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I’m reading Terrify No More, a book that chronicles the investigative team that goes undercover to rescue extremely young girls from a brothel in Phnom Penh.  It’s by Gary Haugen of IJM, and as usual, we recommend it along with all the other IJM books.  I’d like to share a few particularly compelling quotes and excerpts…I’ve just started reading it so I may post more as I continue!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. – Edmund Burke

I think this quote is a definite call to action!  Once we hear about the problem of human trafficking it is our responsibility to give a voice to those who are oppressed and to work for their freedom and restoration.  It can be overwhelming but it just takes small steps.  I’ve provided a list of ways you can get involved before, but I’d love to hear from you if you have any other ideas.

The next quote comes from a girl who was rescued from a brothel in Cambodia.  When asked why she did not want to provide evidence against her captor she said, “Well, I’m not very pretty so I don’t have to be with very many men.  It’s not that bad.”

Gary Haugen goes on to write:

It reminds me of what a brutal crime this is against the girls.  Yes, certainly what happens to them physically is deplorable, but what it does to their sense of self and what gives them value is equally criminal.  This girl had decided that because she didn’t get beaten that often, and didn’t have to be with that many men, that it just wasn’t that bad.  In her eyes, she was a loser either way – if she were prettier, she’d have to serve more customers; but since she wasn’t pretty enough to make men want to abuse her, life in a brothel was okay.

Wow! What a striking and truly sad quote.  It highlights the terrible after-effects of such abuse and how it leaves girls feeling empty and worthless.  Once the girls are rescued they need to reclaim their dignity, self-worth and identity.  That’s why aftercare is such an important part of the struggle for justice! Continual love, counseling, education, and job-skills training can have an amazing impact and bring survivors a brand new, redeemed life!

These videos from Hagar give you a glimpse of the hope and restoration that is possible.  One of the survivors says, “All my life is mud in the past.  Now a lotus grows up from this mud.  It is like my life when I am saved and brought to live in Hagar.  So my life starts blooming, and becomes beautiful again.”

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