Speaking for the Silenced

Sex Trafficking Pt. 2

Hopewell Valley Student Publication Network — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 9: Sex Trafficking: Part 2

Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will be focusing on two stories of sex trafficking that occured in New Jersey, not far from where we are now.

Segment 1: Trenton

In January of 2018, state troopers found a 17 year old girl was found alone, in the middle of the night on the side of Interstate 295 (
Eventually she revealed she was sex trafficked by Ashley Gardener and Breon Mickens of Trenton
For the days before she was found, Gardener had arranged between 5 and 15 men for the teen per day
While Gardener was the so-called mastermind of the operation, Mickens did the grunt work
As of 2021, Mickens has been sentenced to 5 years in prison while Gardener has received 50.
This is a reminder that sex trafficking is a very real and present threat.
The next story will focus on the an international human trafficking ring exposed in 2021 run by a considerably larger group.

Segment 2: Group Trafficking

In early February of 2021, Authorities announced the charging of 22 members of a sex trafficking operation that made its base in Bergen County.
More than 50 women, most of them immigrants from Mexico, were caught up as victims
Had over 1500 clients
Victims ranged from anywhere in the late teens to the mid-30s
They were promised jobs and shelter but were then forced into prostituion
The crime ring was reportedly bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars every month from the work of the captive women
The women were compensated with half of what was paid for the prostitution, but most of it was used to pay off their “debt”
Currently, the prosecutor’s office is coordinating efforts with the Covenant House to provide shelter and crisis care for the 50 plus women rescued from the trafficking sting.

Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Speaking for the Silenced! See you soon!

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf
At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-for-the-silenced-podcast/id1593402136

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

https://nj1015.com/nj-woman-who-made-teen-have-sex-with-dozens-of-men-gets-50-years/
https://www.nj.com/bergen/2021/02/22-accused-of-running-human-trafficking-ring-in-nj-for-past-six-years.html

Sex Trafficking Pt. 1

Hopewell Valley Student Publication Network — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 8: Sex Trafficking: Part 1

Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will be discussing one the most pervasive forms of human trafficking, which is sex trafficking. This crime reportedly makes up 79% of human trafficking instances all across the world. Virtually everyone knows or has heard of it, yet sex trafficking is still not given enough attention in mainstream media.

Segment 1: Background

Definition of sex trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or cause a minor to commit a commercial sex act.

Includes prostitution, pornography, and sexual performance exchanged for any item of value.

May occur at brothels, clubs, hotels, and other night-time locations to sell their services
As of 2019, the National Ceter for Missing and Exploited Children has estimated thatn1/6 runaways were likely sex trafficking victims
Sex trafficking victims are both genders, although a majority are women and girls
Sexual assault among males is given much less attention

Segment 2: Clearing up some misconceptions

Common misconception that sex trafficking only occurs in “shady dealings”; this is untrue
By establishing trust early on and a degree of intimacy, the traffickers can exploit this later
Prositution is often looked down upon but can often overlap with sex trafficking
Many of these women have their appointments arranged for them by men known as pimps, who are individual traffickers
However, not all sex work is sex trafficking.
In general, the stigma that exists around sex work has caused many of the workers to fear going to law enforcement
Contributes greatly to the insidious nature of human trafficking

Segment 3: How can we prevent sex trafficking?

The best thing the average person could do is learn to recognize the signs of sex trafficking
Unstable living conditions
Imbalanced power dynamics with the employer
Abuse, threats, or clear signs of manipulation
These signs apply for human trafficking in general, but it is important to known them so you may help any and all victims
Increasing online safety could prevent sex trafficking as well
Fostering safer homes and neighborhoods
Cutting demand for commercial sex
Learn to recognize the little signs

Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Speaking for the Silenced! See you soon!

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf
At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

Subscribe to our Podcast

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
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Stitcher
YouTube

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-for-the-silenced-podcast/id1593402136

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

https://sharedhope.org/the-problem/what-is-sex-trafficking/
http://www.endslaverynow.org/learn/slavery-today/sex-trafficking
https://guardiangroup.org/sex-trafficking-myths/
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/trafficking.html

Organ Trafficking Part: 2

Hopewell Valley Student Publication Network — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 7: Organ Trafficking: Part 2

Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will end a two-part segment discussing organ trafficking. Today, we will focus on a real-life incident of trafficking that occurred in Kosovo in 2008.

Segment 1: Background

Victim’s name is Yilmaz Altun, located in Pristina, Kosovo
Fainted in middle of airport due to wound from organ removal
It was found that the organ donation was conducted a clinic in Pristina called Medicus
Medicus was a chain of organ trafficking clinics that were designed solely for the purpose of making profit.
Preyed on the poor and vulnerable
Crime ring was operated by Lutfi Dervishi and his son, both Kosovo physicians.
Actual organ removal was conducted by Yusuf Ercin Sonmez, a Turkish surgeon
The main operators of Medicus had been on the run for some time, evading capture since their operations were exposed in 2008.
However, a few have been incarcerated

Segment 2: Even more twisted origins

The Medicus Case has an even more complex twist
Council of Europe found connections with Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)
Terrorist group that sought to seprate Kosovo from Yugoslavia
The KLA reportedly began organ trafficking in 1999
People and authorities have even began to suspect that Hashim Thaci, Prime minister of
So how is the link between Medicus and the KLA established?
Kidneys harvested from the Serbian captives were transported to Sonmez, the doctor who was involved in the transplants in Medicus
Public hoped that Medicus could be linked back to the KLA and ex Prime Minister Thaci.

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf

At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-for-the-silenced-podcast/id1593402136

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@theHVSPN

Sources:

Organ Trafficking Part: 1

Hopewell Valley Student Publication Network — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 6: Organ Trafficking: Part 1

Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will begin a two-part segment discussing organ trafficking, perhaps one of the least visible forms of human trafficking.

Segment 1: Background

Involves a lot of stealth and intricacy, many crime groups participate in it
Organ demand is much higher than supply, what makes the practice so lucrative
Most traded are kidneys
Average wait time for a kidney is around 3-4 years
Time is much too long, people take desperate measures

Segment 2: How does it happen?

Traffickers target the most vulnerable as in other forms of trafficking
Offer a lump sum of money
Engage in insanely upscaled reselling
Actual removal of organ is done without care for the patient
Organ buying and selling is illegal in many countries, many engage in something known as “transplant tourism”, which is legal
Little regulation on transplant tourism
CoVID-19 has bred the perfect conditions for an influx of organ trafficking
Influx of debt, traffickers can more easily extort organ removals
Hospitals are backed up with COVID-19
Waiting lists for organs increases, demand increases

Segment 3: What Has Been Done

Tracking through the monetary transactions
Raising initiative: Project Protect initiative
Legislation targeting transplant tourism and organ trafficking
Involving the private sector
Working through social media platforms, where many ads are posted for organ buying and selling

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf

At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

Subscribe to our Podcast

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-for-the-silenced-podcast/id1593402136

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

Child Soldiers: Part 2

Hopewell Valley Student Publication Network — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 4: Child Soldiers: Part 2

Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will finish a two-part segment discussing child soldiers and their roles in wars. This week’s episode will focus on the country of Yemen specifically, a place infamous for their frequent employment of children in fighting. Yemen is a desert country in Western Asia.

Segment 1: Background

Yemeni Civil War fought between Houthi Rebels and Saudi Arabia starting in 2014
In 2011, there had been political uprising, led to the war
Now given support by Iran, a Shia majority nation
Shia and Sunni Muslim divide + conflict
Yemeni Civil War predicted to end quickly, continues today
Both sides exploit child soldiers

Segment 2: Set-Up for Child Soldiers

Villages left impoverished, no food/resources, disease
Houthis and Saudi Arabia coalition take advantage of this, target the villages
Offer jobs to the unknowing children before throwing them into the war
Houthis engage in form of indoctrination in summer camps
Make fighting out to be a holy, noble purpose
In 2020, the UN had counted 163 cases of children being turned into soldiers by Yemen.
In 2021, Houthis have continued their advancement
US is trying to pull out of support for Saudi coalition

Segment 3: What Has Been Done

Organizations and groups are fighting child soldiers in Yemen
Believe it violates International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute ban on child soldiers
Trying to have the UN intervene
CRUCSY program that reintegrates children
Prioritizes safety and assimilation
Issue is at its roots connected to the Civil War, so hard to pinpoint exact solution
Visit the Children And Armed Conflict UN website or the Borgen Project to learn more about the issue.

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf

At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

Subscribe to our Podcast

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

Child Soldiers: Part 1

Hopewell Valley Student Publication Network — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 4: Child Soldiers: Part 1

Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will begin a two-part segment discussing child soldiers and their roles in wars. A child soldier is someone who is under 18 years old who is compelled through force or fraud to engage, directly or indirectly, in armed conflict. They may work under the military or a non-government organization.

Segment 1: Background of Child Soldiers

93000 children found to be soldiers around world
South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
First use in Iran-Iraq war

3 causes

Poverty/Bad Home Conditions

Find food/income/home

Survival/Protection in Warring Zones

Outside threats of attack/organizations coerce families or child themselves

Force, Coercion, or Indoctrination (as seen in the Iran-Iraq war, where it all started)

Young, weaker, and more easily manipulated.

It is an extensive form of trafficking

Never a truly voluntary choice

Segment 2: The Experience of the Victims

Not always used in direct combat.

3 main uses:

Fighting:

Child more vulnerable, experience chronic injury or mental illness

Sent on suicide missions, talk about the Iraq-Iran war experience

Reconnaissance:

Due to unassuming nature, act well as spies

More trustworthy, experience less resistance, bring information back to their organization

Sexual services:

Girls are frequently targets, given to adult soldiers as compensation

Suffer physical and mental trauma, highly susceptible to STIS

Segment 3: The Aftermath

PTSD plays huge role :

Adults more likely to find help, children more likely to shut down

Grow up believing in a life of violence

Important to welcome child back into comfort and normality, which often doesn’t happen

Provide physical comfort and aid, psychological support

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf

At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

Subscribe to our Podcast

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Spotify
Google Podcasts
Stitcher
YouTube

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-for-the-silenced-podcast/id1593402136

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/winter-2005-2006/child-soldiers
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1174&context=stander_posters#:~:text=Child%20soldiery%20can%20be%20a,sexual%20exploitation%20by%20armed%20forces.
https://www.unicef.org/protection/children-recruited-by-armed-forces

Labor Trafficking: Part 3 - A Real Life, Local story

HVSPN — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 3: Labor Trafficking: Part 3 - A Real Life, Local story

Tweet to be shared on the network’s twitter handle: Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will conclude the Labor Trafficking segment with the third part and discuss a real life, local story of labor trafficking. This took place at a BAPS Hindu Temple in Robbinsville, just a 25 minute drive from where I am now. BAPS is a Hindu Denomination that is also a volunteer driven organization, with locations all over the world.

Segment 1: My Experience With the Temple

Segment 2: The Experience of the Victims

Segment 3: The Aftermath

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf
At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

Subscribe to our Podcast

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YouTube

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

https://browngirlmagazine.com/2021/07/new-jersey-temple-dalits-forced-labor/

Labor Trafficking: Part 2 - The Most Common Forms of Forced Labor

HVSPN — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode 2: Labor Trafficking: Part 2 - The Most Common Forms of Forced Labor

Tweet to be shared on the network’s twitter handle: Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

You are listening to the Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will continue the Labor Trafficking segment with the second part and go in depth on the most common forms of forced labor occurring across the world. I will focus on three in particular, which are factory labor, agricultural labor, and domestic work.

Segment 1: Factory Labor

Labor trafficking is in the context of the manufacturing of goods.
Men, women, and children are all virtually equally exploited, many workers caught in factory labor are immigrants.
In these industries, the trafficked take on jobs involving repetitive, systemic labor.
Meat processing industry: not strenuous, but mind-numbing.
Garment industry: far more dangerous (fire, machinery)
In November 2012, Tazreen Fashions Garment Factory burned down (112).
Ali Enterprises burned down (250)
Many more industries are involved in labor trafficking, but there are too many to count.

Segment 2: Agricultural Labor

Labor trafficking is also a common occurrence in the agricultural industries.
Latin America is especially guilty of this.
Labor is not confined to one region, not constant throughout the year.
Irregularity and isolation makes the workers more vulnerable.
North Carolina especially exploits immigrant workers.
RTI International found 25% of all workers in NC experienced threats of violence/deportation, 39% experienced abuse.
Law enforcement were unaware of the trafficking.
Their words contrasted with what was actually happening.

Segment 3: Domestic Labor

Domestic Labor is the last form we are focusing on.
Mostly involving women.
65% of domestic workers in the US are immigrants or people of color.
The trafficked workers often work 12+ hours a day 6 or 7 days a week in their employers’ homes.
Employers exploit their workers’ lack of knowledge about US laws and regulations.
Workers depend heavily on jobs.
Story of Lili Huang and her trafficked, Chinese nanny.
No doubt many other victims whose stories have not been told.

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf
At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

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@theHVSPN

Sources:

Labor Trafficking Part 1: Forced Labor

HVSPN — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Show Name: Speaking for the Silenced

Episode Title: Labor Trafficking

Tweet to be shared on the network’s twitter handle: Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!

In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced the Podcast we will discuss the history, modern presence, and future impact of forced labor. This will be the first episode of a three part segment on forced labor. In the second episode, we will be going in depth on the most common forms of forced labor, and in the third, I’d like to recount to you guys a real life, local story of labor trafficking and what we can do to prevent it in the future.

Segment 1: History of Forced Labor

Forced labor has been commonplace and diverse in form throughout history, so let’s start from the beginning.
Its first form can be found in slavery, which began as many as 9000 years ago in Mesopotamia.
Slavery, as we know, is a form of existence where all self-autonomy and powers are removed.
Slavery spread West, entered European society
In certain regions of Europe, particularly the northern regions, slavery was losing relevance and being replaced by serfdom instead, another form of forced labor (around 12th century).
America fought for independence, took on slavery anyways, irony in doing that, american south especially prominent in doing so
emancipation proclamation “ended” slavery yet it and other forms of forced labor continued

WW2

Nazi Germany and Concentration Camps
Russia and Joseph Stalin’s infamous Gulags
Examples listed are only the most prominent forms of trafficking as we know it
UN only formally criminalized human trafficking through the protocols regarding Transnational Organized Crime Groups (TOC) in 2000, just 21 years ago.

Segment 2: Forced Labor’s Modern Presence

It is estimated that around 21 million people around the world today are caught in some form of forced labor.
Many of the victims aren’t even visible, human trafficking is very hard to detect.
Most of these laborers are caught up in the agricultural, mining, construction, and marine industries
What lies behind the wide-spread use to exploit forced labor is the desire for profit

90% of forced labor can be found in private industries

Example: Bananas in south american countries, such as ecuador:

Why are they so cheap?
Underpaying and mistreatment of workers, many of whom are paid less than 10$ a day
Some of the more exploited aren’t even paid.

Prison Systems

Focus on the US prison system, containing the largest percentage of prisoners in the world.
These prisoners act as laborers during the day, often working in mechanical or industrial factories
Whether prison labor is forced labor or not is an ongoing, controversial debate.
Prisoner laborers are paid anywhere between a few cents to a few dollars in a day.
13th amendment bans slavery or involuntary servitude unless “as a punishment whereof the party shall have been duly convicted”
Therefore, prison labor is technically legal.
Organized prison strike of 2018 called the labor “prison slavery”.
Line between prison labor and forced labor is very blurred.
Certain demographics of prisoners are more exploited than others: illegal immigrants + African-Americans.

Uyghur Persecution

Chinese Government’s persecution of Uyghurs, a Turkish ethnic group that is predominantly Muslim.
Chinese Government forcibly removing them from their lands
Many of them sent to remote so called reeducation camps
Tens of thousands of Uyghurs are being sent to work long hours in factories against their will
Many items used in daily life: clothing, electronics, and more have been touched by Uyghur Labor
Congress passed Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Segment 3: The Future Impact

Questions to ask: Why can these people not escape? Why can they not just walk away from their jobs and free themselves from modern slavery?
Some people are not lucky enough to escape and will spend the rest of their lives working off their debt.
They will never know a life outside of slavery.
Mental and physical trauma to those who do escape.
Human trafficking quite literally takes away your humanity.
Forced labor creates more economic imbalance in the world.
Wealth gap will increase: rich get richer, poor get poorer
People who buy products made by forced labor are and will become even more reliant on those products.

Music Credits:

Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Staf
At the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars

Subscribe to our Podcast

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Spotify
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Stitcher
YouTube

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Sources:

Speaking for the Silenced Episode 0

HVSPN — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Introduction: Speaking for the Silenced Podcast

The Speaking for the Silenced Podcast is a student-run podcast that examines the world-wide issue of human trafficking. Join podcast host, Jacqueline Sun, as she breaks down many examples human trafficking including forced labor, bride trafficking, and more.

Where to Find Us:

Twitter:

@theHVSPN

Website:

www.hvspn.com