The subject of sex trafficking is not one for the cocktail parties or for casual conversation. This is partially because it is so horrendous, and partially because it often seems ignored in the media next to stories of Trumps bid on the presidency. Sex trafficking has the feel of something that happens in a far off place like a nightmare, not a mere continent or mile away.
In a recent report from the Washington Times, the Project Meridian Foundation states that over $1.6 million children are in the US sex trade. The Project Meridian Foundation website states that child sex trafficking grosses $42.5 to $200 billion a year. Why such a big gap? Because it is impossible to get exact numbers from this deeply underground criminal world.
The Children of the Night recovery center for child prostitutes in California is discussed in the Washington Times article. Disturbingly closer to home is the fact that a certain Alexander Rivas was arrested by Alexandria, Va, police for prostituting a 14 year old girl and running a prostitution ring.
I couldn’t find it. Yes Alexandria houses the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and DC The Polaris Project, and Restoration Ministries (also DC), but none of them seemed to be doing the rehabilitative work that Children of the Night are doing.
It seems likely that there is no Children of the Night for the DC region, even though The Polaris Project lists us as one of the highest call in areas in the country. It is bad enough that the abusers are getting away with their crimes, but worse is that the victims may end up in a jucvenille hall rather than a rehab facility. Jailing these children will only damage them further.
