Sex Trafficking in Alabama: What a Pediatrician Sees

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/05/ExamRoomWonderlane.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:2064;s:6:"height";i:1161;s:4:"file";s:30:"2017/05/ExamRoomWonderlane.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ExamRoomWonderlane-1536x864.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:864;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"ExamRoomWonderlane-2048x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"ExamRoomWonderlane-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"ExamRoomWonderlane-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => By Wonderlane
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Courtesy of Flickr
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1637518289 
1494575371

Each year, an estimated 2 million children are exploited in the global sex trade, according to Equality Now, an advocacy group. And as Alabama has become part of an elaborate interstate sex-trafficking network, countless underaged victims need treatment. That’s where the Children’s Hospital Intervention and Prevention or CHIPS Center in Birmingham comes in. Specialists there perform forensic medical exams and offer counseling to suspected victims of child abuse. In this final part of our look at sex trafficking, Dr. Melissa Peters, the center’s medical director, talks with WBHM’s Dan Carsen. Excerpts and an extended version of the conversation are below. Please note: this interview may not be suitable for younger listeners or readers. 

 

The Problem

“For many years, we’ve seen children who are trafficked for sex. We’ve just become more aware of rings, and the effects of being on the I-20 corridor. Human trafficking when it comes to children, at its essence, is child abuse. And so the effects that we see are the same ones we see with child abuse, from depression, to difficulty in school, substance abuse, mental health issues, a variety of problems downstream.”

 

An Expert’s Advice

“This is the type of problem that we aren’t going to fix with only a law enforcement or prosecutorial approach. Really it needs a public health approach, which is based on prevention, treating it as a disease … [For parents,] the biggest thing is to teach your child to protect themselves. Help your child develop a good sense of self esteem. Be aware of the dangers that are on the Internet. The Internet is a wonderful thing, but children need to know how to behave safely on the Internet. That is one of the ways that some people are induced into trafficking situations. Where somebody is lured by somebody on social media to meet with them and then is sexually abused — unfortunately that is something we see fairly frequently.”

 

Why She Does This

“I do see children that are injured, sometimes injured terribly. But I get to see really wonderful things too. Often we go from a child who is injured to a child who is running around, eating snacks, playing and squealing — it’s really gratifying. It’s an amazing thing to be able to be a part of.”

The extended web-exclusive interview is below. You can access our three-part series on sex trafficking in Alabama here.

 

Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that

The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Are you a caregiver for an adult? How has it changed you?

Many who care for family members and loved ones at home say it can be very stressful but also rich in meaning. Share your story and insights.

MF DOOM’s music was his legend. The man himself was the myth

The late rapper's 2004 album MM..FOOD may never have the classic status of its sister release, Madvillainy. But 20 years later, it's the one to play if you want to hear the essence of his artistry.

Here’s how Trump and the GOP may try to weaken Obamacare

Republican control of the White House and Congress sets the stage for potentially seismic changes including curtailing Medicaid, weakening patient protections, and increasing premium costs for millions.

Richer countries are starting to pay poorer ones for climate change damages

With climate-related disasters getting more extreme, richer countries are piloting ways to compensate developing nations, since they bear the least responsibility for causing climate change.

More Front Page Coverage