With The Sound of Freedom hitting theaters in Bolivia recently, I wanted to share some thoughts about a topic Project Suma is passionate about: fighting sexual exploitation and trafficking.
I'm thankful for a growing interest and desire to address a very real problem. Awareness is important and our active response is desperately needed.
But first, it's important to also be informed and discerning. The Sound of Freedom is a Hollywood production, designed to capture our attention and increase ticket sales. If we’re not careful, sensationalized storytelling masqueraded as truth-telling can not only be misleading, but also increase unwarranted fear and harm.
The film depicts a story that does not represent the experience of the large majority of real-life trafficking victims. Young children are rarely kidnapped for the sale of sex.¹ Rather, most victims are coerced by someone they know: a friend, family member or romantic partner. In Bolivia, most victims are cleverly tricked into false employment opportunities and later exploited into sex trafficking. Others are reeled in by hopes of “web cam modeling” or other online scams. If we're not careful, misinformation can harm our efforts rather than help. Traffickers are astute, and their subtle coercion can easily go undetected by law enforcement, the general public and victims themselves when popular narratives do not accurately reflect real life experiences.
The film also highlights unrealistic rescue tactics that are often counterproductive. Our indignation to this issue should move us to act, but it is our careful discernment, thoughtful intervention and long-term care will ultimately what will bring lasting change. Children do not immediately sing once rescued, and trauma is not quickly erased. “Anti-trafficking work, the kind that really works, doesn’t have an immediate satisfaction. It’s slow and steady. There are no starring turns.” ²
“The temptation to do something in the face of such villainy can be overwhelming.
And the lure of the quick fix is often very difficult to resist. But the task of eliminating human trafficking is not amendable to such an approach. It requires hard work;
a tolerance for incremental, sometimes almost imperceptible success;
and an unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law.” ³
Finally, it's important to note an underlying message that can contribute to harmful stereotypes and racial biases: a god-fearing, heroic white man rescuing innocent children in crime-ridden Latin American nations. Certainly that's not the full or true story. Rather than applauding well-intentioned, dramatic rescues, let's work to better support survivors and make room for them to tell their own hero stories,
It is true, sex trafficking is a major and current tragedy - one that Project Suma works everyday to prevent and restore. The majority of women we serve were once trafficked as minors. And we are currently expanding our outreach to younger women in the capital city of La Paz, to tackle trafficking at its roots when girls are first recruited. Our united efforts can bring transformative change!
We invite you to join the movement to fight trafficking, with these tangible action steps:
1. Support reputable organizations on the ground working for sustainable and systematic change. You can volunteer, give or advocate. @projectsuma @sutisana @munasimkullakita
2. Don't watch #porn. Support victims. Prosecute buyers.
3. Learn and discern. Listen to survivors. ⁴ @survivor.clau @alikakinanfundacion
4. Implement safeguards from abuse, in your schools, churches, daycares and organizations. Teach children about their own safety & boundaries with others.
5. Care for the vulnerable through adoption or foster care, or in juvenile detention centers, homeless and domestic abuse shelters, group homes, residential psychiatric care centers and prisons.
6. Facilitate affordable housing, childcare, higher education and legal immigration.
7. Work for gender equity.
8. Pray for change.
For further information see: