How to Stop Human Trafficking: Expert’s Answer Hits Close to Home

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/datewithdadtour