How do you talk about human trafficking?

How is it possible to encapsulate the emotions that millions of people have grappled with when healing from the abuse they have survived after sexual exploitation?

People are uncomfortable talking about sex trafficking and the horrors involved. Often the stories are told, intentionally or not, in a way that blame victims and has judgmental tones creating shame that survivors internalise. This shame weighs heavily on survivors of sexual abuse and hinders the ability to heal.

Many survivors do not ask for help or come forward and tell their story as they fear judgement from their families and communities. Survivors sometimes even ask themselves the same questions, blaming themselves for not leaving despite never being able to leave. This shame can spiral into ‘acting out’ or shutting down and becoming ‘anti-social’. Shame exacerbates trauma, depression, and isolation, hindering recovery and healing.

The crushing feeling of shame also occurs from larger society as well. The harmful portrayal of young girls and woman in media as object that can be exploited, devalued, sexualized or as having less value because they are sexually active, is the same attitude used to justify the sexual abuses that they endure. Terms like child prostitute are lies – it is the rape of a child! 

Giving survivors the chance to speak about their own experiences, in their own words, is one of the most pivotal aspects of psychologically recovering from trauma. Our SHE Rescue Home creates a safe space for the girls so they can begin the healing process and share their experiences with their counsellors, social workers and their housemothers. It is vital for the girls to be able to share what happened to them and what they did to survive without judgement and with understanding. 

However, this year several girls from the first year we opened have asked to share their stories! Now all in their 20’s they want the world to know the truth about how they survived and the tough work it takes to heal and built a new life. We are so excited to share these stories with you later this year.

This would not be possible without your donations and support!

For 13 years we have been supporting girls for the years it takes to start to heal. It costs approximately $2000 a month to provide care for each girl in our high security home and $600-$800 per month to support girls who have been reintegrated. Giving survivors the space to heal and helping them rebuild their lives is PRICELESS.