By Elizabeth Marie Himchak
A short film warning parents and their teenage daughters about the dangers of the girls becoming sex trafficking victims will be shown for free on Wednesday, Jan. 11 in Rancho Bernardo.
“Indoctrinated: The Grooming of our Children into Prostitution” is a locally made 33-minute documentary sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education.
“It’s great,” said Judy Horning, who saw a preview of the film last month. “It is geared toward parents and teens, and shows how easily (teens) can get swept into (prostitution) without knowing what they are getting into.
“All parents and teenage girls should see it,” Horning said.
In conjunction with National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the Rancho Bernardo and Poway chapters of Soroptimist International will host a free showing of the film and panel discussion.
It will be in The Church at Rancho Bernardo sanctuary, 11740 Bernardo Plaza Court, on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the film shown at 6:30 p.m. Immediately after, there will be a panel discussion with Marisa Ugarte, Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition’s executive director, and Kathi Hardy, Freedom from Exploitation’s founder. The free event will be over by 8 p.m.
Horning, a Rancho Bernardo Soroptimist and BSCC member, said so that enough brochures are available, attendees are asked to register in advance at http://stat.eventbrite.com or www.indoctrinated.org. However, walk-ins will be welcome.
According to Horning, authorities have identified the San Diego region as a “high intensity child prostitution area.” She said vulnerable teens are often recruited at shopping malls, schools, parks, concerts and beaches, and on the Internet.
“A runaway girl, 80 percent of the time, will be picked up within 48 hours (of leaving home) and end up involved in prostitution without (initially realizing it),” Horning said, adding teenage boys can also become victims.
She said parents should be interested in attending since there is little public awareness about the human trafficking and sex exploitation issue.
According to the documentary’s website, the film shows tactics used by pimps and gangs to recruit, groom, psychologically coerce and indoctrinate victims into a life of sexual exploitation and violence. It also teaches parents and teens how to avoid this situation.
Due to the subject matter, Horning said the event might not be appropriate for those under 13 years.
Horning said Soroptimist International made human trafficking one of its focuses several years ago and locally, eight clubs formed a coalition called Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking.
For event details, call Horning at 858-748-0069 or go to www.indoctrinated.org.
Related articles
No comments:
Post a Comment