Today marks Human Trafficking Awareness Day, devoted to freeing women and children (usually from overseas) forced into prostitution and sometimes into other related crimes. It does not make the news all that often, but it is a serious problem for Houston, given both our proximity to the Mexico border and being an international hub for ship traffic and air travel.
This form of modern slavery, and its unfortunate role in our city, was outlined in 2011 in both a in-depth expose in Texas Monthly and in local media coverage such as this August story (below) from KTRK 13 News.
While the realities are bad enough, today also sees the announced March release of a fictionalized book on the topic from Houston-based writer, poet and activist Martha Everhard Braniff. The book Step Over Rio is based upon Braniff’s own work with abused and neglected children and child immigrants over the past thirty years and on actual crimes researched through federal agencies. Her work in child advocacy brought her in regular contact with victimized children, the court process, street gangs and children caught in the dangerous world of child trafficking.
If you want to help fight the problem in Houston there are several organizations that can use your help.
- Houston Rescue & Restore
- Free the Captives
- Trafficked Persons’ Assistance Program (TRAP)- YMCA Int’l Services Houston
Furthermore, the US State Department offers a listing of 20 ways you can help fight trafficking, several of which just being more mindful of things you see or do in your everyday life.