The story Melissa Woodward tells of her childhood as a sex slave is the kind of nightmare no human should have to endure. It’s a story you might expect from faraway countries where laws are lax and no one seems to care. But Melissa’s nightmare happened right here in North Texas.
From age 10 to 12, she was sexually abused by a family member who then sold her for sex. Melissa was forced to quit school in the sixth grade to work full time in a sex-trafficking ring. Her protests got nowhere. Even customers beat and burned her.
Now an adult, Melissa tells her story as a way to inspire people to take action so other children don’t suffer her fate. As Sen. John Cornyn wrote in a Viewpoints essay on Monday, close to 300,000 U.S. children are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. The actual numbers aren’t known because of the secretive and sensitive nature of this business. Exploited kids don’t know where to turn for help, and the adults abusing them certainly aren’t going to come forth voluntarily.
The business flourishes, in part, because current federal law insufficiently punishes those caught selling the sexual services of children — sometimes the children themselves — and doesn’t always punish the purchasers of this sick sex. Federal law aims at the supply side of the problem, but until the demand side is addressed, the pursuit of profit will continue driving exploiters and predators down this dark path.
Cornyn is co-sponsoring the Senate version of the 2014 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which already passed the House under the sponsorship of Rep. Ted Poe of Houston. Both are Republicans, but the bill has bipartisan support. The bill would:
Strengthen existing law so that prosecutors won’t have to prove whether the purchaser of child sex recklessly disregarded the victim’s status as a minor.
Make it easier for state and local law enforcers to obtain wiretap warrants for investigations related to child sexual exploitation and production of child pornography.
Stiffen requirements for law enforcers to update the national crime database whenever a missing child report is filed.
Devote forfeited criminal assets to improve aid programs and witness assistance funding so trafficking victims can rebuild their lives.
No child chooses this life. Many victims are runaways trying to escape sexual abuse they’ve received at home. Melissa’s story of continual heartbreak, substance abuse and transition into adult exotic dancing underscores the tough challenges ahead for anyone emerging from such an ordeal.
In all, the 2014 act offers nine substantive changes to strengthen existing law. There is no earthly justification for Senate Democrats and Republicans to let the legislative session end without approving this bill.
HOW BAD IS IT?
55: Percentage of minors arrested by police on prostitution-related charges who had been victimized by sex traffickers, according to a nationwide survey
58: Percentage of those arrested who were later placed in detention
70-90: Percentage of commercially exploited youths with a history of child sexual abuse
39: Number of states where youth sex-trafficking victims can be treated as criminals
1.6 million: Approximate number of U.S. children who run away from home every year, They face the highest risk of sexual exploitation.
SOURCES: Compiled from various sources by the National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.