Recommended Reading
Torch: A Poem
by Deborah Miranda
This piece touches on the vulnerabilities inherent in being a youth or child. Kids are at a cognitive disadvantage compared to adults because of where they are in their mental development. Poverty and neglect are factors that further increase their risks. Deborah brings up taking bribes, a common tactic used by offenders. Offenders are skilled at seeing what needs are unmet and, as part of the grooming process, fulfil those needs for attention, emotional connection, material wants. What I found most touching about this piece was the writer’s recognition that she was never to blame for what happened. No matter what the youth or child does, sexual exploitation is never their fault. The adult is always responsible.
I Am a Red Dress
by Anna Camilleri
Anna Camilleri is a Canadian author and performer. Written in beautiful prose, she shares her story of intergenerational abuse in her family. With compassion, she both honours and forgives her mother and grandmother. This book had a profound impact on me and is one of my most treasured belongings. It’s the kind of book you can pick up and open to any page, though I recommend from start to finish the first time.
Towelhead
by Alicia Erian
In this fictitious story, Alicia Erian does an excellent job of bringing to life the voice of the teenage protagonist, deftly expressing her perceptions of the world with its contradictions and unknowns. Risk factors such as separated parents, lack of body-safety education, sexual health education, lack of a safety network, and physical abuse contribute to the protagonist’s vulnerability. If you are curious to read a story that touches on racism, sexism, US/Middle East politics in the ’90s intertwined with a sex crime, it’s worth the read.
Walking Prey: How America’s Youth Are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery
by Holly Austin Smith
Holly Austin Gibbs (formerly Smith) is a survivor of child sex trafficking, US national expert, and Dignity Health’s Human Trafficking Response (HTR) Program Director. This is her comprehensive book covering risk factors for kids, the buyers and traffickers of youth and children, recommendations on after-care for victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation, prevention and advocacy.
The big takeaways:
Abuse in childhood is a common factor in youth who are sexually exploited commercially
She discusses the concept of the “willing victim” (or “willing participant”) aka someone who was not drugged, beaten or abducted. There are a number of reasons a youth or child may “choose” to stay with a trafficker including “fear, violence, and “trauma bonds” (e.g., Stockholm syndrome).” A child may stay because they believe there are no other options.
Community risk factors are “presence of a commercial sex industry, legal or illegal; tourist, sporting, and business attractions; proximity to military bases or other locations with transient populations of men; a high transit area; a subculture of homeless youth; a presence of gangs; and a proximity to national borders.” It was difficult for me to read this list and realize these risk factors are all present in my community.
Trafficking of kids happens three ways: by a family member, by a pimp (often a boyfriend aka “the Pimp Romeo”) or by a gang.
Prevention includes early education on the tactics of traffickers for children as young a grade 4, 5 and 6, or, at the very latest, middle school (grade 7 and 8).
Human traffickers do not look a particular way. They can be male or female and look like you or me. They can be youth or adults and hang out wherever kids hang out: malls, skateparks, bus stops, any place kids may be gathering without supervision.
Media literacy reduces risks! Holly goes into length about media literacy, consumerism, how advertising influences kids and how this connects to risks of exploitation.
Invisible Chains - Canada’s Underground World of Human Trafficking
by Benjamin Perrin
Benjamin Perrin was named a hero in 2009 by Hilary Clinton and U.S.A. State Department for “acting to end modern-day slavery.” Perrin reveals how Canada has been behind other developed nations in combatting human trafficking. A multitude of cases in the book include victims who are minors. Although the subject matter is heavy, it is written in layman’s language and divided into manageable chunks. He covers where human trafficking happens, how it happens, and the challenges of working with the complex trauma of victims. Perrin ends the book with clear, actionable recommendations from the level of conversations amongst citizens to government policies.
Takeaways:
Human trafficking occurs in massage parlours, escort agencies, strip clubs, as well as in homes, youth shelters, condos, motels/hotels, airports, Air BnBs, truck stops, and across borders.
Canadian citizens engage in extraterritorial child sexual exploitation and abuse, fueling the demand globally. What that means is perpetrators engage in sex acts with minors or produce child sexual abuse material outside their country of citizenship. This includes across North American borders.
“Johns” or purchasers of sex acts are often average citizens. “…research has revealed that purchasers of sex acts generally share no special distinguishing features, instead displaying characteristics that transcend all categories of income, education, and social standing.”
Our judicial system is having to adjust and update its approach to this criminal behaviour.
Living in poverty, being female, having a history that includes the experience of violence and neglect, and a low level of education increases the risks of being targeted by a human trafficker.
The legalization of the sex industry in other countries has not proven to reduce human trafficking.
Since the book’s publishing date in 2010, Canada has made progress, such as Bill C-36, which came into effect in 2014, and the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights Act assented in 2015.
For more information on Bill C-36, check out this F.A.Q. sheet:
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/c36faq/
For more information on the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights Act:
Breaking the Cycle of Silence
by Daniel L. Pearse
With an authentic and vulnerable voice, Daniel Pearse shares his experience of waking up in 2010 to memories he had been hiding his entire life. Losing his mother, separated from his brothers, Daniel finds himself left in the hands of a pedophile at the age of four by the foster care system. Daniel breaks his silence so people can learn from his experience and take the steps needed to protect children in their lives. As a survivor turned thriver, he is lobbying each provincial Government to include in the curriculum sexual abuse prevention.
The takeaways:
Youth and children living in isolation in remote or rural areas are at-risk.
Youth and children in the foster care system are at-risk
Age-appropriate sexual health education and abuse prevention need to be taught in schools starting at a young age.
It’s the adults’ responsibility to protect youth and children by learning about the signs of sexual abuse and what actions to take if they see concerning behaviour.