Human Trafficking Awareness month

In the Booth with Ruth – Erica Greve, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate and Non-Profit Founder

“The average age of entry into prostitution in the USA is thirteen years old. These are little girls who are being raped for profit. Unfortunately, when these kids come into contact with the police, they are often arrested and taken to juvenile detention centers… These kids are victims not criminals. They don’t need jail time – they need restoration care services.” Erica Greve, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate and Non-Profit Founder.

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Erica Greve

What inspired you to support the movement against child sexual slavery and exploitation?

I first came into contact with children who had been sold for sex in America a few years ago, while I was completing my MSW degree from UC Berkeley. At the time, I was interning as one of the emergency department social workers, and my job was to conduct the initial interview of physically and sexually abused youths who were brought into the emergency department for treatment. My job during this time was to capture the story of the child and/or parent/social worker who brought the child to the ER department and to provide the child with all appropriate support services and to develop an aftercare treatment plan.

During the course of my internship, I began to encounter children who were brought into the ER who had been sold for sex and I began to notice patterns…

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In the Booth with Ruth – Ed Drain, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate and Activist

“For the past few years, I have agitated for the freedom of Sara Kruzan. Sara Kruzan’s story represents not just what happened to her so many years ago – but it represents what is still happening today. There are still children being abused: physically, emotionally, and sexually as a precursor to being the target of and predated upon by pimps… Kruzan was eleven years old when her pimp first targeted her and molested her. Today, girls as young as eleven are still being called ‘teenage prostitutes’ by news services like Reuters… My own feeling is that until the law recognises what manipulations, pressures and dangers are forced upon young girls, there will not be, and cannot be, justice for them. I think, in this one case, we have forced the powers that be to look at such things. I think we have progressed the whole movement in this way.” Ed Drain, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate and Activist.

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Ed Drain

How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking?

I found out about a woman who was trafficked to a massage parlour in DC. I was disgusted to learn that she had to ask twelve ‘customers’ or johns – men who pay to use her body, for help. It was a very brave thing she did because the traffickers would have beat her severely if they knew she had asked any johns for help. The business of the trafficker is aided considerably by the perception of the johns that the women or girls want to be there, which is, of course a lie. I ended up attending a happy hour where I heard from people from Polaris Project and from DC Stop Modern Slavery. At a later meeting of DC Stop Modern Slavery, the founder of that organisation, Ray Lian, asked if anyone would research and write letters…

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In the Booth with Ruth – Mary David, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist, Motivational Speaker, Model, Former UN Advisor, Miss Wyoming United States

Mary David is an anti-human trafficking activist who has helped draft legislation in Maryland to strengthen anti-trafficking laws. She has testified before the Washington, D.C. City Council on human trafficking legislation. And she has held the post of Deputy Chair of Public Awareness for the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force. For the UN, she was an Advisor to the Ambassador of East Timor. She is also a motivational speaker, a model, and is currently using her position as Miss Wyoming, United States to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Mary David

How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking?

I learned firsthand about human trafficking from survivors in Cyprus. I went on a study abroad program in college and met enslaved workers who had been tricked to come into the country. Their stories of beatings, rape, house arrest, threats on their lives and family members – they horrified me and broke my heart. As soon as I met the victims, I wanted to help.

What draws you to support people who are trafficked and sexually exploited?

The cruelty and gruesomeness of taking away someone’s freedom, dignity, and innocence makes me more angry than I can put into words. I have always been drawn to underserved groups and advocating for exploited people. When I meet survivors and hear what they have gone through but then also see how strong they are despite what they have endured, I can’t help…

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