[ human trafficking ]
Protecting Our Children
ANNA MOORE
It ’ s not often talked about . Many don ’ t want to hear of it . Some are unaware it exists where they live . However you feel about it , human trafficking and child exploitation are realities in this day and age that exist in the very neighborhoods of West Virginia . The West Virginia Faith & Freedom Coalition is working to bring this darkness to light and raise awareness of the evil done to the most vulnerable , particularly children .
The coalition hosted its inaugural human trafficking summit — Protecting Our Children — in October at Bridge- Valley Community and Technical College in South Charleston , WV . The protection of innocent life is a core mission of the Christian faith-based organization , and this includes protection from trafficking .
“ Trafficking of children is closer to home than most people realize . A common misconception is that the sex slave trade of children either only happens in the movies or in some remote , corrupt part of the world ,” says Mark Ryan , member of the West Virginia Faith & Freedom Coalition board of directors . “ The fact is the number of missing children ’ s cases , abductions and arrests are rising rapidly throughout the U . S . and even in places like West Virginia . Most incidents are still unaccounted for as they are operated from the shadows .”
Elizabeth Good , the founder of Foundation United and author of “ Speak the Unspeakable ,” was a keynote speaker
at the summit . Through her foundation and Real Talk curriculum , she aims to combat the dangers of hidden trauma and secrets so that families , corporations and the international Christian church will be transformed .
“ The average age of sexual abuse will be anywhere between 3 and 7 ,” she says . “ The average age someone speaks about it is 53 years old , so if we don ’ t start normalizing the conversation and taking back the narrative , we ’ re really going to be in even greater trouble .”
Good says that with social media today , the images children are being exposed to are abusive .
“ You don ’ t even need a person anymore to have a violation ,” she says . “ What we ’ re finding with research is that at 8 or 9 years old , neural pathways are changing in our children , so they are literally being systemically dismantled . They ’ re not able to have intimacy or relationship .”
Awareness of the dangerous abuse that generally goes undetected is the first step in taking action , says Curtis Workman , executive director of the West Virginia Faith & Freedom Coalition .
“ Data has shown thousands of instances of sexual exploitation of minors could have been prevented if the American public was more aware of the problem , including the communities of faith ,” he says . “ As the Faith & Freedom Coalition ’ s newest state chapter , we want this summit to be the first of many human rights events to bring awareness
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE