The Terrible Truth About Child Exploitation
THE FACTS
The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation.
There are an estimated 24.9 million trafficked people worldwide, including approximately 5.5 million children.
In many countries, women are the main perpetrators of human trafficking (as in the case of the Queen of Cyberporn).
According to the FBI, up to 750,000 people are online at any instant looking for children to exploit.
Due to extreme poverty and cheap high-speed Internet, live-streamed underage sex shows have become the top cybercrime in the Philippines.
One American man paid nearly $40,000 to the Queen of Cyberporn over the years.
Every time an image of an abused child is viewed or shared, the child is victimized again.
People in impoverished communities aren’t always aware of the severity of the trauma resulting from cyberporn, since physical touching may not take place. However, kids are traumatized and deal with guilt and shame.
The Philippines is a global center of the sexual exploitation of children, especially cybersex and pornography; however, the United Nations has reported a recent shift toward Thailand.
Thailand is a hub for human trafficking from nearby poorer nations.
In 2015, approximately four million migrants lived in Thailand, with as many as one-fourth of those believed to be victims of trafficking.
Children who are trafficked suffer extreme emotional and physical damage. The ultimate end is always death—spiritual or physical. Many become addicted to drugs, contract AIDS, and die.
Human trafficking is a $150 billion annual business.
An estimated 20 to 30 million people are slaves today.
The average cost of a slave is $90.
The region with the highest number of forced laborers is Asia Pacific, which accounts for 62 percent of the world’s total.
HOW ALO-SUPPORTED PROJECTS ARE HELPING
Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch’s Child Rescue Project (CRP) offers safety, care, and rehabilitation to exploited Filipino children, most of whom have been rescued from cybersexploitation. Working with a local lawyer and the local International Justice Mission office, CRP walks with the children through the legal process of prosecuting their abusers while providing security, counseling, healing, and care—physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Chiang Rai Children’s Home is a prevention ministry that focuses on providing healthy options for impoverished children to keep them from being swept into human trafficking. They work to change the thinking of kids, parents, and impoverished communities through the gospel, through understanding their own worth, and by providing alternatives. Last year, 17 kids from the home graduated from vocational school, and another earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Each weekday starts with morning devotions before breakfast and classes. On weekends, kids are actively involved in church.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be aware of the problem and be an advocate for the kids by creating awareness in others. Share this Update with others.
Pray for the kids and staff of these two ALO-supported projects who help exploited children: the Child Rescue Project of Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch and Chiang Rai Children’s Home.
Provide resources to help care for and educate the kids.
Read the story of two girls that were rescued from the cybersex industry— thanks to your generosity.
Learn how a cycling team is going the extra (500) mile(s).
You can provide lifelines for vulnerable children in Asia Pacific.