2013

In the Booth with Ruth – Bridget Perrier, Survivor of Child Trafficking and First Nations Educator & Co-Founder of Sextrade101

January 20, 2013 // 16 Comments

The reason why I became a part of the movement is because of my past as a child survivor and as a First Nations voice. I saw that for First Nations women there was very little representation in the movement. I also used my experience as a trafficked child. I was exploited at a very young age and felt that all the adults, professional and family, did a lot of nothing to help me, and in some ways, they made it worse. I was tired of being looked down on and blamed by society.

In the Booth with Ruth – Ruthie ‘Angel’ Jones Patton, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist

January 19, 2013 // 1 Comment

I'd have to say what draws me to be involved is a spiritual thing really. I believe in the universal connection of all living things. I feel that what happens to one of us happens to all of us. I started to read more stories from trafficked survivors as well as interviews and realized I had to stand up and do something.

In the Booth with Ruth – Gemma Wilson, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist

January 19, 2013 // 6 Comments

The first modern day slave’s story I heard was that of Long Pross. Her story is real, and when I heard it, it became a part of my own. Wilberforce is quoted as having said, “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” Once we know, we are responsible...

In the Booth with Ruth – Lise Bouvet, PhD Researcher in Gender Studies

January 18, 2013 // 8 Comments

I've been working on prostitution for fifteen years now, in social sciences, then philosophy. I've worked for NGOs too. I have both field and academic experience. I have researched and compared situations in many countries including USA, England, France, Germany, Netherlands of course, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, China and Thailand...

In the Booth with Ruth – Holly Austin Smith, Survivor of Child Trafficking and Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate, Speaker and Author

January 17, 2013 // 9 Comments

The first survivor I ever connected with was Tina Frundt, founder of Courtney’s House in Washington D.C., an organization which provides services to male and female victims of child sex trafficking. I attended a training session to volunteer at Courtney’s House, and Tina explained to us the tactics used by traffickers to lure children away from home. The tactics were exactly the same as those used on me in 1992. I was blown away. It wasn’t until that moment that I truly realized that I had been a victim, and I knew I had to speak out. I knew I had to share my story in order to educate teens, parents, and teachers.

In the Booth with Ruth – Philip J Cenedella, Executive Director, The National Association of Human Trafficking Victim Advocates

January 16, 2013 // 2 Comments

I manage www.stopslavery2013.com. I also collaborate with other advocates via The National Association of Human Trafficking Victim Advocates and I answer hotline calls from throughout the US. As well as that, I help lead the fight against online trafficking, which involves Craigslist, Backpage and Google AdWords - there's information on that here and you can help here, even if it's just by quickly sharing some links on Twitter.

In the Booth with Ruth – Magda M. Olchawska, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist and Filmmaker

January 16, 2013 // 3 Comments

The support system for the victims needs to be much better and they can’t be punished for a crime they have not committed, but was committed against them. Some countries treat the victims of human trafficking as illegal immigrants and punish them - even with prison sentences.

In the Booth with Ruth – Lynn Robertson, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist and Advocate

January 13, 2013 // 4 Comments

I began to read about victims and survivors of sex trafficking and my heart broke. Especially when I realised that children were being sold for sex - little girls and little boys sold globally for sex trafficking. My heart broke as I learned more and more. I rarely slept. I knew I had to try to do something to end the horror of this nightmare.

In the Booth with Ruth – Rebecca Mott, Exited Prostituted Woman and Abolitionist

January 13, 2013 // 12 Comments

I first started campaigning for abolition of prostitution after the murders of several prostitutes in Ipswich. That was very triggering for me, but at the time, I was unclear why. I was very angry, incessant with rage, for it seemed that the media is, and was, only interested in the murders of the prostituted when it is in connection with the sensation of a serial killer...

In the Booth with Ruth – Aimee Galicia Torres, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist, Filmmaker and Non-Profit Founder

January 13, 2013 // 1 Comment

I was inspired to support the movement against human trafficking by creating and starting a non-profit called The Majestic Dreams Foundation (www.themajestic.org) because I wanted to create awareness on all forms of abuse. Having been in the film industry for a little over eight years as an award-winning cinematographer, I decided to create a company that would embody and create films that make an impact, therefore, making a difference. I was featured on CNN's Anderson 360, Al Jazeera English on my work on human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

In the Booth with Ruth – DublinCallGirl

January 12, 2013 // 13 Comments

I worked as an escort for nearly five years from my early twenties. During this time I was very open minded about the whole thing, and very much on the side of it being empowering and a confidence booster. The effects it left me with I still struggle with every day. I made my choice. I can live with and conquer the consequences. However, I cannot sit by and see women and girls get exploited who made no choice to be there, or were lured, coerced or otherwise exploited and taken advantage of...

In the Booth with Ruth – Kimberly Benson, Human Trafficking Survivor, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate and Non-Profit Co-Founder

January 11, 2013 // 5 Comments

My passion stems from being a victim once myself. When I was 18, I thought I knew it all - enough to keep me from trouble, but didn’t know that trouble would come looking for me. I left home to live on my own. After having been in several negative and abusive relationships, I was all alone. A young lady and I became friends. She was the best, was always there, encouraged me, bought me clothes, took me to get my hair and nails done. We were great friends...

In the Booth with Ruth – Christine Stark, Author & Visual Artist

January 11, 2013 // 0 Comments

I loved to write at a young age. In elementary school, I wrote pages and pages of stories, such that one of my teachers finally limited me to one sheet per story. When I filled up both sides, I just went on looping the story in the margins. Also, since my parents were not fit to parent, I basically looked to stories to teach me about the world, about how to be in the world, as I did not want to be like my parents...

In the Booth with Ruth – William Eberle, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate

January 10, 2013 // 4 Comments

It is my view of this problem that too often these people find themselves with little to no hope for bettering their situation. I realize that this is my view and doesn't necessarily reflect everyone's reality, but it is what motivates me. I remember a time when I had lost hope and it was through the caring of friends and family as well as my faith in God that I found hope again...