Sometimes, human trafficking exploitation doesn’t look like the clear sale and purchase of human beings. But other times, it takes a form that is painfully straightforward: as tangible as a catalog of products.
Elena* was not even 18 years old, but she’d already had her picture listed in catalogs for 3 years in Latin America by the time a few of The Exodus Road’s global investigators learned about her. These catalogs were curated by brokers who sold time to sexually abuse minors. Paying customers could scan the listings in both online and print catalogs, choosing Elena as one of many adolescents available to them for a fee.
Although the horror of being trafficked for sex as a minor is a clear way that society failed to protect Elena, in truth, she’d slipped through the cracks of care long before then. Elena didn’t have access to school, and she lived in poverty — both of which are major risk factors for trafficking and exploitation. Her traffickers further exploited her vulnerability by giving her drugs to keep her confused and compliant.
The system had failed this teenager. Our team was determined that we would not.
Investigators gathered evidence of what was clearly happening to Elena and confirmed that she was a minor, which automatically meant she could not legally consent to commercial sex. That evidence was crucial for proving that she was being trafficked.
Once they had that information, they worked with law enforcement to extract Elena from her traffickers’ control. The information they gathered in the process will help with building a case as they continue to pursue action against those who exploited Elena.
This will help her recover over time, which in turn will position Elena to begin envisioning a future for herself that promises to look very different from the reality she’d been trapped in. (Image representative)
Once they had that information, they worked with law enforcement to extract Elena from her traffickers’ control. The information they gathered in the process will help with building a case as they continue to pursue action against those who exploited Elena.
Elena was disoriented and afraid when she encountered law enforcement, uncertain for what her future might hold. Our teams immediately reassured her, helping surround her with social support to help her begin healing from her trauma, re-enroll in school, and find financial stability. This will help her recover over time, which in turn will position Elena to begin envisioning a future for herself that promises to look very different from the reality she’d been trapped in.
Elena is not the only teenager this network exploited. We are committed to continuing the case until all are free.
Thank you for allowing us to show up for girls like Elena, and empowering us with your donations and support to keep finding others like her!
*Name and images representative
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