I recently posted the story, Trafficking? Not in my town…Yes, in every town, which featured the story of 5 year-old, Shaniya Davis, from Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Shaniya was reportedly kidnapped and her body was later found on the side of a rural highway in North Carolina.  Her mother was later charged with human trafficking for placing her daughter into ’sexual servitude’.

The small town story has made national headlines and has shocked and stunned an entire community.  The story has become what some are calling an American nightmare.  After Mario McNeill (who was seen carrying the young child into the hotel) was charged with first degree murder and the rape of a child, the story made it to Oprah. Airing on last Friday’s show, on which the young girls father and aunt appeared, Oprah stated:

“another child has been raped and murdered in our country”

The reality is that children are raped and murdered everyday in the US — which is why Oprah’s statement wasn’t shocking.  Although Oprah sought to ask tough questions on whether this tragedy could have been prevented, the show didn’t touch on the realities of human trafficking.  No one questioned or mentioned the demand for sex, sex with a child, that factored into this story, which is sadly haunting for many children across the globe.  The reality is that the demand for children that exists in Fayetteville, NC are not that different from the demand of sexual slavery in India and beyond.  This brings me back to an older article I published, Are we still clueless about modern slavery?.

However were we have continued to remain in the dark is in regards the slavery which is covering our own streets. The real face of modern slavery is not one face; the face of modern slavery could be anyone of any class and race, however we often fail to see the many faces of slavery which are lost in the crowd.

Then how do we permanently turn on the lights and show the full scope and detriment that this plague, this human flesh trade, has become? We must continue to increase awareness that it is a crime that affects us all, seek to address demand, increase funding for rescue and restore programs, including police training and task forces, and most importantly to brake the cycle of the trade we must invest in the empowerment of both at-risk populations and survivors.

Anyone can become a victim; there isn’t one face to human trafficking and modern slavery. How do you know if you have come across a victim? Trafficking can take place in any environment and any location.

Some Red Flags to look for include:

  • Restricted freedom of movement
  • Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
  • Signs of physical or sexual abuse
  • Fear or depression
  • Not speaking on own behalf
  • No passport or other forms of identification.

“See it, Report it!” If you have reason to suspect that someone is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline on 1-888-373-7888. Multilingual call specialists are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential.

Learn more from the following: Fact Sheets - in Multiple Languages for Download Order Free Posters and Materials to distribute and post.

Tune into today’s “A Measure Of Truth”, at 7:30, or listen to the post recorded pod cast,to hear the author, Cassandra Clifford, as she sits down with host, Michael Fordham to discuss some of the harsh realities of human trafficking/modern slavery.