2 days ago
Advocates lead the fight against human trafficking in Shreveport
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Forget what you've seen in the movies, human trafficking doesn't always look like 'Taken.' It can look like a teenager at your child's school in your neighborhood.
In most cases, children aren't kidnapped; they're groomed online, slowly and deliberately, until they no longer realize they're in danger.
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'They're being promised things that are never going to happen. That's very attractive to a vulnerable child or a teen, and they think, 'Oh, this sounds great! I'm going to be a model, movie star, or singer,'' explains Laurie McGehee, Executive Director of FREE The Coalition to End Human Trafficking in NWLA.
For many survivors, the trauma runs deeper than what's visible, it's not just physical abuse, but a psychological grip that can be nearly impossible to break.
'A lot of people who have been trafficked have been through incredible abuse, and not just physical abuse, but psychological abuse. Just the trauma that they've endured, and the coercion that has happened to them, where their trafficker actually has control over their minds and their bodies. One survivor told me it was like being in prison without the bars,' says McGehee.
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That kind of deep trauma doesn't disappear overnight, and that's where FREE comes in. They connect survivors with counseling, support, and resources to begin the long process of healing.
'The first thing we want to do is get an advocate in there, someone who is very experienced in talking to young people with trauma, so that we don't re-traumatize or re-victimize as we're talking with them and finding out what has happened,' McGehee explains.
FREE doesn't just help survivors heal, they're working to stop trafficking before it starts. In partnership with Caddo Parish Schools, they now provide mandatory training to help teachers and staff recognize the red flags of exploitation.
However, it's not just up to law enforcement or educators; every person has a role to play in spotting the warning signs and speaking up.
'Please call. We would rather you call and be wrong than do nothing, and you can always ask law enforcement for a child welfare check,' she says.
Louisiana conference tackles human trafficking prevention
If a child shows a sudden change in behavior, physical signs of abuse, or a lack of control over their life, don't ignore it. Know the signs and know who to call.
If you'd like to learn more, the South-Central United States Human Trafficking Conference, put on by the FREE coalition, begins today at LSU-Shreveport.
The two-day event will focus on networking, learning, and empowering the community to better prevent, identify, report, and respond to victims of human trafficking.
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