The Forgotten Children: Trafficking in Haiti

By Gaetane Borders

January 12, 2010 is a day that I will not soon forget. It was the day that a massive earthquake leveled Haiti….my parents’ birth home. Although I was born in the U.S., I strongly identify with my Haitian roots, and felt as if a large part of me died along with the over 150,000 people who lost their lives during the natural disaster. What saddened me the most was seeing the images of the bodies of children and babies lined along the street. In fact, I didn’t think it could get worse. But it has.

Many of the orphanages were damaged, and therefore tens of thousands of children are currently living in the temporary camps. In addition, reportedly more than a million people were displaced by last January's devastating quake and are living in dire conditions. These horrible conditions have become a breading ground for trafficking in the small island.

It has been reported that trafficking has always been an issue in Haiti but has grown steadily worse in the last year. Since the earthquake the rates of trafficking into the Dominican Republic have increased incredibly. According to an investigative report by the Miami Herald, the Massacre River is a common crossing point for traffickers. It’s a river that links Haitian town of Ouanaminthe with the Dominican Republic’s Dajabon. There are individuals who are going to the temporary camps and posing those that have come as part of the aid efforts. According to news reports, parents desperate for money are falsely dooped into believing their children will lead better lives elsewhere if they sell them.

Prosguel Andre, 32, an admitted trafficker of the Haitian Cannibal Army gang, has admitted to selling more than 45 children. He has said….

"There are a lot of orphans here. Babies with nobody to care for them. It's easy to take them. Last month, a white woman came from the Dominican Republic. She gave me $500 for two little girls. I don't know what she wanted with them."

What is happening in Haiti is not unique because human trafficking usually increases after natural disasters. For example, the massive tsunami that struck Asia left thousands of children were left vulnerable to similar crimes.

There are organizations that are doing a lot to help bring an end to this disturbing issue. For instance, Unicef is working with the Haitian government to try and introduce anti-trafficking laws. As part of this, the United Nations police force (UNPOL) recently began patrolling these unofficial borders. Also, Hilton Worldwide has promised to combat child sex trafficking by becoming the second US-based hotel company to sign the international code of conduct known as "The Code" which is aimed at protecting children from being sexually exploited in the travel and tourism industries around the world. Hilton will implement policies that condemn child trafficking and also train employees how to spot potentially illegal activities. USA Today reports:

“Last year, Hilton came under fire by online social-justice groups such as Change.org on this issue following the discovery last year of a brothel in one of its hotels in China. In July 2010, Chinese police found a brothel operating in the independently run karaoke bar inside Hilton's five-star Chongqing hotel. At the time, authorities ordered the closure of the hotel for a full week and the hotel lost its fifth star. Although the issue of child trafficking did not come up, the connection was nevertheless made.”

More people and organizations need to get involved because this is an issue that affects every nation! One such organization is ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking). ECPAT and The Body Shop have formed a partnership to create and implement the global “STOP Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People Campaign.” For more information about them and this campaign, please visit www.ecpat.net.

The Dangers Of The Streets: Child Trafficking

By Gaetane Borders

 

 The newswires were working overtime in the past several days.  The reason is because Lawrence Taylor, a former NFL player, was charged with third-degree rape and soliciting prostitution in a case involving a 16-year-old girl at a hotel in Rockland County, NY according to the authorities.  The 16-year-old was a runaway who police said was forced into prostitution.  She was reported missing from her home in March.


Police also say that the girl had been staying with a 36-year-old parolee, Rasheed Davis, in the Bronx. Reportedly, the two met a few weeks ago at a bus stop.  After a conversation in which she indicated that she did not have a place to stay, Davis offered her refuge. He later forced her to perform sexual favors for others.


Last Thursday morning, Davis reportedly punched and kicked her, drove her to a hotel against her will and told her she had to have sex with Taylor. Although she continued to refuse, Davis reportedly handed her over to Taylor, who sexually assaulted her, reports indicate. Taylor then paid her $300, which she gave to Davis.


The police learned of this chain of events when the girl’s uncle, who had reported her missing, called the New York Police Department saying he had received a text message from her. In it, she said she was being driven back to the Bronx and gave the address where she was headed. City officers went to the address and found the girl with Davis who was charged with unlawful imprisonment, assault and endangering the welfare of a child.   


No doubt, one reason why this crime has received a lot of attention is because of Lawrence Taylor’s celebrity.  However, there are thousands of young girls and boys who are forced into sexual slavery each day.  In fact, child prostitution is a major issue not only in the U.S., but also around the world.  Atlanta is one city in the U.S. that Federal law enforcement considers to be a hub for child prostitution. Advocates contend at least 400 minors are in prostitution in Georgia, mostly in metro Atlanta.  Many are 14 or younger. 
   
A recent report by the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory University estimated that hundreds of children were being used as prostitutes throughout Georgia. They come from troubled families and often have histories of truancy, and typically ran away from home after being sexually abused.  Once on the street, they face increased risks of being battered or killed. They are also likely to experience drug addiction or psychiatric disorders and contract diseases. 
 

Most runaway children do not realize the dangers of living on the streets. According to the National Runaway Switchboard, 75% of runaways will become involved in theft, drugs or pornography. Moreover, one out of every three teens on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.  

 

This is how…

Children are recruited by pimps in arcades, malls, entertainment centers, at tourist attractions and concerts. They move from city to city looking for children who are alone, desperate, and alienated. They often entice the victims with money and luxury items. Once the pimp moves a child from her hometown into a strange city, they can easily force them to work as a prostitute through the use of drugs, violence, intimidation, and mental abuse.  

 Child prostitutes require specialized care for effective intervention. They are sure to have both physical and emotional scars that will have lasting affects.   Many experts agree that residential care is the most effective.  There are some agencies across the country that specialize in helping former child prostitutes.  However, the resources are not extensive.  There is a definite need for more treatment centers to help rebuild the lives of these victimized children.  Moreover, we need to make protecting children a national priority every day of the year, and not only during election times or to merely sell more copies of a magazine…or when it involves a celebrity. 

Gaétane F. Borders, MA, ABD 

Children of The Night

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My Life My Choice Project

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