Help! Love, MOM

 Psalm 82:3-4

Give fair judgment to the poor man, the afflicted, the fatherless, the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men.

My first post in 30 days was on July 20, exactly 30 days to the day from my last post on June 20.

An accidental, unplanned break from blogging, started in earnest on the night my little area of NYC experienced an hours long power outage.

I’m challenging myself (and enjoying!) creating 10 posts in 10 days.

This is day, or, post 8.

In the meantime, human trafficking was, if you will, devouring American news.

Many believe that human trafficking is a hidden crisis demanding urgent attention. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) estimates that, globally, an estimated 27 million to over 40 million people live as modern-day slaves—with roughly 77% in forced labor and 23% in sex trafficking.

The USDHS also believes that 4.8 million adults and 1 million children are sex trafficked.

Trafficking Takes Several Distinct Forms

Labor Trafficking (There is overlap among the categories.)

Individuals are compelled to work under coercive conditions in diverse industries for example agriculture, in factories or in domestic servitude as maids or nannies.

Sex Trafficking

According to the American Bar Association and USDHS victims are made willing to participate in commercial sexual exploitation by force, fraud, or coercion, including forced marriage or organ trafficking.

FORCE – may involve threats, restraint, and physical, including sexualized violence;

FRAUD – includes incurring debts, deceptive recruitment or false promises;

COERCION – encompasses economic pressure, threats of harm, or legal abuse.

It is important to note that, in the U.S., any commercial sex act involving a minor under 18 is automatically considered trafficking.

Recent media scrutiny of Sean “Diddy” Combs, as well as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell has brought public focus to sex trafficking within elite circles.

Maxwell was convicted for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein often using manipulation, cash, and “love bombing” to exploit victims—a reminder of how wealth and influence can facilitate trafficking. Victims add that Maxwell, herself, also abused girls.

In addition, it has been widely reported that Sean Combs was recently tried on serious federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy, and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion among other charges.

Disappointing many, Combs was acquitted of the racketeering conspiracy and the sex trafficking charges but convicted on less serious charges.

Headlines aside, trafficking, however, is not a tragedy confined to the, so-called, one percent.

The true crisis touches millions.

Traffickers definitely prey on vulnerable individuals who may also be rich.

We should also think of children in foster care, runaway, abandoned or unaccompanied youth, undocumented migrants, the poor or the misfit, persons with unstable housing, substance dependent persons and loners as juicy trafficking targets.

We must shine a light on hidden trafficking by speaking up and speaking out, educating communities, strengthening legal protections, and supporting survivor-centered programs. The Epstein/Maxwell and Combs cases seem extreme and unlikely in the broader population.

However, potentially, anyone can be trafficked.

Deuteronomy 27:19 Cursed is he who is unjust to the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’