The Face of Human Trafficking | Megan Rheinschild | TEDxSantaBarbara

The first paragraph sets the scene in a Santa Barbara courtroom where a human trafficking victim, referred to as Miss Doe, is about to testify. The defendant, dressed in an orange jail suit, awaits the proceedings. The victim was discovered in a local motel room after police found an online advertisement for an underage girl being sold for sex. The narrative describes the arrest of the pimp and the victim's introduction to the court. The prosecutor aims to establish that a felony has been committed during the preliminary hearing. Miss Doe explains the terminology of 'the life' and 'the bottom,' which refers to the person in charge of other girls in the trafficking operation. The paragraph emphasizes the shocking reality of sex trafficking in affluent neighborhoods and the lack of awareness and understanding of the issue, even among those working closely with crime victims.

Paragraph two provides a broader perspective on the issue of child sex trafficking in the United States. It references a statistic from the US Department of Justice, stating that 300,000 children are sex trafficked daily, a number equivalent to the population of Pittsburgh. The narrative challenges misconceptions that teenage girls willingly choose to engage in prostitution, highlighting the average age of recruitment into sex trafficking as 12 or 13 years old. The paragraph shares the personal story of Jane Doe, detailing her difficult upbringing, her first unwanted sexual experience at a young age, and her recruitment into sex trafficking at 13. It also describes the manipulative tactics used by pimps to exploit vulnerable individuals and the cycle of abuse that ensues. The story illustrates the complexity of escaping from sex trafficking and the psychological impact on victims.

In the third paragraph, the focus returns to the courtroom where the victim, now referred to as Misto, is testifying against her trafficker, who she had once believed to be her savior. The prosecutor seeks to illustrate the harsh realities of life under the control of a pimp, including the lack of food, sleep, and the constant movement between unfamiliar hotel rooms. Misto describes the spiritual aspect of her enslavement, indicating that all her earnings and energy were exploited by her trafficker. She expresses her feelings of being a hostage, with no control over her money or knowledge of her location. The paragraph also touches on the efforts made to prevent her from returning to sex work and her aspirations for a different life, including going to college and becoming a writer. It concludes with a discussion of the grim statistics regarding the life expectancy of sex trafficking victims and the high risks they face, urging for greater understanding and support for these individuals.

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of community support and action in addressing human trafficking. It addresses the lack of sufficient foster parents for the over 400,000 children in foster care whose parents are unable to care for them. The speaker expresses a firm belief in the humanity of the victims and the need for intervention to prevent the loss of innocence and potential. The paragraph concludes with a call to action, suggesting that individuals can make a difference by becoming mentors through programs like Big Brother Big Sister, listening to at-risk children, and empowering them. It also mentions the role of court-appointed special advocates for children in the foster care system, highlighting the potential impact of a single adult believing in a child's worth and capacity.