By guest blogger Elizabeth Oklevitch, Regent University Law School, Candidate for J.D., 2014.
I recently watched the documentary, Not My Life. Depicting the human tragedy and
human depravity that is human trafficking, the film exposed real instances of
sex trafficking, exploitive child labor, use of child soldiers, and other
atrocities that make me grieve for the human race and wonder why God puts up
with us. You can get a taste of the film by watching the trailer, and if you
get the chance, it would be worth your time to watch the entire documentary.
I’ve seen several documentaries and read numerous articles on human trafficking. Not much surprises me anymore. But one interview in this film did. They interviewed a young, European trafficker in prison. The glimmer in his eye, the playfulness. He took delight in telling the world that specific women probably still had nightmares of the way he punched, raped, and sold them. The crimes were a game to him at the time. He didn’t need money; he traded in prostituted women for adventure. The crimes were a game to him now, as his smiling eyes evidenced. I’m not accustomed to that kind of evil so close to the surface of a human face.
The interview with that trafficker was doubtless one of
the factors that prompted a key question from the audience, a question which
elicited a striking response. Robert Bilheimer, the
director of Not my Life, and Eric Peasah, a Ghanaian on the front lines of
anti-trafficking efforts and founder
of Right to be Free, were present at the film screening
to answer questions. One woman voiced an obvious, nagging question. She noted
that the problem seems largely to be violence by men against women and girls and
then asked how we can go about changing cultural attitudes, and how we can stop
the abuse. Mr. Peasah’s answer: Fathers. He told how over the course of his work on
several continents he had observed a trend: those most vulnerable to
trafficking lack fathers.
“Fathers,” is
not your typical answer to “How do we stop trafficking?” But I don’t think it’s
a bad one, at least not a bad start. Going back to our young trafficker, I
don’t know anything of his family history, except that he was “well off.” However,
I find it difficult to imagine a person who had grown up watching his father
model honor, respect, and deference toward his mother treating women the way the
young trafficker did, without a hint of shame or remorse.
As to
vulnerability, Mr. Peasah’s answer was drawn from experience. He
has rescued numerous young boys who were forced to perform arduous,
life-threatening work for African fishermen. As the documentary revealed, many
of these boys were essentially sold to the fishermen by their mothers –
well-intentioned mothers, struggling to feed their children and deceived by
false promises of “businessmen” who turned out to be traffickers. All through
the film, I kept wondering, where are the dads? Why is mom making all the critical
decisions, and why is she alone saddled with the responsibility of feeding her
children? I realize these are huge, culturally and situationally sensitive
questions, and I’m not attempting to answer them, but merely to point out that
we need to be asking them. Mr.
Peasah’s
answer, based on years of observation, drives one point home: dads are
important. When it comes to protecting children, two are better than one. The
boys, who, frequently unprotected by fathers, are sent off to work for
strangers before they turn ten, often turn around (if they survive long enough)
and purchase boys themselves when they are able. It’s not coincidental that the
exploited are often fatherless. Neither is
it coincidental that in a world where men are not faithful to the women in
their family, they and their sons are not respectful of women outside their
family.
As Mr. Peasah highlighted, fathers have the potential for
huge positive impact. By setting an example of honor and respect, each dad can
play a role in fighting the cultural attitudes that allow human trafficking to
flourish. The example doesn’t have to be perfect to be counter-cultural, to go
against the self-serving mentality that others are to be used, to undercut the
arrogant sense of entitlement that feeds the “demand” side of trafficking, and
to avert the vulnerability that stocks the “supply.” With Father’s Day
approaching, let’s remember and encourage the dads in our lives who have the
power to impact culture.
For those
in the Virginia Beach area, here are two great events celebrating fathers this
week:
Norfolk
Family & Fatherhood Forum, Wednesday, June 12, 2012 (FREE Event)
Who:
Leaders and stakeholders in
the areas of government, business, education, media, faith & community
based organizations
What:
Forum will feature experts in the field of fatherhood and release data from a Norfolk Family
& Fatherhood Report
When:
Wednesday, June 12,2013 from 11:30-3:00pm
Where:
Murray Center, 455 E. Brambelton Avenue, Norfolk,
Virginia 23510
Norfolk
Date With Dad Dinner & Dance, Saturday, June 15, 2013
Who:
Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, big brother, father figures,
daughters, girls and ladies of all ages
What:
Dancing, Food, Fun, Games, Comedy, Photos and much more
When:
Saturday, June 15,
2013 from 5:00pm-9:00pm
Where:
Norfolk State University, Scott-Dozier Dining Hall, 700 Park
Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23504
Registration
at www.campdiva.org/
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The introduction to my remarks, listed here below, gives you an idea of how important mom and dad are to family restoration.
