the invisible girl - 2019 - video 1 min 21 secs
sun bleached light reflects on rippling waves that gently lap on to a sandy beach - a languid and tranquil scene - almost as if we're waking, disorientated, at an unusual and unsettling angle, as if washed up, perhaps shipwrecked on some foreign shore -
haunting, sensual, enticing, a young and plaintive female voice sings - “tall and tanned, and young and lovely” - acapella, bossa nova, laid-back, exotic, an easy listening jazz classic from the 1960s.
we are charmed.
but then . . .
it is estimated there are over 5 million people worldwide forced and trafficked in sexual exploitation, their humanity invisible to the 'johns' that abuse them -
supply and demand have increased due to the internet and the ease with which traffickers and customers can discreetly complete a transaction - traffickers utilize social media, dating sites and online advertisements to market minors and trafficked victims - adverts seemingly posted by a person willingly engaged in the sex trade are often created or monitored by traffickers - traffickers lie about the victim’s age in the ads or when communicating with potential customers via the internet or phone - some websites try to screen ads for trafficking; however, the sheer volume of ads makes this process a daunting task - additionally, it’s difficult to determine if the person advertising is independently working in the sex industry or is under a trafficker -
sex trafficking has devastating consequences for the trafficked individual - victims may suffer from long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease, drug addiction, malnutrition and social ostracism -
the UK is seen as a highly profitable and low risk destination for traffickers - their victims easily hidden, unseen, in plain sight.
they are not invisible.
haunting, sensual, enticing, a young and plaintive female voice sings - “tall and tanned, and young and lovely” - acapella, bossa nova, laid-back, exotic, an easy listening jazz classic from the 1960s.
we are charmed.
but then . . .
it is estimated there are over 5 million people worldwide forced and trafficked in sexual exploitation, their humanity invisible to the 'johns' that abuse them -
supply and demand have increased due to the internet and the ease with which traffickers and customers can discreetly complete a transaction - traffickers utilize social media, dating sites and online advertisements to market minors and trafficked victims - adverts seemingly posted by a person willingly engaged in the sex trade are often created or monitored by traffickers - traffickers lie about the victim’s age in the ads or when communicating with potential customers via the internet or phone - some websites try to screen ads for trafficking; however, the sheer volume of ads makes this process a daunting task - additionally, it’s difficult to determine if the person advertising is independently working in the sex industry or is under a trafficker -
sex trafficking has devastating consequences for the trafficked individual - victims may suffer from long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease, drug addiction, malnutrition and social ostracism -
the UK is seen as a highly profitable and low risk destination for traffickers - their victims easily hidden, unseen, in plain sight.
they are not invisible.