I was human trafficked for 10 years. We can do more to stop it | Barbara Amaya | TEDxMidAtlantic
TLDRIn a heart-wrenching narrative, a former victim of human trafficking shares her story of being lured away at the age of 12 from Fairfax, Virginia, to Washington, DC, and ultimately to New York City. She describes the manipulation and psychological control exerted by her trafficker, who exploited her vulnerability and innocence. Despite escaping after a decade of abuse and addiction, she faced the injustice of having criminal records from her time as a victim. The speaker, now an advocate, has worked to pass legislation like the Safe Harbor Bill and emphasizes the ongoing issue of human trafficking in the United States. She implores the audience to recognize the signs and understand that every child exploited matters, urging individuals to make a difference in ending this modern form of slavery.
Takeaways
- 🚨 The harsh reality of human trafficking affects vulnerable individuals, including children and adults, who are preyed upon by traffickers due to their desperation or naivety.
- 🏃♀️ A victim's life can be one of constant fear and flight, as depicted by the story of a 15-year-old girl in New York City who is chased by the police and ends up in Rikers Island Prison.
- 🤔 The struggle with addiction is a common theme among victims, as seen with the girl's dependency on heroin, which she views paradoxically as a lifeline that numbs her to her grim existence.
- 🧐 The psychological manipulation by traffickers is profound, with victims often developing a 'trauma bond' that makes it difficult for them to escape their captors.
- 👶 The age at which a person can be victimized is alarmingly young, with the speaker's own experience beginning at the age of 12 when she ran away from home due to abuse.
- 💰 The trafficking industry operates on the principles of supply and demand, exploiting the vulnerable for financial gain.
- 🤝 The importance of legislation and advocacy is highlighted by the speaker's efforts to pass laws that protect victims and penalize traffickers.
- 🏆 The Safe Harbor Bill, passed with the speaker's help, is an example of how legislative change can provide a safe haven for victims of trafficking.
- 🤔 The discrepancy in the legal treatment of child sexual abuse versus child sex trafficking is a point of contention, with the victim being criminalized rather than the perpetrator.
- 🏡 The longing for home and family is a powerful motivator for victims to break free from their traffickers, as demonstrated by the girl's plea for help to the police.
- 🐾 Companionship in the form of pets, like the speaker's dog Scooby, can provide solace and a sense of connection for victims who have been isolated and abused.
- 🌟 The potential for change and making a difference is real, as the speaker has shown through personal transformation and activism, inspiring others to join the fight against human trafficking.
Q & A
What was the immediate reaction of the young women when they heard sirens in the background?
-The young women, including the 15-year-old girl, ran because they knew the sirens meant they had to escape.
Why was the girl worried when she was taken to the police station?
-She was worried because she was addicted to heroin and feared she couldn't endure the time spent in the police station without a fix.
What was the girl's strategy to get help from the authorities?
-She broke the programming instilled in her by the trafficker, revealed her real identity, age, and hometown, and pleaded for help to find her family.
Why was the girl's relief at being found by her family short-lived?
-Her relief was short-lived because when she was taken to a room to reunite with her parents, she found her trafficker in the room instead.
What is the vulnerability that traffickers prey upon?
-Traffickers prey upon the vulnerability of individuals, such as the young, the desperate, or those seeking to belong.
Why did the girl initially run away from her home at the age of 12?
-She ran away from home due to abuse and a lack of support or someone to listen to her.
How did the girl become a victim of trafficking?
-After running away to Washington, DC, she was approached by a woman who appeared to offer help but was actually recruiting for her trafficker.
What is the term used to describe the bond created between a victim and their trafficker?
-The term used is a 'trauma bond,' which the trafficker deliberately creates to control and manipulate the victim.
How did heroin play a role in the girl's life during her time as a victim of trafficking?
-The girl became heavily addicted to heroin, which numbed her to the harsh reality of her existence and allowed her to merely survive.
What significant action did the girl take after escaping from her trafficker?
-She returned to vacate her criminal records, advocated for legislation, and helped pass the Safe Harbor Bill in Washington, DC.
Why is it important to recognize that human trafficking happens in the United States?
-Recognizing the reality of human trafficking in the U.S. helps to raise awareness, prevent such crimes, and support the victims in need of help.
What message does the girl convey about the significance of individual actions in combating human trafficking?
-She emphasizes that every individual can make a difference by being aware, supportive, and proactive in helping to end human trafficking.
Outlines
🚔 The Harrowing Journey of a Trafficked Teen
This paragraph tells the story of a 15-year-old girl, Barbara Amaya, who is alone, confused, and addicted on the streets of New York City. She is caught by the police during a raid and is sentenced to Rikers Island Prison. Despite being trafficked and exploited, she is forced to face the criminal justice system. Eventually, she breaks free from her trafficker's control, reveals her true identity, and is reunited with her family. The paragraph also highlights the vulnerability of children and the cycle of exploitation that traffickers perpetuate through supply and demand.
📜 Advocacy and Overcoming the Past
The second paragraph describes the speaker's continued struggle after escaping from New York. She returns in 2013 to clear her criminal records, which were a result of her being a victim of trafficking. The speaker points out the contradiction in U.S. laws where children cannot be sexually exploited, but if money is involved, the child is criminalized instead of the perpetrator. She shares her journey of overcoming shame and advocating for change, including the passing of the Safe Harbor Bill in Washington, D.C. The speaker emphasizes the reality of human trafficking in the U.S. and the importance of recognizing and helping victims, regardless of the scale of the problem.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Human Trafficking
💡Vulnerability
💡Heroin Addiction
💡Trauma Bond
💡Rikers Island Prison
💡Safe Harbor Bill
💡Criminalization of Victims
💡Advocacy
💡Supply and Demand
💡Escape
💡Epiphany
Highlights
A 15-year-old girl, alone and vulnerable, is trafficked on the streets of New York City.
The girl hears sirens and knows she must run to avoid the police.
Despite running, the girl and others are caught and taken to the police station.
The girl is addicted to heroin and fears the consequences of being detained.
She is sentenced to Rikers Island Prison, where she feels desperate to escape.
Breaking her trafficker's programming, she reveals her true identity and pleads for help.
The authorities locate her family, but when she is reunited, she finds her trafficker instead of her parents.
The girl recounts the vulnerability of youth as a target for traffickers.
At age 12, she ran away from home due to abuse and was subsequently trafficked.
She describes being sold to a New York trafficker and the traumatic start of her life in exploitation.
The trafficker manipulated and 'programmed' her, creating a trauma bond that was difficult to break.
The girl lost many childhood experiences and was subjected to horrific abuse and addiction.
She managed to escape New York after over a decade of trafficking.
In 2013, she returned to clear her criminal records, despite being a victim.
She highlights the paradox of laws that criminalize child victims in cases of sex trafficking.
The girl expresses her deep shame and emotional trauma, with her dog Scooby as her only comfort.
After an epiphany in 2012, she realized she was a victim of trafficking and decided to take her life back.
She advocates for legislation and has been to the White House to help pass the Safe Harbor Bill.
She emphasizes that human trafficking is a real issue in the United States and encourages everyone to make a difference.
Transcripts
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