3. Simi’s best friend, Michelle, was a “natural skeptic.” Why do you think she was like that? Explain why you think that was good or bad.
4. Do you think Simi intentionally deceived her mother about interviewing with Top Models and Actors Inc.? And if so, why?
5. What was your first impression of Tatiana? Were you right or wrong about her?
6. Before reading this book, were you aware of human trafficking in this country? Did this book change your opinions or concerns at all? If so, how?
7. If you’d been in Simi’s position (held against your will), would you have done anything differently? Describe what you would have done.
8. What did you think when Simi attempted to integrate herself with her captors? Did you see this as a compromise or clever? Explain.
9. What kind of people do you think are most at risk for being the victims of human trafficking? Do you know anyone like that? If so, what would you tell him or her?
10. Did you find it odd that Simi was willing to testify against the people who’d kidnapped and “trafficked” her? Why or why not?
11. Were you surprised that Kandy returned to her old ways? Explain.
12. After reading this story, do you feel more concerned about human trafficking in this country and the planet in general? If so, what would you do to change things?
..........HUMAN TRAFFICKING.....
The Headline Facts
• An estimated 2.5 million people are in forced labor (including sexual exploitation) at any given time as a result of trafficking.1 Of these:
1.4 million — 56% are in Asia and the Pacific.
250,000 — 10% are in Latin America and the Caribbean.
230,000 — 9.2% are in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
130,000 — 5.2% are in sub-Saharan countries.
270,000 — 10.8% are in industrialized countries.
200,000 — 8% are in countries in transition.2
• 161 countries are reported to be affected by human trafficking by being a source, transit, or destination count.3
• People are reported to be trafficked from 127 countries to be exploited in 137 countries, affecting every continent and every type of economy.4
The Victims
• Most trafficking victims are between 18 and 24 years old.5
• An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.6
• 95% of victims experience physical or sexual violence during trafficking (based on data from selected European countries).7
• 43% of victims are used for forced commercial sexual exploitation, of whom 98% are women and girls.8
• 32% of victims are used for forced economic exploitation, of whom 56% are women and girls.9
• Many trafficking victims have at least a middle-level education.10
The Traffickers
• 52% of those recruiting victims are men, 42% are women, and 6% are both men and women.11
• In 54% of cases, the recruiter was a stranger to the victim; in 46% of cases, the recruiter was known to the victim.12
• Most suspects involved in the trafficking process are nationals of the country where the trafficking process is occurring.13
The Profits
• The estimated global annual profit made from the exploitation of all trafficked forced labor is US$ 31.6 billion.14 Of this:
US$ 15.5 billion — 49% is generated in industrialized economies.
US$ 9.7 billion — 30.6% is generated in Asia and the Pacific.
US$ 1.6 billion — 5% is generated in sub-Saharan Africa.
US$ 1.5 billion — 4.7% is generated in the Middle East and North Africa.15
US$ 1.3 billion — 4.1% is generated in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prosecutions
• In 2006, there were only 5,808 prosecutions and 3,160 convictions throughout the world.16
• This means that for every 800 people trafficked, only one person was convicted in 2006.17
1 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007).
2 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007).
3 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006).
4 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006).
5 International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999).
6 UNICEF, UK Child Trafficking Information Sheet (January 2003).
7 The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Stolen Smiles: a summary report on the physical and psychological health consequences of women and adolescents trafficked in Europe (London, 2006).
8 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007).
9 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007).
10 International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999).
11 International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999).
12 International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999).
13 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006).
14 Patrick Besler, Forced Labour and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits, working paper (Geneva, International Labour Office, 2005).
15 Patrick Besler, Forced Labour and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits, working paper (Geneva, International Labour Office, 2005).
16 U.S. State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report (2007), 36.
17 U.S. State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report (2007), 36.
......ABOUT THE AUTHOR......
MELODY CARLSON has written more than two hundred books for all age groups, but she particularly enjoys writing for teens. Perhaps this is because her own teen years remain so vivid in her memory. After claiming to be an atheist at the ripe old age of twelve, she later surrendered her heart to Jesus and has been following him ever since. Her hope and prayer for all her readers is that each one would be touched by God in a special way through her stories. For more information, please visit Melody’s website at www.melodycarlson.com.
Enticed:A Dangerous Connection (Secrets) Page 18