Pimps,
Slaves and More: Stop Traffic makes its debut
by
Dalena Hardy, posted Oct. 22, 2007
Slavery
is a word that invokes a variety of images and emotions. Many
conclude that slavery is a pivotal part of the past, but a
new student organization is challenging that notion. On Oct.
15, 2007, Stop Traffic, a new MU student organization, held
its Anti-Human Trafficking Introduction Panel.
“Our
goal is to raise awareness that human trafficking is not just
a global problem, but also a domestic problem,” said
Jennifer Kimball, president and co-founder of Stop Traffic.
“We are trying to raise awareness that it happens in
the U.S.”
Stop Traffic
held this introduction panel to bring together experts and
people who have first-hand experience with trafficking. The
event focused on the expertise and experience of two individuals.
Ben Reed,
a photojournalist and a MU graduate student, spoke about witnessing
human trafficking first hand in Thailand while interviewing
the winner of the "Pimp of the Year" award. He was
working on a photo project of the “seven deadly sins.”
“Greed
was the hardest to find,” Reed said.
Pimp Domination
bought Reed to Thailand. Domination is the “3-time Miami
Pimp of the Year.” He is known to take all his prostitutes’
earnings. Reed believed that Domination was a prime example
of greed. Domination relocated to Thailand where he could
expand his operation without legislative constraints. Prostitution
is legal in Thailand and is a major component of the economy.
Reed provided
ample commentary and showed a number of his pictures. He showed
many “beer bars,” a term used to describe venues
where men come seeking the services of women and children.
“$30
a day-anything goes. There are four to five ‘beer bars’
per block,” Reed said. “I hope by showing you
these pictures that you see how easy it is.”
Reed showed
emotion while speaking about his experience.
“It
really got to me,” Reed said.
Elvana
Lula, a MU master’s in social work candidate, shared
similar sentiments while explaining women trafficking in Albania.
Lula is
a native of Albania and has worked with international and
Albanian organizations that help women and children who have
been affected by trafficking. Lula’s research presentation,
entitled “The stories behind the numbers: The Albanian
case of women’s trafficking,” examines the qualitative
realities of human trafficking domestically and abroad.
“[The]
U.S. is a source and destination country for people who are
trafficked,” she said.
Lula explained
that a significant factor that allowed trafficking to flourish
in Eastern Europe was the collapse of the communist regime.
Many Eastern European women are tricked into trafficking by
false marriages, the promise for a job in a western country
or by family.
She stated
that Albania is no longer a major transit country; however,
a significant concern is the lack of resources for survivors
and the reintegration into society.
“Despite
freedoms, many women’s only means to survival is ‘daily
prostitution’ because there are not resources for women,”
Lula said.
Lula spent
time training police about methods for conversing with women
involved with trafficking, and she explained there is a lack
of understanding with women and those in power.
“The
government doesn’t want to recognize trafficking is
a problem,” Lula said.
Lula’s
and Reed’s presentations gave the audience much to ponder
and discuss.
“Elvana’s
specific comments and Reed’s photos impacted me,”
said Dan Imhoff, a senior nursing major. “This problem
is truly global, it affects everyone.”
