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Connecting the dots in Human Trafficking: From Jaycee Lee Dugard to Elizabeth Smart and beyond

The kidnapping of a child is a heart-wrenching experience for family, friends, and for us as a society when it comes to our attention. Whenever I see an Amber Alert on the highway, my radar is on, looking around for the suspect’s vehicle.

  The Jaycee Lee Dugard case of an 11-year-old girl, who was kidnapped by a sex offender and his wife for 18 years, who fathered two children has caught the national headlines.  Dugard’s book “A Stolen Life,” may give us new insights.

My fear however, is that this case will be treated with a certain celebrity status, as is now happening with another kidnapping and sexual slavery case that of Elizabeth Smart. Although these cases can bring more awareness, somehow I find that they are treated as one-off events, and we don’t connect all the dots. What happened to both these girls although can be viewed simplistically as kidnapping but is a far bigger story, that of human trafficking. Human trafficking is the illegal trade in humans for the purpose of commercial or sexual exploitation.

Both in the U.S. and especially worldwide, human trafficking is a major human rights issue. The numbers vary, from 4 to 27 Million victims total with close to 800,000 per trafficked every year across international borders. 80 percent of whom are women or girls. No geographic region or nation is immune to this crime. There are 161 countries that are either a source, transit, or destination for human trafficking. Both criminals and victims are from all faiths, from Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhist, and people of indeterminate faith. Although forced labor is included in these numbers, the vast majority of victims are sexually exploited.

Although no borders were crossed, and this was not the work of organized groups, Jaycee Lee Dugard and Elizabeth Smart, bring a name and face to this crime against humanity.

We can’t pretend as this crime is happening to “them” and “over there,” in some far off place. The them and there is here and now. The United Nations as well as the U.S. State Department, and many faith based organizations are trying to combat human trafficking.

Educating ourselves and building awareness is the first step. For me, this occurred when I listed to the audiobook, “Half the Sky” by Nicholas Kristoff. The next step is to share with others and this is something we can all participate in. My humble effort was to start this blog and site, Muslims Combatting Human Trafficking. You may find another venue, but please don’t let this opportunity go by.