Today we discuss the very devastating and horrific subject of human trafficking. We dive in deep to bring forth a greater understanding and awareness of what human trafficking is, on what level it exists today, and how it can affect anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

 

Special guest, Bianca Morales-Egan of PCI Global, joins us today to shine a light on some of the misconceptions of human trafficking. She shares how we can increase our awareness to not only identify any red flags, but also educate our vulnerable youth to prevent them from falling victims to human trafficking.

 

We Discuss:

• Important facts and statistics about human sex trafficking
• Properly educating your children and creating an open line of communication
• The many ways that someone can fall victim to this life of human trafficking
• Why no one is immune to this horror, regardless of socioeconomic status
• How big of a problem human trafficking is and why it’s more prevalent in particular areas
• The relationship an exploiter or facilitator typically creates with their victim(s)
• Proving that a trafficking situation is taking place through force, fraud, or coercion
• Why lonely, isolated, or troubled children are often the most vulnerable targets
• The average lifespan of someone who’s stuck in the life of human trafficking
• The biggest deterrents for victims to not go to the police or try to get help
• What PCI Global is doing to prevent people from becoming victims
• Staying safe on social media and setting healthy boundaries with others
• How you can get involved and help prevent human trafficking

 

“It’s important to educate everybody about what the reality of this is. These aren’t girls who thought prostitution might be a way to earn some extra money. These are not girls who are doing this by choice.”  –  Paula Shaw

 

About Bianca:

Bianca Morales-Egan earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of San Diego and a Master of Arts in International Development with an emphasis on Women in Development from American University in Washington DC. 

She has diverse experience in the international development and humanitarian field, including coordinating a program to build self-esteem in Liberian refugee girls, serving as a Peace Writer for USD’s Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice Women PeaceMaker program and working with international research departments who serve victims of political torture.

Since 2009, she has worked at Project Concern International (PCI), serving as both the Manager of Field Operations and more recently as PCI’s Technical Advisor for Human Trafficking and Gender Equity.

Bianca is the director of PCI’s human trafficking prevention initiatives in San Diego County, including the Girls Only! and Boys Only! youth prevention programs and the CEASE San Diego Network, an effort to reduce the demand for illegal commercial sex.

Bianca was chosen as the Human Trafficking Viewpoint Partner by Social Venture Partners in 2016 and was recently elected as the Co-Chair of the San Diego County Advisory Council on Human Trafficking’s Community Subcommittee. 

PCI is a non-profit organization headquartered in San Diego, CA with the mission is to end hunger, enhance health and overcome hardship to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

PCI is addressing the problem of sex trafficking in San Diego County through four major intervention areas: youth empowerment and prevention, reducing the demand for sex buying, building a business alliance against trafficking, and broadening community awareness.

 

“By law, anybody that’s under the age of 18 that’s involved in commercial sex is considered a human trafficking victim. You don’t have to prove the force, fraud, and coercion, which are the three terms we use for trafficking to prove that a trafficking situation is happening.”  –  Bianca Morales-Egan

 

Resources Mentioned:

• PCIGlobal.org
• PCIGlobal.org/HumanTrafficking
• Email Bianca at bmorales-egan@pciglobal.org
• Visit HumanTraffickingHotline.org or call 888-3737-888
• kNOw MORE!
• ProtectNow.org
• CheriBlairFinancialServices.com
• Listen to Paula’s former show, Transition Radio

Stay tuned for the release of Paula’s new book, Saying the Right Thing: When You Don’t Know What To Say