Human trafficking, today’s slavery

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger

Human trafficking has been a growing plague for quite some time. Recently, more stories are finding their way into the news and popular culture. As Christians, we are concerned witnesses for the care of all victims and the end of this dark criminal trend. Parents and all responsible for the care of children and teens are moved to protect them from falling prey to traffickers.

Much cause for fear and anxiety surrounds us. Many have watched the movie “Sound of Freedom,” portraying the real-life story of Tim Ballard who rescued children from traffickers in Colombia. You may be following stories exposing the plight of victims — and the growth of labor and commercial sex trafficking. Posters at transportation hubs in the Capital Region encourage us to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity that might signal human trafficking. Front line experts in the battle against trafficking say public awareness and vigilance form the defense. Thanks to the public, the National Human Trafficking Hotline (https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en) and CyberTipline (https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline) receive millions of tips each year, enabling law enforcement to investigate, arrest perpetrators, and, importantly, free human slaves among us.

What about prevention? The same experts who promote public awareness caution us that one of the greatest dangers in human trafficking is the idea that it happens somewhere else. This cautionary note is especially vital as the internet now reaches into most homes, permitting nefarious characters to mask their identities and encounter children without any adult supervision and in countless ways, such as in social media and gaming chat rooms.

We have learned the importance of vigilance in preventing abuse in our ministries that protect children and young people. For over two decades now, the Church in the United States has been fostering awareness of child safety, as we witness the long-lasting effects of the abuse of children and young people. Our Diocese now has a robust child protection program, which includes extensive background checks and regular training for clergy, employees and volunteers active in our parishes and schools. We are part of a national commitment to child protection established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in “The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” Yet even such far-reaching safeguards do not create a 24/7 shield around children and teens. Through computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, the internet gives dangerous people easy access to potential victims around the clock, even in plain sight as your child may pour over a mobile-phone screen sitting in the living room.

Experts in human trafficking and other crimes involving sexual exploitation of children stress the key role of parents, grandparents and others in the daily life of children and youth. Risks increase exponentially with the internet’s reach. We need to become more aware and empowered to find safe, age-appropriate ways to talk to children and teens. No need to succumb to fear and anxiety. Informing ourselves is easier than ever using free, authoritative resources available to all, including children, about internet safety.

A good start is with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (missingkids.com). Founded by John Walsh as a partnership between the ­public and law enforcement, NCMEC has become a leader in empowering parents, educators and others to know the signs of dangers to children and youth, including grooming, exploitation and trafficking. Dealing with millions of cases annually, NCMEC can explain how traffickers send groomers to engage online with teens and preteens, pretending to be age-mates and playing on youth’s natural curiosity and trust. They can help us find ways apt for each situation to fend off groomers who, through conversation and role play, solicit compromising information or images which are then used to manipulate the victim, steal identities or commit other crimes. Cyberbullying even can be used in a process of compromising young people, drawing them into activity they otherwise would never have sought.

Take a look at NCMEC’s online-safety education program, called NetSmartz (https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/home), providing free, authoritative resources for parents and others. See the nine-session “Teaching Online Safety” program (https://connect.missingkids.org/learn/learning-plans/17/teaching-online-safety) for parents, guardians and educators about digital literacy and ethics, inappropriate content, cyberbullying, online sexual solicitation, online privacy, sexting and sextortion, and how to talk to children about online risks and protections in age-appropriate ways. NetSmartz also offers age-appropriate videos and activities directed at children and teens from K-12 to be safer online through smart choices and honesty with trusted adults. Parents may wish to review any of these and, if they address your unique situation, view with your child or teen.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline, another free resource, permits calls to report suspicious activity anywhere in the United States (https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/safety-planning-information) for online and off-line choices and behaviors for children, teens and young people who may be quite vulnerable in new situations such as living on their own for the first time. It identifies apps for smartphones to help keep your loved ones safe, such as BSafe, which is free, and SafeTrek, which has a fee. Additionally, all social media apps and many internet providers have parental control options with which you may want to become familiar.

The Department of Homeland Security runs a central federal program for the public called the Blue Campaign (https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/) which has free videos, tip sheets and free resources. New York State has an Interagency Task Force that coordinates activities across the state and produces a report on human trafficking within our state. Local organizations with resources are ready to help victims, too.

Even with this small selection of useful resources, it may seem overwhelming to know what steps to take next for your family or loved ones. All these programs require parental review and approval with the best interest of their child in mind. A parent may share the resource or relay some of the information. Only a mother and a father know what will help a child without creating stress or fear. We all know the world is not typically in sync with our faith and values, so it is natural for us to want to review resources carefully from the standpoint of morality, although these programs and resources from these groups tend to be careful to avoid sexually explicit details as a way to minimize triggering upset among victims.

Here is where a parish might serve well as a family of families. Might not parents get together and select resources to approve and recommend to parents and others who care for children and teens? Could a parish provide an evening or afternoon workshop for parents and all others who care for children and teens? Presenters can distill the best information from this and offer a selection of good authorities. Local human-trafficking task force members often have speakers who can contribute to these presentations. The Knights of Columbus, who are committed to fighting human trafficking and modern slavery around the world, may be able to offer insights. Can your parish or parish network help lift the burden for parents and others who want to protect children and teens from the perils of our online world?

Whether we inform ourselves alone or as a family or parish, we must face the dangers in today’s world, not just fear them. Child-protection programs have made our schools and parishes safe places because we understand what to watch for and know how to report and take action. We must stay vigilant and never become complacent! Risks and challenges grow beyond church programs. Our commitment to child safety cannot end at the door of a school or parish center any more than the work of charity and social justice should.