National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

This month is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Today, January 11, was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It's also sometimes referred to as #WearBlueDay because similar to pink representing support for fighting breast cancer, blue represents support for fighting human trafficking. In fact, #WearBlueDay is recognized and supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday) as their "Blue Campaign: One voice. One mission. End human trafficking."

Today is also one of the hardest days of the year for me. It's a day that reminds me that there's a lot of work done to raise awareness of human trafficking and to raise awareness of efforts to fight it, and all of that is good! However, for me -- and the purpose of this blog -- it doesn't necessarily raise awareness for what needs to be done after they are rescued. Or actually, maybe a better word is to say after they are liberated, as they are liberated from physical slavery.

The reason I specify being liberated from physical slavery is because they will always be psychologically enslaved. Enslaved by the memories of what was done to them. Enslaved by the physical damage that was inflicted upon them, serving as reminders of what they went through. And this is where I feel raising awareness about efforts to rescue them isn't enough.

 **TRIGGER WARNING: Miscarriage, descriptions of sexual trauma**

I met a woman in June of 2020 who was placed in foster care from infancy and was trafficked by her foster parents from approximately 6 years old until she ran away at 17. She has been out of trafficking for 10 years, but what happened to her in her childhood has scarred her for life, psychologically and physically. Physically, she suffered extensive permanent reproductive organ damage. As a result, sex is extremely painful and difficult to enjoy, requiring PT, pelvic exams, sex therapy, and recurring surgeries to remove adhesions that will plague her for the rest of her life. Also, because of what was done to her, she is at increased risk of miscarriages and stillbirths, resulting in tragically losing multiple babies. Psychologically, she blames herself for not "being a better mom" to try saving them when there is nothing she could've done. It is almost impossible for her to trust men, save two exceptions. While psychotherapy and various physical treatments can help ease the undeserved guilt and help treat the physical pain, she will be affected for the rest of her life.*

Thankfully, she has had the ability to get the treatment to help her after getting out, but she had to find that all for herself. She had to do that on her own. For some, they may be able to do as she did and get help. However, for many like Mari, they might go to a shelter for a few months and be sent on their way, zero support or treatment established to help them heal.

I refer back to the text Mari sent me that I referenced in this blog's first post:

I honestly think without you I wouldn't be here today. I didn't have the strength mentally or physically to keep going. You've kept me well for 2 homecomings, my first job, all of my moves, everything. Things I really honestly don't know if I ever would've made it to. Thank you so much for spreading the words of kindness and of God to me I really appreciate that. Just know the young women I've become has been brought up by you a great deal.

No one else was there. No one else gave her support. No one else cared about her and helped her get through everything she faced after being released from the shelter. And that breaks my heart: an organization cared about children in trafficking to help get them out, but didn't care enough to continue helping them with their life after-the-fact.

So on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, I'm thankful for the work done to help educate people about what trafficking is, how much of a problem it is, and what we can do. But until change is made in how they are served and assisted after being liberated from the physical slavery, until more people care about what support they're given, #WearBlueDay will serve as a reminder to me that the war on trafficking is far from over. It's a reminder that there is far more that needs to be done to truly help free them from phychical AND lessen psychological slavery.

*Her story has been shared with expressed permission.