http://jezebel.com/three-teen-girls-begin-trial-for-human-trafficking-char-472172863
“Three teenaged girls from Ottawa accused of running a prostitution ring have just begun to stand trial; they’ve all pleaded not guilty to all charges.”
“The accused allegedly used social media to lure their victims to an apartment in a social housing complex… Once the victims arrived, they would strip them, steal their belongings, and then photograph them, beating them if they didn’t comply. The accused would then force them, through threats or physical coercion, to meet with johns. At least two of the victims were raped by johns (some men apparently sent the victims home after realizing they were being prostituted against their will).”
The above article continues by saying “This entire cause is truly horrifying, but perhaps the most unnerving aspect of it is the way in which it defies our expectations of how sex trafficking works. The pimps in question are not violent, depraved thugs who pose some sort of external threat to city’s peaceful community — in fact, one of the accused is described as having been an integral and wholesome part of her neighborhood, “a class valedictorian and the go-to babysitter on her street,” until recently.” And I have to agree, when I first read this story I was shocked. When I hear someone is accused of human trafficking I don’t picture the master-minds behind such an operation being a bunch of teenage girls.
I encourage you to go read the whole article above. It makes some good comments on this case.
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