January 2013

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...

In the Booth with Ruth – Dina Leah, Survivor of Sexual Exploitation and Anti-Exploitation Author

January 10, 2013 // 9 Comments

Sex was so much the currency of my life that I didn’t even think about it. I just assumed that this was the price of my independence from an abusive home. Unfortunately, the price I ultimately paid was not just counted in physical trauma from violent rapes, but ongoing psychological trauma that has followed me throughout my life and made normal intimate relationships impossible, since sexual contact triggers my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and I dissociate—my consciousness leaves my body and I am simply not present during the act.

In the Booth with Ruth – Jill Starling, Author of St. Agnes’ Place – a novel about child sex trafficking

January 9, 2013 // 3 Comments

Many years ago, Rob Morris, co-founder of Love146, a non-profit international organization that fights child sex trafficking, spoke at my church. What he said struck a chord in me; I couldn’t believe how in this day and age, children were put on display to purchase for one’s sick perversion. When I decided to write my novel, I wanted to bring attention...

In the Booth with Ruth – Michelle Sweeney, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist

January 7, 2013 // 18 Comments

I have a heart for justice. I cannot bear the thought of others exploiting people for their own selfish gain, plus the fact that the pain and terror the victims have to face is just pure evil and wrong. Knowing that it happens and the suffering that is forced on them breaks my heart. These children, women and men are human beings. Their lives are just as precious as anybody else’s...

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January 5, 2013 // 11 Comments

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. In light of this, I am running a series of interviews with advocates and activists, as well as survivors of human trafficking

In the Booth with Ruth – Ed Griffin, Author

January 5, 2013 // 1 Comment

I teach creative writing in the community and in prison and I’ve been doing so for over twenty years. People come to me with all manner of questions. Of course, I can’t review every story or novel that comes my way, but at least I can direct my students to places that will help them.