The last paragraph in
the book HALF THE SKY by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
reads:
The tide of history is
turning women from beasts of burden and sexual playthings into full-fledged
human beings. The economic advantages of empowering women are so vast as
to persuade nations to move in that direction. Before long, we will
consider sex slavery, honor killings, and acid attacks as unfathomable as
foot-binding. The question is how long that transformation will take and
how many girls will be kidnapped into brothels before it is complete - and
whether each of us will be part of that historical movement or a bystander.
This coming
week, tune in to PBS for a 2-part series based on the book.
Being broadcast this week, the series presents women
and girls living under some of the most horrible circumstances
imaginable -- and fighting to change them. The series was
filmed in 10 countries: Cambodia, Kenya, India, Sierra Leone, Somaliland,
Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Liberia and the United States.
HALF THE SKY is the
book that first profiled the Chrysalis INSPIRED 2012 Event speaker, Dr. Tererai Trent.
In her keynote address, Dr. Trent pointed out some of the shocking statistics
occuring today across the world - girls and women subjected to honor
killings or genital mutilation, girls sold for slavery and
prostitution, women raped and beaten, women and babies dying in
childbirth - females considered less worthy than the males they served or
the animals they raised. Hundreds of thousands simply disappearing
from their families, never again to be seen.
______
Although we not believe
that these issues occur in the United States, we need only remember the case of
Jaycee Dugard to recall that girls our country, and all over the world, are
missing. Boys, too, particularly in Europe and America, disappear without
a trace. The numbers can only be estimates; The
National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Throwaway Children
created a report attempting to count. It estimates that 800,000 children
under age 18 to missing each year in the United States - that's roughly 2,000
each day.
The report notes that of
this number, an estimated 200,000 are taken by family members, 58,000 by
non-family members, and up to 300 are simply kidnapped by a stranger.
Another 3-4,000 are abducted, sexually assaulted, and released. Only 90%
of the 800,000 children are found, leaving 8-10,000 who are never found.
The most dangerous age for girls' abductions is said to be around 11 years old
- and experts report that the abductor typically contacts a victim within half
mile of her home. Walking to school, at a bus stop, or in the shopping
mall are common sites.
Perhaps most
alarming, the internet can be one of the first sites an abductor or
predator will use to identify potential victims. 95% of US teens, ages
12-17, are online, and nearly 60% of 12-year-olds have cell phones, which are
even more difficult for adults to monitor. Cyberbullying, revealing
too much personal information, exposure to inappropriate websites and
materials, and online predators are tremendous risks to children and
youth.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has created
"NetSmartz," a program for parents, educators, and law enforcement to
use in working with children using the internet. The program notes that
to keep children safe online, it's important to know a few vulnerabilities that
may make children more susceptible to online predators:
Curiosity
- Children are naturally curious - about risky behaviors, forbidden substances,
and sex. Predators can guide this curiosity, gradually luring children
into sexual activity. Adolescents are at high risk, as they go online
with questions about sexuality or with the intent to find friends and
companions. Predators take advantage of this vulnerability.
Need for Attention - Even children who receive lots of attention from their families
can crave it from others, especially those who they perceive as more
mature. Predators offer children affection and flattery in order to
coerce them.
Rebellion
- Often children become rebellious when they become adolescents, and predators
can use this to an advantage. Children who may be victimized
when disobeying family or parent rules will be afraid to admit it.
Respect for Adults - Because children are taught to respect and obey adults, they
may be less likely to disobey a direction given by an adult - even if it is a
stranger, or even if it makes them uncomfortable.
In response to these
issues, The Center launched the CyberTipline in 1998 in partnership with the
FBI, Department of Homeland Security, US Postal Service, Secret Service,
Department of Justice, and international, state, and local law
enforcement. The line provides a means of reporting incidents of child
sexual exploitation of any kind, and is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. If you would like more information, check the website: cybertipline.com, or call 1-800-843-5678.
As part of our mandatory training for Chrysalis After-School
program leaders, we'll share more comprehensive education related to
internet safety, cyberbulling, and appropriate use of the web. In this
way, we hope over 600 girls in this year's program will be aware and safe from
this danger.