Unsealable Wounds

Molly Powers

10C

Humanities

Ms. Khalid/Hickey                                                                                           May 27, 2013

                                                

Image from http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/barnados_child_prostitution

In Cambodia, children at an age as young as five are sold into sex slavery by their own parents for nearly 10 US dollars. Think back to when you were five... The sweet smell of grass and metal jungle gyms come back to you. Or maybe it is your mother or fathers comforting voice when they tell you that the scratch on your knee will go away. They kiss it and it’s all better. To think that someone as young as five has to mature so fast: has to endure so much heartache, makes someone like me grateful for what I had when I was five. Globally, there are many issues. But one of the main international businesses that have workers of varying ages that are bought and forced into a vicious and cruel trade is Human/Sex Trafficking.

           Sex Trafficking is a global issue which not only means it happens all over the world, but in truth many people all over the world don’t know that it is happening. According to an article based on sex trafficking, there is an organization that is called “TVPA” AKA Trafficking and Violence Protection Act”. This organization claims to raise awareness of the cruel business and target main brothels that are involved. Once they are targeted, they are then labeled as rapists. Although raping is an international issue, it is much harder to target than brothels who actually run a business, pay families for their children as sex slaves, and have several people working for them. Rapists very well may have others who tag along with them, but it is not an obvious act to target, and Sex Trafficking is seemingly more severe.

Image from: allisonkilkenny.com/tag/sex-trafficking/

            An article that was written on Sex Trafficking globally stated that in 2003, an estimation of 140 to 1440 women and children were trafficked in and out of Britain. Although this problem is widespread, it seems as if Cambodia and other third world countries have it worse than prosperous countries. This may seem like a shock, but because money doesn’t circulate as well as it does, say in the U.S a business that is fast and wanted is inevitable in small, poor communities. In May of 2000, nearly 13 years ago, brothels were crowding the street of a small town in Cambodia Image from: http://allisonkilkenny.com/tag/sex-trafficking/

called Svay Pak. 17 brothels were roaming the streets with about 279 workers. People from all over the world are involved in this repulsive trade for women that are treated like objects. And I feel, as a teenager that women, men, children, animals, the earth, and even objects should not be traded around and disrespected as such.

              As a 16 year old student in high school who has a father figure and a mother figure, I cannot imagine a life where I, being the youngest, or my sister, being two and a half years older than me, being passed around to different men like a breath of air. I feel like we take things for granted in this world. Because I have read into someone’s opinion on Sex Trafficking, whether it be someone who has a strong opinion, or has experienced the torment themselves, I have more feeling about this topic than someone who has read through one perspective because the more perspective one has, the broader their insight on the topic is. Seeing through the eyes of a Cambodian sex slave has made me open my eyes on the severity of the duration of when she was a child. Reading about someone’s strong opinion on Sex Trafficking has made my opinion stronger, and made me realize how many people care about this issue and yet, generally speaking most of the world does not know about it. Mostly, evaluating how I feel as a teenager in New York City has made me grateful. After researching this topic extensively, reading articles and books, on this topic, I am disheartened and feel ashamed that nothing is being done. With that being said, I feel there is more to be done than just organizations. Within the organizations that are mostly well known, I feel there should be voices of all ages, making speeches at large conferences, and raising awareness of more perspectives on this topic. I feel that even though I have not experienced much, I have tasted a slight feeling of the grief she had to endure, and that has changed my insight of the international community as a whole. For someone as young as I am, and the topic has impacted me so greatly, what could this do for someone older? What could the story of just one girl do for someone who is bitter and ungrateful?