Human Trafficking

I watched this movie today. I'm not really sure what to say... but I know I want to write a post about it. So here goes.

"Human Trafficking" was a TV mini-series that came out of Quebec. It aired a while ago now and they've released it on DVD as a 3 hour movie. Human trafficking is a very real issue that happens right in this beautiful city that I live in, and the majority of people victimized by it end up in the sex trade. We teach and pray about the sex trade a lot here in YWAM Vancouver and it's something that is starting to really catch my attention. My initial and predominant reaction to this movie was anger. Pure anger. It's sheer tragedy that we have let our world come to this. Women and children- human souls- are not a commodity to be sold and traded.

The sex industry is ugly. Really ugly. But the people who fuel it (specifically those who pay for sex, porn, or other sex-related services or items) do not seem to really understand that. Most of these women (I've heard stats as high as 90% of them) did not choose to be there. For many it's a day-by-day fight for survival. By no means do I consider myself highly educated in it, but the little research I have done has opened my eyes to how messed up it really is.

There are many reasons that this type of injustice is happening but the most obvious is simply that there is a demand for it. People like sex a lot, so they are willing to pay for it.

That leads me to believe that the only way to solve the problem is to cease the demand.

HOW?

To that I have no real answer. The only things I can think of are:

1. Urge your government to do something. If you're Canadian, visit www.canadacan.blogspot.com, print off the postcard and send it to your MP. I've heard that as few as 5 of those postcards crossing the desks in parliament can cause them to take notice.

2. Raise awareness and educate people. Any teachers out there? I think it's amazing that since the rise of HIV and AIDS and STI's in recent history the world has increased safe-sex education in order to prevent those things. How hard would it be to start teaching our boys and girls in school that the sex industry should not be an option for them? If men knew what really went on- where those women came from, how they ended up in that brothel or on that street corner, who actually received the money for their work, who forced them to pose for that camera- maybe they would think twice about opening up their wallets and supporting it.

3. Become a law enforcement professional of some sort and, for lack of a better phrase to communicate what I feel, kick some ass. This would be a lifetime of work and preparation and obviously not for everybody, but I've considered it...

4. PRAY. That's an easy one and a no-brainer. Do it.

If you haven't watched the movie, you should. Please take note it is graphic and not easy to watch. Plus, it is a feature film and does take it's "Hollywood-esque" liberties when it comes to plot and such, but I find it does a great job of touching on the major issues.

And... if there are any men or women out there reading this who have spent money in this industry: STOP IT. You are directly fueling the fire of something that ruins lives.