Home » Events, Headline, On Campus, Woodbridge

Sex Trafficking Victim Speaks

5 May 2012 No Comment

Shutterstock

Stephanie Tipple
Staff Reporter

Students gathered in droves at the Woodbridge campus on March 28, not for a play or fun club event, but to hear about the important and often unmentioned problem of domestic minor sex trafficking. The seminar, hosted by the Wayne Foundation, was held by Jamie Walton, a sex trafficking victim, to help students understand the implications, definitions and impact that sex trafficking has on our community and on our planet.

Domestic minor sex trafficking is one of the various forms of trafficking, like labor trafficking, and involves forced or coerced sexual behaviors from United States citizens under the age of 18. Until the early 2000s, domestic minor sex trafficking was not federally recognized, and, Walton explained, many children who were victims of this crime were being arrested until legislation was passed that protects these children and seeks to arrest those who are responsible for the trafficking.

The United Nations has also taken steps to track and help those who are victims of domestic minor sex trafficking, by coming out with a Trafficking in Persons report, which Walton said is a, “government anti-human trafficking effort,” that has shone more light on the issue. Walton spoke about how, in addition to changes in legislation and global efforts to make this a more recognized issue, law enforcement training needs to be a focus. Officers need to be aware of situations where domestic minor sex trafficking is taking place, so they can help these minors, instead of arresting them for criminal activities that are commonly linked with the trafficking, like prostitution and drug dealing.

For those who are victims, Walton commented that rehabilitation is key. There are rehabilitation programs nationally, and the local service provider in Virginia is the Bridge to Freedom Foundation based out of Merrifield. These programs provide victims of domestic minor sex trafficking with safe housing, mental health assessments and treatment, health care, GED services and legal services for any criminal charges associated with their trafficking. These services are crucial for these victims, and helping those who have been victims of domestic minor sex trafficking is the main purpose of the Wayne Foundation.

The Wayne Foundation, which was founded by Walton, was a chance opportunity that came about when Walton formed a friendship with Kevin Smith, an actor known for his performances in “Clerks” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Smith, who first spoke with Walton via Twitter, has helped Walton to champion this cause and provided funding to start the Wayne Foundation, hosting fundraisers and raising proceeds from his comedy events.

As of right now, the Wayne Foundation isn’t financially ready to become a service provider for domestic minor sex trafficking victims, but Walton has been fundraising through speaking engagements, selling Wayne Foundation t-shirts and raising money in other ways with Smith’s help.

Next year, the Wayne Foundation is looking to purchase property to house service providing programs and hopes to hit the $500,000 mark in fundraising.

By working to develop the Wayne Foundation, Walton looks to help others by sharing her experiences as a domestic minor sex trafficking victim who found a way out and willingly left the sex trade – a highly unlikely outcome for many in the same situation. Walton’s story is moving and a brave narrative on the strength to break free from the often abusive and dangerous situations in which sex trafficking victims find themselves. By offering seminars like the one at the Woodbridge campus, Walton will continue to spread awareness and empower others to take action in aiding this cause.

By: Stephanie Tipple

Stay updated by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

Leave your response!

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam.

You can use these tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This is a Gravatar-enabled weblog. To get your own globally-recognized-avatar, please register at Gravatar.

Blue Captcha Image
Refresh

*