U.S. is one of worst countries for human trafficking

Published 3:09 pm Tuesday, August 25, 2020

To the Editor:

The United States is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for human trafficking. According to a recent released report by the State Department, the top three nations of origin for victims of human trafficking in 2018 were the United States, Mexico and the Philippines. America’s dirty little secret is the United States is the number one consumer of paid sex worldwide. So America is driving the demand as a society. For info on human trafficking visit www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking or www.endslaverytn.org For help or to report a tip call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 (Befree).

Anti-Sex Trafficking activist Jaco Booyens said President Trump has done more to fight sex trafficking than any president. President Trump has made it a priority and has empowered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help keep America’s children safe. Tennessee is the best state in the nation for its response to the threat of human trafficking according to the nation’s leading experts. Shared Hope International grades and ranks every state in the nation annually assessing law enforcement approaches, legislation and survivor services. Tennessee scored the highest in the nation on dealing effectively with human trafficking. Thanks to Governor Lee, Senator Crowe, and State Rep. John Holsclaw. Thanks to the Elizabethton Star for speaking against human trafficking. The Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline is 855-558-6484.

Amanda Berry from Elizabethton was kidnapped and kept as a sex slave for ten years until she escaped. Every day runaways and  kidnapped children are forced into the sex trade. There are 94 children each month with an average age of 13 who are trafficked in Tennessee it’s estimated. It’s important to know who your children are talking to on the internet. Traffickers use the internet to look for children. Abuse of children causes revulsion if anyone has a heart at all for God, His Word the Bible or the children who are being victimized. Pray that God will pour out His justice and pray for mercy and healing for the victims of abuse. Jesus said, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

Sometimes the truth is unpleasant. The Bible in Ephesians says do not only shun the “unfruitful works of darkness, but even expose them.” There is evil in the world and getting worse. We can’t close our eyes and pretend it doesn’t exist, and we can’t fight it with our heads in the sand, thinking happy thoughts. “You can ignore reality but you can’t ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” It’s important to be a voice for the voiceless and for victims. Victims have said that abuse negatively affected them for decades after the abuse ended. Christian victims said only after they gave their life and past to Jesus, Jesus strengthened them, and delivered them from shame, suicidal thoughts, depression, bitterness and despair. Pain and heartache is real but Jesus with us in our pain and heartache is more real. The Bible says Jesus is near to the brokenhearted! Only Jesus can bring beauty from ashes. However you will never know what beauty Jesus can make from your ashes or messed up life until you give it to him!

D.D. Nave

Elizabethton