Annandale church members campaign against human trafficking
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| Members of Annandale United Methodist Church walk in the Annandale Parade. |
Amid the marching bands, dancers, and antique cars at the
Annandale Parade last Saturday was a group with a more serious mission: members
of the Annandale United Methodist Church are hoping to draw attention to the
growing threat of human trafficking.
Annandale Parade last Saturday was a group with a more serious mission: members
of the Annandale United Methodist Church are hoping to draw attention to the
growing threat of human trafficking.
“Sex trafficking is not only a problem for adults in the
local business community, it’s affecting our children in high schools, too,” says Liz
Hoefer, a member of AUMC’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.
“Our best effort is to focus right here in this community. We can’t stop it,
but we can make people aware of it.”
local business community, it’s affecting our children in high schools, too,” says Liz
Hoefer, a member of AUMC’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.
“Our best effort is to focus right here in this community. We can’t stop it,
but we can make people aware of it.”
“The main thing people can do is be observant,” Hoefer says.
“If you see it, report it. Talk to your children. They should know they are
vulnerable and that strangers who talk to them may not have their best
interests in mind.” In our community, there are predators on the lookout for fresh victims and brothels operating in apartment complexes.
“If you see it, report it. Talk to your children. They should know they are
vulnerable and that strangers who talk to them may not have their best
interests in mind.” In our community, there are predators on the lookout for fresh victims and brothels operating in apartment complexes.
“Human trafficking is more lucrative than drugs, because you
can sell a person over and over,” she says.
In many cases, children have gotten caught up in trafficking
after a stranger approached them in a mall and started talking to them and
complementing them, telling them they look cute, for example, and exchanging
phone numbers, Hoefer says.
after a stranger approached them in a mall and started talking to them and
complementing them, telling them they look cute, for example, and exchanging
phone numbers, Hoefer says.
That could be appealing to a young woman who is insecure. Eventually, the man might suggest meeting his friends and
ask if the teen is interested in making some money. The victims are “groomed,” in
much the same way a sexual predator prepares a child for engaging in sex.
ask if the teen is interested in making some money. The victims are “groomed,” in
much the same way a sexual predator prepares a child for engaging in sex.
“Any time a person under 18 is prostituted, that is human
trafficking,” Hoefer says. And once a child is ensnared, they often don’t know how
to get out.
trafficking,” Hoefer says. And once a child is ensnared, they often don’t know how
to get out.
The AUMC Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is working with the Polaris Project and
Restoration Ministries, groups that help victims of human trafficking, along with the Fairfax County Police Department.
Restoration Ministries, groups that help victims of human trafficking, along with the Fairfax County Police Department.
The AUMC group hosted a seminar on the topic last winter featuring a talk by Barbara Amaya, a human trafficking survivor, who has written about her
experiences.
experiences.
After being abused in her home in Arlington, Amaya’s self-esteem
plummeted and she ran away many times. “It was so easy for predators, pimps, and
traffickers, who seem to have uncanny radar to seek out damaged children, to
force me into trafficking,” she recalls. At 13, she was lured into prostitution on the streets of Washington,
D.C., and later New York. She was beaten,
raped, and arrested numerous times.
plummeted and she ran away many times. “It was so easy for predators, pimps, and
traffickers, who seem to have uncanny radar to seek out damaged children, to
force me into trafficking,” she recalls. At 13, she was lured into prostitution on the streets of Washington,
D.C., and later New York. She was beaten,
raped, and arrested numerous times.
Amaya now is speaking publicly about her ordeal to shine a light on the problem, serve as an advocate for other survivors, and
prevent other young girls from being victimized.
No group is immune, Hoefer says. Youths from every background,
every income level and ethnic group have been caught up in this. One human trafficking ring busted by the police was
operating in nice hotels in the Dulles and Herndon areas. In any case, “all our children are important to all of us,” she said.
every income level and ethnic group have been caught up in this. One human trafficking ring busted by the police was
operating in nice hotels in the Dulles and Herndon areas. In any case, “all our children are important to all of us,” she said.
The AUMC group and the church’s youth group are planning to
reach out to middle and high schools this fall, she said, and the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force is developing a curriculum for
schools. “We
want people to know it’s happening,” Hoefer says.
The Northern Virginia task force, formed in 2004, is a collaboration of
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the Polaris Project, and other organizations.
Since 2011, 57 people engaged in human trafficking in Northern Virginia have been convicted in federal court. Those cases involved at least 38 juvenile victims
of sex trafficking and more than 350 adult victims of prostitution and sexual
exploitation.
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the Polaris Project, and other organizations.
Since 2011, 57 people engaged in human trafficking in Northern Virginia have been convicted in federal court. Those cases involved at least 38 juvenile victims
of sex trafficking and more than 350 adult victims of prostitution and sexual
exploitation.
Earlier this month, the task force received a $1 million grant
from the U.S. Justice Department; $500,00
of those funds are going to the Fairfax County Police Department for the
creation of a new human trafficking unit.
from the U.S. Justice Department; $500,00
of those funds are going to the Fairfax County Police Department for the
creation of a new human trafficking unit.