National Human Traffiking Awareness Day

 The Fight Against Human Trafficking

In recognition of Nation Human Trafficking awareness day, on January 11th, St. Petersburg College hosted a “Stop Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking” event at their Seminole campus. With speakers including Marc Klaas, founder of the KlaasKids Foundation – dedicated to protecting our children, and former adult film actress Diana, aka “Desi Foxx,” who spoke about the correlations between pornography and sex trafficking, and ending with a candlelight vigil, it was moving to see people and groups passionate about the issue working together to rid society of this evil.

The facts were astounding: human trafficking rakes in an estimated $32 billion each year, with approximately two million victims being trafficked in the United States and over twenty-seven million victims worldwide. Eighty percent of them are women and children.

The other astounding thing is the extent of criminality in the adult industry. Watching people like Tila Tiquila, and shows like "The Girls Next Door," pornography begins to seem normal. But according to Diana, vulnerable young girls are recruited into the adult film business, then, in her own words, "Once they get the girl to the city she's been recruited to, they have already started a tab, a debt roll, which she has to pay off before she can leave – or so they tell her. Everything they've spent to get her there, they put on this tab that she's unaware of." Paying this “debt” may involve prostitution, even being trafficked across state and international borders.

In view of all this, the question becomes: what can we do to help? There are many answers, beginning with being aware of and reporting certain signs: the presence of an overly controlling or abusive male figure, heavy traffic in and out of hotel rooms, fear or inability to make eye contact, young girls with excessive amounts of cash, among others, may be signs of prostitution or trafficking.

You can also get involved in your local community. Donate time or money to groups such as the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the KlaasKids Foundation, and Youth for Human Rights Florida. You can start by spreading awareness of the issue among your friends and family.
 
To learn more about this issue, visit www.stophumantrafficking.org. For more information about Diana and her experiences in the adult industry, visit www.desidivine.com. To learn more about your Human Rights, visit www.youthforhumanrights.org.

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