficking for sexual purposes was listed as the number 1 type of child forced labour (source: International Labour Office, Geneva). I think you were right to pick another type of slavery as the subject of your book, but I think it’s good to be clear on the problem.

    • Hi Lisa, thanks for your comments. I’m glad my article sparked some extra research from you.
      The statistics of slavery are very hard to quantify, mainly because it is such a hidden crime.
      Sexual slavery receives the majority of attention, and in many cases where someone (especially a child) has been trafficked there is often abuse of a sexual nature that can accompany their imprisonment – even if the purpose of their slavery is not to this end (eg in my story Akash and his workmates would be exposed to abuse of varying kinds by their captors.)
      Perhaps instead of the word ‘small’ (which on re-reading does appear to minimise a situation that is no way is minimisable!) I should have just said ‘percentage’. Across the globe people are trafficked into almost every industry imaginable: mining, organ donors, food industry, beverage industry, fashion industry, domestic servitude, construction, labor etc. The numbers are huge and the statistics overwhelming regardless of which ‘industry’ you look at.
      Thanks again for stopping by. Feel free to share this story with those who may be able to use it. 🙂

  2. Wow, Penny. This is powerful. I understand your reluctance to write about sexual trafficking with little children. Your book and pictures are excellent.

    I wonder if a sequel book might cross over into sexual trafficking issues by discussing personal safety first, and then talk about how some children get caught and taken away by people who would hurt them. I’m sure you have been thinking about these things a lot following your trip.

  3. Penny, I applaud you for tackling this subject with a younger audience. My friend, Kathi Macias, has tackled it from an adult perspective with her Freedom series; focusing on a young woman brought over the border by an uncle who uses her for his sex trafficking ring. The woman had been brought over as a young girl and been abused for years.

    This is one of the great things about the Internet. Though there are a lot of bad things too, the ability to learn about such horrid things and make a difference is now easier.

    Blessings on your work.

    • Thanks Cheryl.
      Your friend’s series sounds interesting – thanks for letting me know about it.
      Sometimes the internet feels a bit like wading through muck – I think that’s where sharing useful things comes in handy. You know if a reputable friend recommends a resource that it’s worth looking at.

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