Panel of experts to discuss human trafficking occurring in Prince William County

On Saturday, June 7, from 2 until 4:30 p.m., the United Methodist Women of Old Bridge United Methodist Church in Lake Ridge will sponsor “The 5 W’s of Human Trafficking,” a panel discussion.

Aimed at those 13 years of age and above, the discussion will answer the questions, “What is human trafficking?,” “Who is affected?,” “Where is the problem found?,” “When should I get involved?” and “Why do we allow human trafficking to continue?”

Panel members will include Richard Buchholz, Prince William County Gang Response Intervention Team Coordinator; Michele Leith, Director ACTS/SAVAS (Sexual Abuse Victim Assistance Service); Crystal Robinson, Shared Hope International; and Dede Wallace, Victim Assistance Specialist, Department of Homeland Security.

According to Buchholz, human trafficking comes in one of two forms, labor and commercial sex.

Those victimized by trafficking in labor may be brought to this country with the promise of a good job and find themselves in virtual slavery, he said.

“People are brought over here with the understanding that they are going to work under certain conditions, for example, serve as a nanny, with certain time off, duties and pay. When they get here, the people take their passports and identification documents, pay them little and don’t give them time off. It’s a way of enslaving people.”

Sexual trafficking can involve children through adults and may be gang controlled, Buchholz said.

“Sexual trafficking is certainly not as bad here as in some African countries or the Middle East, but it has a growing presence here,” he said.

Brenda Romenius, social action coordinator for the United Methodist Women in this area said, “100,000 children are trafficked each year in the U.S. The average age of children entering prostitution in the U.S. is 13 year old. In Northern Virginia, the Fairfax County Police identify an average of two new potential teen victims per week; this number may be as high as 100 victims, if all were identified.

“Virginia is one of the few states left that does not have Human Trafficking defined within state law, making it difficult to prosecute the perpetrators.”

The Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force was formed in 2004 to combat the problem, Buccholz said, while the Greater Prince William Human Trafficking Task Force was created about a year ago.
Buchholz said that a major goal is to increase community awareness of the problem.

“We want to raise community awareness,” he said. “Through events like this one, people are becoming more aware than ever before.

“People who come in contact with victims need to be able to recognize [human trafficking] as such. Before, people were less likely to pick up on it.”

Juvenile probation officers, police, school counseling groups and hospitals may all serve to identify victims, he said. “But they may not recognize it because the girls are not forthcoming.

Prince William County Public Schools recently joined the effort by erecting a billboard at the intersection of Cardinal Drive and U.S. 1 stating “Stop Teen Trafficking.”

According to a school division news release, “the billboard subtly but starkly introduces the growing problem of teen trafficking to the local community while avoiding unduly frightening anyone. The effort is in response to a non-funded mandate from the Virginia Board of Education.”

“Teens are roped into this world through methodical and intense psychological manipulation,” said Jessica Woelkers, a PWCS social worker on special assignment for Human Trafficking Prevention. “An older individual will pose as an older boyfriend who uses a powerful combination of love and fear to keep the teen under his control.”

“School social workers, counselors, psychologists, and school nurses are carrying this message to 3,000 ninth graders in six high schools in eastern Prince William County, the news release said.

“Support agencies and activities will provide a continuum of services to youth who have been trafficked, are at risk of being trafficked, or at risk of gang involvement. Anyone who knows of any students who have been approached or victimized by trafficking is encouraged to contact Woelkers at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address),” the release said.

Sally Adams, program coordinator for the United Methodist Women at Old Bridge UMC said she first became aware of the problem while attending an event sponsored by the Soroptomists.

“People think it just happens in Cambodia,” Adams said. “But it happens here and we can’t turn the other way.”

Adams explained that human trafficking is one of the social issues being addressed by the United Methodist Women nationally this year. She decided to put together an information program here.

“Dede Wallace particularly wants to talk to teens,” she said, “and Michelle Leith wants people to know what services are available. I just want people to come and find out what they can do.”

Registration is not required to attend the panel discussion which will be followed by a question and answer session.

Old Bridge United Methodist Church is located at 3966 Old Bridge Road in Lake Ridge.