Human Trafficking 101: Not My Little Girl

June+24+-+Not+My+Little+Girl+-+Photo+-+Kricia+Romero

Summer is officially upon us and vacations are still bound to happen despite the world’s pandemic with COVID-19 still lurking in its rearview mirror. Some of my best memories happened during summer vacations. When I was younger, my family and I always took summer vacations. Often times it was traveling from Wyoming to Oregon to pick up my two step-brothers for summer break, but other times it was going to see Mt. Rushmore and the Flintstones Village in South Dakota or Yellowstone National Park, one summer we even went to Disney Land. Even though I had to sit in the back seat with my brothers and often bickered and fought with them, and my mother said I was the worst at asking, “Are we there yet?!” I developed a pure love of traveling. Two days after graduating high school I packed my bags and my car and headed to Jackson Hole, WY to work for the summer as a hotel desk clerk. I was 17. My parents were shook at the idea that I wasn’t at all phased to travel that far by myself or at that age, let alone be in a tourist trap clear across the state with no family or friends there with me.

Despite my parents’ efforts to change my mind about going, I was relentless. I was going no matter what. I remember my dad getting my car ready for my departure. He bought me all new tires, checked the battery, fluid levels and made sure all the gauges worked, etc. The day I left, my big, burly dad cried while he hugged me goodbye. He told me to be careful and to only stop at truck stops to fuel and to use the bathroom. No stopping at rest areas he said, and call me as soon as you get there he demanded. No exceptions! I remember saying with hardly any breath left due to the big hug he was giving me, “Okay dad, I will! I’ll be careful!” I gave my mom the biggest hug I’d ever given her and my reluctant little brother that normally wanted nothing to do with me, accepted a hug from me too. I gave them all one last goodbye and I hit the road!

It was an eight hour drive from my house. Not bad considering, but a very long and destitute one at that. Traveling Interstate 80 across Wyoming is a far cry from a good time with little to no scenery. Prairie as far as the eyes could see but I knew my end destination was a beautiful one at that so forward I went.

On my drive there, I would say to myself, “What are they so worried about? I’ll be fine!” After all, I was careful, a safe driver, and I knew my way. Just follow the map. I mean, how hard can it be? C’mon! I’m 17! I’m free! No parents! No brothers! It’s summer! I felt totally invincible.

It was the summer of 1990 and cell phones were not what they are today. At that time I had not a clue about human trafficking and I doubt my parents did either. Sure they warned of kidnappers, but human traffickers? No. I arrived at my destination safely and called my Dad and he told me to have a good time but be responsible. I replied, “Of course, Dad.” That summer was the thrill of my life, so much so, I went back the next summer to do it all over again.

Fast forward to me being a parent of a teenage daughter, fifteen to be exact, who comes to me and says, “Hey ma, Kayla asked if I can go on a road trip with her and her mom to Las Vegas. Can I go?” Gulp! That fleeting scene from me leaving to Jackson came back to me in an instant. It hit me. I knew at that very moment what my parents were afraid of. This time, I knew what human trafficking was and I was well aware of who they prey on…teenage girls! Oh my. How could I say no? How could I say yes?

I said yes, but my words were an exact repeat of my father’s. Even though she was fifteen and was told about the dangers of being trafficked from the time she was able to understand what it was, she too told me non-chalantly that she’d be fine. Her answer did not surprise me. You see, from the time she was a toddler when you’re teaching the dangers of strangers, I always told her that if anyone ever tried to take her that she needed to yell, kick, scream, bite, hit, etc. Make a scene I told her and a big scene at that!! She said, “Mom, what if they tell me not to tell anyone or they’ll kill my parents.” I told her, darling, you let your dad and I worry about that. Your job is to fight back as hard as you can and get away and then tell someone right away.

DO NOT KEEP IT A SECRET!

The next year she went to California for a week to stay with her “Guncles” as they liked to be called (gay uncles”) for her Sweet Sixteen birthday. They lived near downtown LA and we learned later they allowed her to walk down to The Grove by herself and I thank the heaven’s to this day she’s still with me. She told me when she got back home that she had gotten lost and had to use her GPS on her phone to figure out where she was. She said she went into a nearby pizza parlor and sat down for a minute to get her bearings. Some guy approached her saying he’d buy her a pizza and a drink and she said, “No.” He kept asking her and she kept saying, “No.” She decided to leave the pizza parlor and go on her merry way only to be followed by the same guy who then asked her for her phone number. She gave him a fake number and walked off and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and then walked back to her uncles’ house safe and sound. How that scenario didn’t turn out differently is beyond me. I cried so hard that night she told me this.

To say the least, I was livid but beyond thankful at the same time. So many “what ifs” crossed my mind. What if he kidnapped her? What if I never saw her again? What if he hurt her? What if he raped her? What if he sold her? Thankfully that was not the case. But it was at that very moment I decided I needed to be more proactive and help raise awareness of the dangers of human trafficking and that it could happen to anyone, in broad daylight, in front of so many and yet no one would know. Or would they? Would they say anything? I would hope so. Would you see it? Would you say anything? I would hope so.

Human Trafficking is an absolute ugly topic no matter how you discuss it. Whether it’s sex trafficking, labor trafficking or modern-day slavery, it exists and it is the most horrendous act upon a human being and needs to be stopped ASAP!

Traffickers want control, whether it’s you, or your child, so educate yourself and your child(ren). Do not avoid this topic with your child because it’s “scary.” It is scary, but what’s worse? Telling them, or never having the chance to tell them? When your child is learning the alphabet, his/her address and phone number and the importance of stranger danger, teach them it’s okay to fight back to strangers who want to hurt or harm them or worse yet, take them. Teach them not to be afraid when they say, “I’ll kill you and your parents if you say anything.”

Stay connected to your child(ren). Be that nosy parent who wants to know who all their friends are. Notice any behavior changes they might be experiencing. Pay attention to unexplainable toys they start playing with or their language, both verbal and non-verbal. Where do they want to spend their time? Where do they “not” want to spend their time? That is telling you a lot as well. Most importantly, listen to them. If you’re not listening to them, they’re not going to talk to you. That can lead to a very dark place for anyone, of any age. Education is key when it comes to awareness of human trafficking from how it works, to who is most vulnerable and most importantly how to stop it.

Globally, there are over 5.5 million children who are victims of human trafficking. No one is exempt from being trafficked. Trafficking doesn’t discriminate against color, race, age, gender or religious belief. With that said though, young girls and women are the most sought after gender by a trafficker. Human trafficker’s lurk everywhere, even where you least expect it.

Globally, there are over 5.5 million children who are victims of human trafficking. No one is exempt from being trafficked. Trafficking doesn’t discriminate against color, race, age, gender or religious belief. With that said though, young girls and women are the most sought after gender by a trafficker. Human trafficker’s lurk everywhere, even where you least expect it.

Be alert. Be safe. Educate yourself. Educate others. Protect yourself and possibly others.

If you are or believe you have identified someone in a trafficking situation, you can take action. Call 911 immediately to notify local law enforcement. You may also call the human trafficking hotlines in Canada and the United States by dialling the numbers below. Both hotlines are open 24/7/365 days of the year and provide services in over 200 languages.