HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS

If you suspect a child is a victim, REACH OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT and seek help.
To learn more please watch this 2 minute video:

The GOAL of Bakhita Kids is to bring awareness of human trafficking in our OWN BACKYARD of Northern Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

We are raising awareness of this injustice with the above video and by delivering postcards to businesses, churches, and community centers to promote the video specifically in the areas of Martinsburg, WV, McLean, VA and Baltimore, MD.

It is a crime more prevalent than most people realize,
affecting children in all sections of the population.

By the time a child starts showing signs often attributed to being trafficked , they may be fully entrenched in this illegal activity. Human Trafficking treats the most vulnerable like property, controlled through manipulation, threats and violence to the victims or their families.

The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the US is 12 to 14 years old. HOWEVER, preteens are being groomed and children are trafficked locally after school. Children as young as 3 years old have been trafficked.

In West Virginia

West Virginians are especially vulnerable to human trafficking because of the opioid epidemic, poverty and a large number of children in foster care in the Martinsburg area.

Sissonville couple sentenced in child abuse, trafficking case >

Former Fayette County WV police officer sentenced to 25 years for the sex trafficking of a minor >

Human trafficking and stalking can take on many forms in West Virginia >

What you need to know about West Virginia’s child welfare crisis >

Martinsburg woman sentenced to 40 years for trafficking a teenager >

Four West Virginia men arrested for allegedly soliciting minor >

In Virginia

Many people believe that because the northern Virginia area is relatively affluent, that sex trafficking is not a problem. However, several factors contribute to the prevalence of human trafficking in Fairfax County. Proximity to major transportation hubs, including Dulles and Reagan airports (both international), major interstate highways, and railways, facilitates the easy movement of traffickers and their victims.

Missing New York teen found in Virginia, McLean man arrested on child exploitation charges >

Local Editorial: Northern Virginia becoming sex trafficking hotspot >

Not For Sale: Fairfax County fights growing sex trafficking >

Alexandria: MS-13 gang member sentenced to life in prison for child sex trafficking >

Tricked: Inside the World of Teen Sex Trafficking (Fairfax County Public Schools) >

Tips to Keep your Child Safe

Foster Open Communication:
Encourage children to talk about their experiences and concerns without fear of judgment, creating a safe space for them.

Educate and Empower:
Teach children about the tactics used by traffickers and how to recognize warning signs, empowering them to protect themselves.

Monitor Online Activity:
Be aware of their online interactions, social media usage, and gaming platforms, and have open discussions about online safety.

Build Strong Relationships:
Spend quality time with children, participate in their activities, and show genuine interest in their lives to build trust and support.

Establish Safety Plans:
Create safety plans for different situations, including how to respond to feeling uncomfortable or unsafe, and who to contact for help.

Teach Healthy Boundaries:
Discuss the difference between healthy and unhealthy secrets and empower children to say no to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Identify Trusted Adults:
Ensure children know other adults they can turn to for support if they are unable to reach their parents.

Report Suspicious Activity:
If you suspect child trafficking, report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) or local authorities.

Signs a Child May be in Danger

While most people think about child sex trafficking occurring in other countries, at NCMEC the reports we receive and cases we support involve primarily American children who have gone missing and are being exploited in our own communities. Also, while we prefer to think of the traffickers as strangers, the reality is traffickers are often known to the children and can be their parents, guardians, romantic partners, teachers, church members, coaches or other individuals the child trusts.

Online activity behavior warning signs include changes in children’s use of electronic devices, attempts to conceal online activity, withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, anxiety, and depression. Be alert to unexplained gifts, new devices, or travel plans.

A child is in possession of unexplained large amounts of cash, prepaid cards, hotel keys, multiple cell phones or apps providing multiple cell phone numbers

The child’s ID is being held by another person, or they do not have any ID

Signs that the child has been coached when talking to people, letting others speak for them or looking at others before they speak

Tattoos or branding the child does not wish to talk about, explain or did not choose

Chronic homelessness, youth who are unstably housed or children who frequently run away

Abruptly disconnects from family and friends

Close association with an overly controlling adult

Regular, unexplained school absences