Watch Your Language

When we are working in and around the issue of sex trafficking, there is a tendency, particularly in conservative circles to moderate our language. I am not talking about using foul-language, rather; I am talking about calling things what they really are. In a world of high-sensitivity, we have lost our ability to call things by their true name.

Granted, progress in society removes ethnic slurs and insensitive labels, of which I am wholly in support. Yet, in this movement, there is a distinct sense that much of what needs to be dragged into the light has remained hidden, particularly in regard to sex trafficking.

Let me give you some examples. In Japan, prostitution has been disguised as 'compensated dating'. In the 1990's, the term 'prostitute' was replaced with 'sex worker'. This was an attempt to restore dignity to the women engaged in this activity, but the result was much more complicated. Even in the US, we have gone to using the term 'trafficking-in-persons', which is gender neutral. Given that this was to have a single term for both labor and sex trafficking, it eludes the force of the fact that sex trafficking is a gendered activity that transports female victims into prostitution.

Instead of the old 'Madonna-whore' dichotomy, we inherited a new dichotomy of 'prostitute-trafficked victim' - the former gives the idea that a prostitute is one who has voluntarily engaged in selling her services, over and above the one who is exploited and victimized. This is a dangerous precipice that we need to carefully maneuver around. We need to call things what they are and observe what those terms mean.

Let's look at a few more examples of this term changing and how it influences our understanding. In many countries, 'brothel' has been replaced by 'hostess bar', 'gentlemen's club', 'bunny ranch', or 'entertainment center' - all of which negate the fact that sex is being sold for profit. Also missing from this new terminology is the link between voluntary and vulnerable. What we assume is a girl just trying to make a living and a girl that is being exploited based on her circumstances is a fine line.

Trafficking, particularly sex trafficking has been deemed under a softer term 'migration' or even as late as 2002, as 'facilitated migration' (see Network of Sexwork Projects, 2002). The result of this new terminology is an often naive attempt to be sensitive to the victims or the audience that is involved. Other times, it is an outright effort to disguise the fact that sex trafficking is simply globalized prostitution - plain and simple.

Pictures, Video, and Ethics of Working with Sex Trafficking Victims

There is a difficult balance that most of us face in the business of working with victim survivors of sex trafficking. First and foremost, we are in the business of protecting them and helping them rebuild their lives. Yet, at the same time, nothing is more powerful than to see these girls, look into their eyes and hear their stories.

We live in such an insular world that often, I don't think the issue of slavery grabs us. The global public has to be outraged by this issue in order for there to be significant change. At the moment, victims are silent - without a voice, without a face. Most pictures are taken in the shadows or the back of girl's heads. We never have to look these young women in the eyes and cope with our ambivelence. Though I completely agree with the logic of not exploiting victims, this only serves to further silence the voices of the survivors who want to be heard. I want to give these girls that want it - a voice that will be heard.

I have been working through this difficult dilemma for some time. I have had to confront this since 2004, during my first trip to Cambodia. From the moment I met a young lady at a government shelter and watched the horror on her face in having her picture taken, I have been aware of the sensitivities in media exposure and the need to protect girls from exploitation.

NOTE: Transitions Cambodia, Inc. works with girls that are of an age (15-18 years old) that can consent to photos and media exposure. TCI would not allow girls under the age of 15 to give consent.

On a more recent level, I have considered how to give exposure to this issue and to TCI. First, NBC Dateline wanted to shoot at the center. They were willing to do a story on Transitions Cambodia, Inc., but needed the ability to put the girls in the piece. Next, Tim Matsui (pictured above), a professional photographer wanted to take photographs of the girls. Tim has become a friend and someone that I will continue to work with. He came to Cambodia to learn and get some exposure to the entire issue of sex trafficking. When he first came, he had one sense of how images should be portrayed. Yet, after a short time of working with TCI, he has taken a much more cautious tact.

So, how do you begin to breach this issue? First, I needed to talk with the girls at the center. We discussed the Dateline piece first. In order for me to allow Dateline to shoot, I needed the informed consent of the girls and staff. Of the fourteen girls we had at the time, eleven of the fourteen decided that they would want to be in the Dateline segment, as long as, their names were not used and their details were not shared. This was not a problem. Though the special has not yet aired, the amount of exposure is fairly limited. This was the easier of the two situations.

Now, I needed to breach the issue of photos and other information. I fully believe in informed consent. At the same time, I also know that as a caretaker, I need to use my judgment as well. I sat down with our girls and discussed photographs and information. Out of the group - three girls opted to have their stories told and allow Tim to follow them through their particular journey. The first was a girl that was being reintegrated. The second was a young lady that was returning to Vietnam. The last, was a girl that has since become TCI's staff spokesperson - Srey Neth (see picture right). She is the only girl that opted to use her name, her story, and her journey to help other girls.

This has been a fairly emotional and difficult struggle to deal with. Tim can attest to the number of conversations I have had with him regarding this issue. Yet, my ultimate desire is to protect the girls and, at the same time, give them a voice. I believe we have achieved this. The first two girls used false names and the particular details of their stories are veiled. Srey Neth, on the other hand, wanted to make her entire story a part of her voice and let the world know what happened to her. She has become empowered through this experience.

Tim Matsui has taken the time to work with Neth, our staff, and me on her story and to follow her back to the area where she was trafficked and abused, to the pagoda where she found healing and insight, and to TCI where she has discovered her future. This will be expressed in photos, video, and multimedia on the TCI webisite, FEAR Project website, and venues where Srey Neth will be speaking in the future.

In the meantime, if you work in this industry, you will need to make these decision on your own. I would never compromise a court case or expose a girl who did not want to be photographed. I would encourage other organizations to heavily consider the 'no pictures' policy and find a balance of protection and allowing the world to see and hear those who have been horribly hurt.

Recently, I saw an article of an American woman who had been raped, but allowed the news to publish her photo - she felt that it allowed her the ability to heal and be heard. There was an empowerment in her being seen and given a voice. We in the anti-trafficking world need to weigh this issue, seeking the same balance, in order to bring this issue out of the shadows.

Sea Monkeys and Human Trafficking

Lately, I have been reading and hearing about a number of organizations and the things they are doing in the area of human trafficking. From informational campaigns to organizations claiming to be working with victims, the stories are incredible. Or are they?

When I was a kid, I used to love reading comic books - it didn't much matter what it was - Iron Man, Justice League - they were all pretty cool. But, on the back of almost every comic book was an ad. This was a magical ad that captured every boys imagination. Every kid I knew coveted this ad - the infamous sea monkeys. The picture alone was like catnip for kids. You could become the master of the universe with your own kingdom of servant sea monkeys. With arms, legs, faces, and should we dare say - personality (look at the picture again!), this was the ultimate. Unbelievable!

My story isn't original. No - it is many kids stories. I ordered it. I waited about three weeks, when it finally arrived in the plain, brown wrapping...it seemed a little light for an entire kingdom of sea monkeys, but who am I to judge. So, I get it all out on the table and there is a 'packet' of my new subjects...a packet? Next, I get my tank ready, add the water, and pour in my instant sea monkeys and viola! Hey, wait a second...they are all dead! Oh, um, maybe not...it was nothing but shrimp brine! I got ripped off...in the tank floats little obscure white things that don't even have a shape, let along a personality...okay, okay, enough of the story.

What I am getting at is this - in the area of sex trafficking, there are a lot of people attempting to capitalize on the fact that there is tremendous interest in this topic. So, people create a front page website and start taking in donations. Other organizations have even taken their orphanages or other projects working with children and started calling them 'anti-trafficking' projects. Why? To answer this simply, I don't know. I suspect it is a money-making venture, as well as, an attempt to get on the band wagon of human trafficking.

This is disturbing, because there are a number of great organizations working very hard and struggling for dollars to keep their work afloat. When glossy organizations come in and begin dividing up the already small pie, it hurts - not just the organization, but the children that we are helping.

Working with trafficking victims is not glamorous or easy and you don't get rich doing it. At least the people that I know. The people I know are in the trenches working hard to make a difference and we sacrifice a lot to work in this field. So, I guess that this is a 'buyer beware' blog - carefully check out non-profits that you are considering donating money to or assisting in any way. Ask them exactly what they do and if they have any references. Trust me - if they are legitimate, someone knows them and respects the work they are doing.

I have a broad network of people working with anti-trafficking projects - both legitimate and those that make amazing claims of what they are doing to assist victims of sex trafficking. A little checking around and critical thinking will help you make informed decisions about who and what you put your good name and money to. Remember, just because they say they are doing something doesn't mean it is true.

My soap box is almost over - so, here is my last point - if the claims are incredible, it is likely that they are not true. In the words of Public Enemy "Don't believe the hype". Claims of amazing child rescues and incredible aftercare programs require some corroboration from other organizations that they partner with. In this field, nothing is accomplished alone. We work together, like pieces of a puzzle. Rescuing children is a process, not an event. Any lone rangers out working by themselves are just that - lone rangers looking for money, approval, and recognition for something that they are either not really doing or doing irresponsibly.

If you have questions about a particular project, organization, or methodology, ask around. Everyone in this field wants the best possible services to go toward helping victims and addressing this issue. Most will welcome your queries and are open about their work (barring confidential or sensitive information that might compromise them, victims in their care, or their work). I would be happy to assist or point you in the right direction, if you have questions or concerns. In the meantime, we appreciate your support of the work we are doing to empower girls to recapture their futures.