National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Human trafficking exists. It most certainly, absolutely, without question exists. It does. Everyday. Everywhere. How very sad is that.
How do I know trafficking exists?
Because I’ve spoken to, interacted with, listened to, walked with, and sat beside many women who were (are) trapped in human trafficking, specifically in sex trafficking. I’ve heard their cries, listened to their pain, felt their heartbreak. These women have come from different countries, different regions of countries, different states, different cities. They have each shared their life-stories and life-experiences of being controlled by organized networks, not realizing how similar their stories sound to the many, many other women who are also being sold. Oh my goodness.
What’s happening out in our world is appalling. Hideous. Vile.
The trafficking and selling of men, women and children who are forced, coerced, manipulated, and blackmailed into years of violence and slavery is an outrageously obscene crime. The complete disrespect, degradation and total disregard of people, and the actions carried out by sadistic greedy human traffickers is utterly shocking. Completely inhumane. You would be blown away to hear what I’ve heard. I’m blown away by what I’ve seen and heard! Traffickers are a hideously cruel bunch.
This year at the P4² DID Conference, I gave a heavy-duty presentation on the ways the dissociative population gets used and abused in the trafficking industry. There was far too much to say in a short time — so much to teach. Sadly, there are dozens of ways dissociative abilities are used against a dissociative system, trapping them deeply into abusive scenarios. Dissociative survivors are especially vulnerable to the evil behaviors and sneaky manipulations of traffickers.
But don’t give up — freedom and safety are still possible for DID’ers. Yes, it takes a lot of intensely hard work to get out, and yet, getting out is exactly possible. It is. I know that without a shadow of a doubt.
So many more trauma survivors need opportunities to learn how to get out and away from these controlling networks and get assistance to build a life of safety and freedom. Trauma therapists need to learn HOW to help their clients get free from ongoing abuses. Our people need our help!
Do you know how to help a DID system get free from trafficking? It is possible, I promise you, it is.
#WearBlueDay: January 11
I will be wearing blue.
Will you?
Help raise awareness by posting the following statements on your social media accounts:
- Join me in wearing blue on January 11th to help bring awareness to #humantrafficking with @DHSBlueCampaign. Share your photos with #WearBlueDay.
- Anyone can be a victim of #humantrafficking. Bring awareness to this crime by participating in #WearBlueDay on January 11th. Learn more about @DHSBlueCampaign and #WearBlueDay here: dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday
- I’ll be wearing blue and sharing a photo on January 11th for #WearBlueDay to bring awareness to #humantrafficking, will you? Learn more via @DHSBlueCampaign: dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday
- Wear blue and share a photo on January 11th with #WearBlueDay to raise awareness of #humantrafficking. Learn more from @DHSBlueCampaign: dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday
- Want to do something more than wear blue on #WearBlueDay? Learn other ways you can participate and raise awareness of #humantrafficking with @DHSBlueCampaign: dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday
- #Humantrafficking happens in cities, suburbs, and rural areas throughout the U.S. Raise awareness of this crime by wearing blue and sharing your photo on January 11th. #WearBlueDay @DHSBlueCampaign
If you need help, assistance, a listening ear, or a reason to get out of human trafficking, please contact me.
I wish you safety — lots and lots of SAFETY — in your healing journey.
Warmly,
Kathy
Copyright © 2008-2022 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation
Human trafficking doesn’t just happen in organized crime networks. It also happens to individuals, specifically children, by parents, friends of parents, other family members, and neighbors. It did to us, first by an uncle when we were only 4-6 years old, then by a friend of the biological dad when we were 10-12 years old, then by the bio-dad from age 13 to almost 18 years old, when we managed to get away. Along with the trafficking came multiple pregnancies, miscarriages, and forced abortions done in secret in warehouses and garages of supposed “doctors”.
We were threatened with our own death (which we wanted) and with the death of other family members (which we didn’t want) if we ever told anyone about it, so we kept the “secret” until we were biologically over 40 years old, when we were finally able to tell a therapist.
An organized trafficking network may be harder to get away from, but private trafficking is just as damaging to the victims/survivors.
Thank you for helping and supporting efforts to end human sex trafficking.