Useful Links, but bear in mind that there's thousands more articles out there that I don't have the time or patience to read:
http://hsphsun3.harvard.edu/now/20070427/silverman.html)
http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_exploitation.html)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3686173.stm)
http://www.un.org/events/10thcongress/2098.htm)

I oppose human trafficking in all forms, but the type which really sickens me is the trafficking of children for sex. No matter how you look at it, it's utterly disgusting. There is NO way that children should ever be violated, and the very thought of paying for the "pleasure" of abusing a child is unspeakable.

So my question is, what can we do? I want to help, but how? Do we have to be on the front lines like Sompop Jantraka (http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/sompop.html) or is there some other way?

Moderator reminder to everyone: Since this discusses sex, sex slavery, and likely porn/child porn, please select your links and word your posts with discretion. Thank you! --Jae

This (http://www.humantrafficking.org/combat_trafficking) site might be a good place to start. There are some links on the right, if the info on that particular page doesn't help to address any of your specific questions. I hope that helps.

If there is trafficking in other countries, simply put, we can't do anything, and we shouldn't do anything, unless it's through private, non-government charities or other organizations. Like the Red Cross or Amnesty International or something. But I don't see an end to human trafficking or sex slavery ending any time soon, considering that it's been going on since the beginning of mankind. Until these countries, specifically impoverished Asian countries, take a stance against this kind of abuse, nothing is going to change. It's a local issue we have very little to no control over.

"These guys just made the top of my list" - The Punisher.

With good cause. I'm not sure I can add to the disgust Bee Hoon has for it, at least not without getting myself banned for the language I'd use. As for what to do about it, I think DHS is most in the position to act on this. How? Surely human trafficking is illegal in Russia and Asia, and they are historically more brutal in the dispensing of justice. Since the crime originated from there deport them back, let them deal with it. Sooner or later the country in question will get sick of having to deal with the criminals and crack down on them.

If there is trafficking in other countries, simply put, we can't do anything, and we shouldn't do anything, unless it's through private, non-government charities or other organizations. Like the Red Cross or Amnesty International or something.
Well, then, we can donate money, donate time, or participate in the charities and organizations by going to that country and directly helping the affected people. That's doing _something_. And something needs to be done--the fundamental human rights of these children are being destroyed in the quest for someone else's pleasure. Babies and young children are getting molested and then snuffed because some perverts think that's fun. I'm sure the Thai, Burmese, Chinese, and other governments all have some kind of laws against rape, murder, and molestation, but they're obviously not getting enforced.

But I don't see an end to human trafficking or sex slavery ending any time soon, considering that it's been going on since the beginning of mankind. Until these countries, specifically impoverished Asian countries, take a stance against this kind of abuse, nothing is going to change. It's a local issue we have very little to no control over.
That's not going to happen until the corruption in government and police is stopped, but in the meantime these kids are still getting abused. I don't think anyone should wait until the corruption is ended to save the lives of these horribly abused children.

Free the Children details, among other things, child prostitution in South-East Asia. A more than worthwhile read.

Well, then, we can donate money, donate time, or participate in the charities and organizations by going to that country and directly helping the affected people. That's doing _something_. And something needs to be done--the fundamental human rights of these children are being destroyed in the quest for someone else's pleasure.

Exactly. This is the proper way to do something to help. What I fear though is that the U.S. government tries to do something about it, and of course, that might not turn out very well.

The U.N. might be able to help, but not the U.S. acting on its own.

Babies and young children are getting molested and then snuffed because some perverts think that's fun. I'm sure the Thai, Burmese, Chinese, and other governments all have some kind of laws against rape, murder, and molestation, but they're obviously not getting enforced.

I think that it is a dirty little secret in these countries that basically, these countries know that they would be even more impoverished if they didn't get the sex tourism money. Just think about how horrible that is: the tourism that these countries get is from Western perverts who come to abuse children and be guaranteed to get away with it. That is why these governments don't crack down on trafficking and child abuse, because they know that there would be a lot less people coming there and putting their money into the country. There are a lot of Western men from places like the U.S. who are now living in places like Thailand, because they're perverts who can get all the little boys and girls they want. It's sickening.

That's not going to happen until the corruption in government and police is stopped, but in the meantime these kids are still getting abused. I don't think anyone should wait until the corruption is ended to save the lives of these horribly abused children.

Agreed. But I stress, this kind of thing must be done carefully, through the proper channels. Otherwise, we could only worsen the problem.

Agreed. But I stress, this kind of thing must be done carefully, through the proper channels. Otherwise, we could only worsen the problem.

I'm not sure how much worse it can actually get when you're talking about molesting and then killing babies and children for pleasure.

I'm not sure how much worse it can actually get when you're talking about molesting and then killing babies and children for pleasure.

Oh, it could get worse. If Bush tried to do something about it, chances are, traffickers would only gain sympathy, like terrorists have, after all of Bush's tragic blunders. That's why I say to have the U.S. government stay out of this.

I think that's absolutely disgraceful, that people would be so against Bush that they would rather side with scum like pedophiles forcing children into sex slavery. Unfortunetly it's also true, people would think that these people are bad but Bush is worse.

Of course it's not about choosing sides with pedophiles and traffickers, just as it's not about siding with terrorists. To think that it's truely that black and white is obviously naive. It's about making sure that the person responsible for stopping such evil isn't an idiot and someone who would only make the situation worse.

Bush isn't evil, but these pedophiles and traffickers are. Which is why you have to have someone competent - someone other than Bush - deal with such evil. Someone who is in the Red Cross or other international humanitarian organizations, for example. That's the only responsible thing to do.

I don't think you could convince many people to have sympathy for child molesters/baby-killers. I'm also not sure how the US government could get involved in this since it's not a threat to our national security, so I think the probability is exceedingly low that the gov't will try to intervene. The UN needs to fix all the corruption in its own ranks before it can address it on the outside.

From what I gather, a major problem is the corruption within the police force and the government, where they are just paid to look the other way. Which is...inhuman. What I don't understand is how they don't seem to understand that *they* might be the ones in that situation. They just were lucky enough not to be born into poverty and trafficked. If they'd realise that, I do think they would start doing something about it. But they don't. And thus the human capacity to close their eyes is *amazing*.

I don't think you could convince many people to have sympathy for child molesters/baby-killers.

I'm sure it can be done. If the 9/11 killers have gained sympathy from radical Muslims, surely the traffickers and pedophiles could also gain sympathy from some people. I'm sure NAMBLA supports them!

I'm also not sure how the US government could get involved in this since it's not a threat to our national security, so I think the probability is exceedingly low that the gov't will try to intervene.

Since when has the U.S. EVER acted on things that are strictly about national security? Paaaaaaaalease.

The UN needs to fix all the corruption in its own ranks before it can address it on the outside.

Agreed.