Save Our Children
There has been a lot coming to light recently about the HUGE problem we have with human trafficking and sexual slavery. Human trafficking is a crime that forcefully exploits women, men, and children. According to the UN, human trafficking affects every country in the world, but it’s not talked about enough.
Human trafficking earns global profits of roughly $150 billion a year for traffickers, $99 billion of which comes from commercial sexual exploitation. It’s estimated that internationally there are between 20 million and 40 million people in modern slavery today. #1 lucrative criminal activity in the world
The misconception is oh this happens somewhere else in some far off undeveloped country but this truth is it’s happening here in our country, our cities, our neighborhoods.
Catherine Ann Wilson is the founder and Executive director of StopTraffickingUS.org. As a survivor of the all to common domino effect of early childhood molestation, classroom bullying, all the bad stuff that happens when you’re a runaway by age 12, sex trafficked by 15, teenage pregnancy, dysfunctional relationships and then the long journey of healing, Catherine calls “Surviving after surviving”… Catherine is the master of thriving after trauma. She was earning a six-figure income by her 30’s. Before she was 50, 6 years ago, Catherine started a nonprofit with 3 goals.
- To be a beacon of understanding for those seeking to understand all aspects of human trafficking
- A beacon of Hope for survivors regardless of how severe or minor the trauma may seem to anyone else. She does self growth consulting and small groups.
- A beacon of loving kindness while working with kiddos at risk, incarcerated, or just struggling to find their way. Adult survivors on their own journey towards thriving. Working with first responders, businesses, faith based organizations and groups of all kinds.
September 2019 Catherine’s team created and hosted a 3-day faith-based child abuse prevention conference, bringing in national experts Victor Vieth and Pete Singer from the Zero Abuse project and manifested an epic community educational event.
At the same time, she was nominated as 1 of 20 outstanding women in Maine by the Portland Radio group.
October 2019 She was invited to the Whitehouse to provide input on sex trafficking issues and make recommendations. Then invited back to the Whitehouse again in January 2020 to attend a meeting in honor of the 20th anniversary of the sex trafficking victims protection act, alongside top political leaders President Trump, Senior Vice President Pence and Ivanka Trump.
Catherine is currently creating an educational kit program for faith-based organization to update their policies to keep children and vulnerable adults safe. The end goal has always been to keep all children safe from abuse.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- What human trafficking is and what it encapsulates (9:33)
- The difference between sex trafficking and prostitution. (11:50)
- The average age of children who are sex trafficked. (13:31)
- The grooming process by a pimp and how children are victimized (15:41)
- The 3 things a violator needs to be successful (23:37)
- A story form Homeland Security when asked the one thing he could share about human slavery (30:40)
- The #1 place sexual predators for to find their victims (33:56)
- How we can prevent child abuse by blocking access (37:02)
- Who you should go to to report suspected abuse (40:15)
- How cases are prioritized at Department of Human Resources and how important it is to listen to your gut and take action (43:47)
- What is Resilience and Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) (44:31)
- How its crucial to take responsibility for your own happiness and let everyone else off the hook (53:36)
- “Surviving Surviving” the emotional fallout after abuse (55:07)
- How we can become a superhero to children. (1:05:05)
- What is generational trauma and how it can affect children (1:16:38)
- If you are a victim how to get and how to protect kids from becoming one. (1:10:45)
Resources:
Operation Underground Railroad
Thorn
Zero Abuse Project
The Resilience Project
Darkness to Light
Jennifer Wiessner
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
Connect with Catherine:
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