One Child of How Many? Human Trafficking in the U.S.
posted by: Liz ODonnell 80 days ago
Liz O'Donnell
Heartbreaking news out of North Carolina this week. After a week-long search, Shaniya Davis, a five year old girl, was found murdered and left lying on the side of the road. She had been taken from her home and authorities say she was raped. Mario McNeill is charged with both first degree murder and first degree rape. Perhaps most shocking of all, the girl's mother, Antoinette Davis, who first reported the child missing, has been charged not only with filing a false police report, but with trafficking her daughter and child abuse involving prostitution.
For many Americans, human trafficking seems like a foreign, remote problem, hard to fully comprehend. But the fact is, buying and selling of humans is very real. Worldwide, the International Labor Organization, estimates there are about 2.5 million people forced to work in human trafficking at any one time and that 56 percent of forced labor victims are women and girls. According to HumanTrafficking.org, the United States is primarily a transit and destination country. The organization estimates 14,500 to 17,500 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked to the U.S. annually.
However, trafficking happens within our national boundaries too. The Polaris Project, an anti-trafficking organization in the United States and Japan, says there is a large "domestic" component of human trafficking in the United States for the purposes of both sexual and labor exploitation. The Polaris Project also projects the average age at which most children are first exploited is 13.
Some recent high profile projects are shedding light on this issue. A new film, "Fatal Promises," tells the story of victims and an art installation backed by actress Emma Thompson and called "The Journey" gives an in-depth look of a woman's journey in the sex industry. But all the activism and awareness can't help us comprehend how a mother could allegedly sell her own child. Even so, there are ways to help.
To help stop human trafficking in the United States and to learn the signs by which to identify victims, sign this Care2 petition.
Read more: womens rights, kidnapping, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, human trafficking
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shaking head...
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why is this inappropriate?
Carol M
I believe our Law Enforcement is Neglecting to Enforce. The policemen do their job only to have criminals set free. If they do the Crime they should do the time. People who commit Murder and Rape should die in the same fashion. Why should the children pay for the Sins of the Parents. If these Criminals were given what they deserve then it would encourage others from doing so. I don't believe in gun control either. If You were a criminal and You were about to rob the Bank, Wouldn't You think twice if You knew the people behind You all had guns? I Parents don't take care of the Own Children Then They should be taken away and given to people who would Love to have them. And there are many who through no fault of their Own can't have any. I would of loved to helped this child. I am shocked that something like this could and does happen in this country. It's time top do something People!
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BM, I agree 110%. And yes, parenting classes should be in the classroom starting at ta young age. As well as humane treatment of animals. Many abusers start with animals and progress from there. But in cases where a child is killed or gets taken away from a mother permanently due to abuse, she should not be allowed to have any more kids. And the ONLY way to prevent that is tying those tubes. Its a joke. A child gets taken away from an abusive mother, yet she has anoither one 9 months later and THAT one is abused, gets taken away, etc etc etc. HOW MANY times does this have to happen with ONE woman before its stopped?? Then we really COULD start looking at that peaceful loving world someone else was fantasizing about.
If someone wants to risk taking drugs, then that is their decision. A bad one yes, but THEIRS. They do NOT, however, Have the right to bring a child into this world addicted to drugs, or abuse and kill this child. NO MORE. WHEN are some of you going to look out for they well being of the innocent children??? And NOT after too many of them are HERE and abused, but preventing the abusers from having any more. THAT and early parenting classes is the only way. A problem needs to be stopped BEFORE it gets out of hand, the it is not a problem any more! After the fact is like cleaning up after a flood, but not stopping the leak. Simple. NO more child abuse, trafficking and deaths. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
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Chana wrote:
Thirdly, we have to do all we can to prevent abuse in the first place - otherwise, the cycle will continue to perpetuate itself. Should women like this be punished? I'm not a big believer in the efficacy of punishment, but I certainly think she should be kept away from society, in order to keep society safe.
Well, how do we prevent? And, if there is one of these useless bit*thes there are a million of em! So, how do we find a million or more of these women to prevent what they might do? Where would we put all the children involved after these women are incarcerated?
But in todays very over crowded mean world we truly should institute parenting classes in the schools starting in kindergardten all the way to 12th grade. By doing this in a classroom setting through the years children will begin to understand what being a parent is. And, hopefully this would reduce teen pregnancy too.
There is no separation of a parents life from that of their children. One life affects the other & sometimes in profound ways & sometime tragically so.
I always say people spit out children like rats, rabbits & roaches. But, when you think about it those creatures are better parents!!
Agree?
Plant & protect trees for life.............
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i believe that this woman should be forced into having her tubes tied. No mother is perfect, but this goes way past imperfection. As a mother of 2 and currently expecting another child, i know that when i became a mother, it became my responsibility to ensure the safety and nurturement of my children. if a child cant expect her mother to protect her, who can he/she trust?!
i would also like to take a moment and tell people that not all addicts would allow their children to come to harm. Im living proof of that. For years my mother was what is considered a functioning addict. We went to our dr's appointments, school, there was always food in our fridge, our clothing was clean, and so were we. Our mother loved us, but was fighting a battle on the side. May God have mercy on any man that would have thought it was ok to try something indecent with us, because my mom wouldnt have. she would have killed him, went to jail, and did her time laughing at what she would have done to him!!
please refrain from considering all mothers fighting their own battles as mothers who would allow this to happen.
btw my mother has 16 years clean and she doesnt miss anything about it...
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B.M, I don't have a simple answer. I do believe that we have to stop looking at children as their parents' possessions and giving the parents endless chances to make it right. Some people do not have the capacity to parent well and should lose the right. If we do this, however, we need to provide a good alternative housing for the children. Maybe small group homes or "families" headed by professionals who have the training to help them with the fallout from their trauma. Thirdly, we have to do all we can to prevent abuse in the first place - otherwise, the cycle will continue to perpetuate itself. Should women like this be punished? I'm not a big believer in the efficacy of punishment, but I certainly think she should be kept away from society, in order to keep society safe.
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Chana......So, what do you suggest?
This wantonless woman set in motion the death of her child. Had she not set these chain of events in place this child more than likely would be alive.
As for the idiot who murdered this child he should be executed in 90 days.
Plant trees for life................
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If this mother was a victim of abuse, and that is what caused her to do this, then seek out and punish HER abuser. We won't. We just keep making excuse after excuse for some people. There are MANY people who lived a bad life, poor, abused, and don't go on to abuse and break the law. MANY. We have to stop making it an excuse and show people that they WILL be punished and punished severely.
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The mother probably was a victim at one time, as were most abusive parents, but the most pressing issue is the safety of the children. How can we protect the children? Can we do it in a way that recognizes that the parents, when they were children, suffered as well? We need to try to do both, but first and foremost the children.
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No, she should be barred, sterilized from ever having any more children. If she wants to drown in drugs so be it!!!!!!!!
Plant & protect trees for life..................
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