Take Action During National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month
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This January is the eleventh annual National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. At The Refuge, we believe there is no rescue without restoration. We hope to see real change in the lives of individual survivors, and we want your help advocating for restoration to be a priority this January and beyond. Whether you’ve known about sex trafficking for years or are just beginning to understand this hidden crime, here are three ways you can take action today:
1) Learn about sex trafficking
A first step in understanding what each child needs to recover is learning how the commercial sexual exploitation of children occurs. While no two children have the same story, these resources provide helpful narratives for understanding this crime.
Child sex trafficking is an under-reported, underground crime. It is important to remember that the data on the subject is ever-changing, hard to obtain, and often just a snapshot in time, or particular to a specific region. But the children it affects are real, and they need people like you to be their advocates.
“Selling Girls”
This five-part video series was produced by KHOU-TV for Tegna stations in 2017 and gives an informative overview of what child sex trafficking is and how it happens in the United States.
“Children are vulnerable just by virtue of being children... In the heady mix of hormones, wanting to belong, confusing messages about love and sex, and a desire to be independent, it’s easy to lure an otherwise well-adjusted fourteen-year-old girl into a meeting, into a car, into a bed. Pimps understand child psychology and adolescent development well enough to know the dynamics at play and can skillfully manipulate most children, regardless of socioeconomic background, prior abuse, or parenting, into a situation where they can be forced or coerced into being sold for sex.”
– Rachel Lloyd, Girls Like Us
“Sold Out”
This eight-part article series from the Texas Tribune chronicles how the crusade against sex trafficking in Texas has left child victims behind. Read about The Refuge in the final segment regarding solutions.
Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd
In her memoir, survivor-leader Rachel Lloyd, founder of NYC-based organization GEMS, breaks down the system of commercial sexual exploitation as she shares personal stories and stories of girls she has mentored.
2) Watch Circle of Hope: A Special Tour of The Refuge RAnch
Circle of Hope is our first-time-ever open-house tour of The Refuge Ranch. Learn about our programs and our commitment to providing the very best care to child survivors of sex trafficking while we tour you through our beautiful 50-acre property. During the 30-minute film, you will learn about The Refuge Circle of Care™, our seven-component treatment plan that is uniquely tailored to fit the needs of each girl. Help make restoration a national priority by learning about our program!
3) Share what you’ve learned
The most effective advocacy is sharing what you’ve learned with someone you know! Keep the momentum going by telling those in your community about sex trafficking and about The Refuge mission of hope and healing for survivors.
Here are some ways you can share:
Call a family member to tell them what you learned.
Send the link to the resource you found most helpful to a friend.
Host a Zoom watch-party for Circle of Hope: A Special Tour of The Refuge Ranch.
Post on social media. Resources are available in our Social Media Kit!
Thank you for being an advocate in your community! The best way you can support our work of rest and restoration for child survivors of sex trafficking is by committing to a monthly gift.
Would you like to hear about regular opportunities to support The Refuge? Join a team to receive email updates on our most urgent needs and how you can get involved!