We had the opportunity to volunteer and assist in the prevention of human trafficking by distributing tip cards during Comic Con. As we stepped out in our SuperHero Capes distributing information on how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
Today, we became superheroes to assist SAFE San Diego in spreading the word of #theUglyTruth. The ugly truth is that San Diego has a thriving underground sex economy. not just one part of the county but the entire San Diego County region.
“In San Diego (and) Tijuana it’s a major problem and we don’t want people to get numb to the fact it’s a major problem,” said Dr. Jamie Gates with the Point Loma Nazarene University. “There are about three to eight thousand survivors in a year and a good percentage of that is happening in the hotels,” said Gates. Local experts say hotels are the top location for sex trafficking with 70% of transactions utilizing social media.
“Until our community sees the damage done to women, girls and boys being forced to work in prostitution, they will lack the will to take on this threat to our children and end demand,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan, who heads the county’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council. “Media can play a critical role in creating this awareness, particularly in an era where TV, print, film and online representations of prostitution are often so glamorizing.”
Blue Heart Foundation Founder Tracy Morris believes it’s critical that young men understand how important it is that people understand the impact of sexual trafficking. ” The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 16 and at many times as young as 12 years old. These are our daughters, nieces and little sisters. If we don’t advocate on their behalf … Who will?”
