By India McCarty
A21, an organization devoted to fighting human trafficking and online sexual exploitation, shares victims’ stories ahead of the debut of its Global Freedom Summit this fall.
“This year, we’re taking a bold stand against the growing crisis of online child sexual exploitation,” A21’s website said of the event. “Our team has prepared an impactful one-hour visual presentation designed to inspire, equip, and mobilize communities to take action in the fight against human trafficking.”
The description continued, “Through powerful stories, insights from experts, and practical training, this presentation brings the reality of online childhood sexual exploitation to light and invites viewers to be part of the solution.”
One of those powerful stories is from Liam, who was targeted by someone he met on a video gaming platform when he was just 13 years old. This person sent Liam “sensual” photos of herself and asked him to send some pictures of himself.
“I felt uneasy, it was something I had never done before. But I went through with it,” Liam recalled. “The moment I hit send, I felt a deep sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew I had done something I would regret.”
He continued, “From that point on, everything changed. She kept pressuring me for more photos and videos. When I said I didn’t want to, her tone shifted. She became aggressive, nothing like the person I thought I knew. I tried to ignore her constant messages, but then she did something I couldn’t ignore. She began messaging my friends, sharing what I had sent her. She threatened that if I didn’t give her more, ‘things would only get worse.’”
Related: Signs Your Child Might Be Exploited Online: Insights from an Anti-Trafficking Advocate
“Reeling from the embarrassment and confusion of it all, I didn’t know what to do, whom to trust, or how to ask for help,” Liam said.
It wasn’t until an organization came to his school to address the growing problem of online sexual exploitation that Liam realized what was happening to him.
“They played a CAN YOU SEE ME? video from A21 about a boy who had been exploited through a gaming platform,” Liam said. “Watching it felt like looking into a mirror. It was as if they were telling my story. In that moment, something in me shifted. I knew I had to speak up.”
A21’s CAN YOU SEE ME? videos “exists to bring awareness of the millions of men, women, and children who are currently trapped in slavery across the world. By partnering with law enforcement, governments, businesses, and NGOs, our goal is to turn awareness into action,” per the group’s website.
Liam concluded, “I gathered every bit of courage I had and told a trusted adult everything. I thought that sharing my story would make me feel worse, but instead, I was met with kindness and compassion. For the first time, I didn’t feel alone.”
This October, A21 hopes to share stories like Liam’s with millions around the world, bringing awareness to this important issue — and letting victims know they are not alone.
Read Next: Will This New Apple Feature Keep Your Child Safe from Exploitation?
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