THIS PAGE IS FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS
Sex Traffickers lure youth, vulnerable kids, teens and young adults…YOU!
An excellent video from Youth Activists Inc.
Target Audience
To be clear, you are the target. Traffickers are counting on youth to be vulnerable, naïve, ill-informed.
Protect yourself and your friends by learning about Human Trafficking. In fact, don’t just learn about it, become experts. Know the risks, know the signs, know that you and your friends could become targets of predators, who would abuse you and sell you over and over for their own financial gain.
These are people without consciences, without morals, without souls. Just pure evil.
Anyone who asks, tells or expects you to offer sex for money, is not a friend, boyfriend or lover. Don’t give up your future.
Teen sex trafficking is real, scary and has DEVASTATING physical and mental health consequences for victimized youth.
Make a difference by understanding the issue, recognizing the warning signs and knowing how to seek help
What is it?
Public Safety Canada (PSC) defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour.
What is it?
A pimp is someone who forces another person into prostitution, and then keeps some or all of their earnings.
A pimp makes arrangements for customers to have sex with their victim.
Pimps often tattoo or “brand” their victims to show that they are property, much like a rancher might brand their cattle.
Pimps sometimes sell or trade their victims to other pimps.
Pimps can look like an ordinary guy or girl. Pimps may be nontraditional, like a family member who pimps out their child for drugs or rent money. Yes, pimps can be girls, too and often times couples work together to recruit young girls.
“PIMPS OFTEN PRETEND TO
BE AN “OLDER BOYFRIEND,”
AND PROMISE FAME,
EXCITEMENT, TRAVEL
AND LOVE.”
Pimps are vile human beings.
Pimps “shop” for their victims online, in shopping malls, bus stops, schools, after school programs, foster homes, parks,
restaurants and other places where teens gather.
Pimps invest a lot of time and effort in forming a bond with their victim. They buy girls gifts, provide a place to stay and give
affection before revealing their true intent- to sexually exploit them.
The pimp’s use of psychological manipulation, physical violence and rape can make the victim feel trapped and powerless.
How do you picture your future?
When does it happen?
Girls (and boys) can be recruited “into the life” during school, after school, while online,
on the weekends, in the morning before school…basically anytime
Where does it happen?
Pimps shop for their victims online, at shopping malls, bus stops, at school, at after school functions, foster homes…basically anywhere teens hang out.
More now than ever before, pimps seek their next victim through social media in places like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, online gaming chat rooms, always looking for someone who is having trouble at home, or with friends.
Pimps seek vulnerable girls who are looking for someone to “care” for them.
How does it happen?
The trafficker will use psychological manipulation, physical violence and rape to make the victim feel trapped and powerless. The pimp may also threaten to harm the victim’s family or close friends, as a way to maintain control. The pimp may take modeling “photos” and suggestive videos and use them to advertise the victim for sexual services online.
“A real friend will say what needs to be said, even if you don’t want to hear it.”
Friends need to look out for each other. If something is wrong, tell your teacher, school counselor, nurse or coach. Don’t try to handle the problem yourself, as you or your friend could be in real danger.
Warning signs and what to look for with your friends and classmates
- She’s dating an older guy (he might give you the creeps)
- She’s super secretive about him
- He buys her lots of expensive presents
- He made her get a weird tattoo
- She has lots of unexplained cash
- She shops for clothes and stuff you know she cannot afford
- She has a second cell phone
- You find hotel room keys in her purse
- She has cuts and bruises
- She has a fake ID
- She has been really depressed, nervous, tense or afraid
- She misses a lot of school or dropped out of school
- She runs away a lot and avoids her family and friends
- You never know when she’s telling the truth
- She started drinking or doing drugs
- You feel like she is brainwashed
www.droppingfbombs.com
While this page makes it seem like all victims are female and all predators are male, that is not always the case.
BUT it is the vast majority of cases
What can boys do?
Take care of the girls in their life; sisters, cousins, neighbours…all girls
Don’t glamorize “pimping” or the word “pimp”
Be respectful of girls
Don’t buy sex or porn or pay for stripping or sexual activity
Don’t be abusive or controling to girls
Understand that prostitution is NOT a victimless crime
Acknowledge that sex trafficking is slavery
Why don’t victims identify as victims?
Victims often feel shame, self-blame and feeling of unworthiness of a better life. Victims may have formed a trauma bond with their trafficker are unable to see themselves as victimized.
Although it’s hard to believe, a victim may have deep feelings of loyalty and “love” for their abuser.
Why don’t victims get help or go to the police?
Sometimes victims do not come forward for
help because they fear for their own safety or the safety of their loved ones.
Victims may be fearful of law enforcement, or told by their abuser that they will get arrested if they say anything, which is not true.
Ways to protect?
Develop good social media habits
Maintain your friendships and be a true friend
Don’t trust people you meet online
Stay in school
Work to keep good relationships with your family
Don’t get hooked on drugs or alcohol
Don’t trade sexual favours for money or something of value
Don’t accept expensive gifts from a stranger
Seek help if you are feeling depressed or angry
