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Ransomed Life - Susan Burkholder, Presentation Coordinator
Ransomed Life is a healing community for sexually exploited girls age 12-17 years old who are trafficked or at risk of trafficking. 40 Million people are held in slavery per the International Labor Organization (ILO). 10 Million (1/4th) are minors.
In 2016 it was a $150Billion industry! It is the #1 criminal enterprise followed by drugs as #2 and illegal guns at #3.
Trafficking Victims Protection Act: A human trafficking victim is a person induced into performing labor or a commercial sexual act. A minor induced into performing commercial acts is automatically human trafficking.
Sex Trafficking in the US:
10 are US born to 1 foreign born
In Texas as of January 2017, 313000 humans trafficked. 79,000 are minors of which 75% are girls and 25% boys. The other 234,000 are labor/slave trafficked. 74% of trafficked children were somehow involved in Child Protective Services (CPS).
Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Profile:
The seller makes money selling to the buyer. The buyer is a middle aged, college educated, married man who is buying the 'product' which is below the age of 18.
750,000 predators in child's phones through apps and games. For girls it often starts with a 'Romeo pimp' or someone who befriends her and then either preys on her affection for him or drugs her. Most are homeless and drug addicted. Less than 1/2 of 1% are actually abducted. 83% of missing children went willing with someone they knew or thought they knew.
The Trap:
The victim is looking for love, acceptance, adventure or protection. The pimps target middle school kids because of their vulnerability, social media presence, and hormones. Less than 1/2 of 1% are ever rescued. The average life span of a victim is 7 years in trafficking. They die from untreated medical issues, murdered, or drug overdosed.
Ransomed Life offers 4 pillars of hope:
1 to 1 mentoring
Education
Community awareness and youth presentation
Restoration
What can you do?
Raise awareness
Prevention - education youth
Local engagement - using borrowed spaces currently to provide safe environment
Be an advocate
Be a voice
Be an abolitionist
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it" Albert Einstein
Ransomed Life
facebook.com/ransomedlifetexas
210.240.3015