Almost two years ago, I was asked to serve on an advisory
board for the rescue and recovery efforts of American children and teens
enslaved in sex trafficking. In my examination of the available literature on
this topic, I came across a small book by Linda Smith, a former U.S
Representative from Washington State
and more recently the founder of Shared Hope International and War Against
Trafficking Alliance (WATA). This brief, but powerful text was not written for
the scholar but for compassionate individuals from all walks of life.
The title of the book, Renting
Lacy, was derived from a conversation Smith had with her husband who
stated, “…these girls’ young bodies are being rented out by the hour” (p. v).
Typically, these child victims are required to service between ten to twenty
men per night. Until quotas are met, basic needs such as food and shelter are
often withheld. In addition, violence fills their lives and escaping is not an
option.
Smith begins with a glossary of terms that the reader will
frequently refer to since the language used in the trafficking world is unique
to those involved in child prostitution. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the
lives of the children, the perpetrators, and those who purchase these children
for sexual gratification. For Smith, understanding the world of trafficking is
fundamental to helping the victims of this crime. To further assist the reader,
Smith offers comments throughout the book – insights gained from decades of
experience in working with this population.
As the plight of these victims unfolds, the reader will
undoubtedly look for a clearly outlined solution to the problem of trafficking;
however, a solution is beyond the scope of this work. Renting
Lacy was written to raise awareness of the epidemic of the commercial
sexual exploitation of American children. As someone who has reviewed the
literature in this area, I am well aware of the paucity of information on
children enslaved in the sex trade. In fact, in a recent search for information
on treatment modalities, there were no empirically based articles on methods of
counseling for this population. To date, it seems the task is one of defining
the problem. What is known is that human trafficking is the fastest growing
international crime with perpetrators making approximately $32 billion a year
and will soon surpass weapons smuggling and drug trafficking in profit. The
United Nations found that 99% of trafficking victims are never rescued.
According to the U.S.
government, an estimated 300,000 American children and teens are currently
being used as commodities for sale or trade across our nation. The average age
at which one enters into trafficking is eleven years old and once a child
enters into the word of sexual slavery, their life expectancy is only 7 short
years (Traffick911.com).
So why highlight child sex trafficking in the SCP
newsletter? Christian mental health professionals and theologians alike must be
part of the effort to end this heinous crime as well as lead the way in
restoring these young victims to health. Efforts to understand the scope of
trafficking as well as the devastation it causes is only the first step in
helping the survivors of sexual slavery. Methods of healing have yet to be
developed and empirically examined. Finally, when considering Christ’s charge
to care for the least of these, surely enslaved children are included in that
group – children who desperately need our help (Matt. 25:45).
References
Smith, L. (2009). Renting
Lacy: A Story of American’s Prostituted Children. Vancouver, WA:
Shared Hope International.
Traffick911. Accessed on December 6, 2011. http://www.traffick911.com/page/what-is-human-
trafficking
Shannon Wolf, PhD
Dallas Baptist University
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