choice: consists of the mental process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them. While a choice can be made between imagined options (“what would I do if …?”), often a choice is made between real options, and followed by the corresponding action. For example, a route for a journey is chosen based on the preference of arriving at a given destination as soon as possible. The preferred (and therefore chosen) route is then derived from information about how long each of the possible routes take. This can be done by a route planner. If the preference is more complex, such as involving the scenery of the route, cognition and feeling are more intertwined, and the choice is less easy to delegate to a computer program or assistant.
coercion: is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner (whether through action or inaction) by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. Such actions are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way. Coercion may involve the actual infliction of physical pain/injury or psychological harm in order to enhance the credibility of a threat. The threat of further harm may lead to the cooperation orobedience of the person being coerced. Torture is one of the most extreme examples of coercion i.e. severe pain is inflicted until the victim provides the desired information.
human trafficking is not only a real and devastating issue, it’s also multi-facted and controversial. ask any friend, sex worker, person of faith or member of the media and you’ll hear the contradictory content and information shared. it has seen a new focus from students to celebrities in the past decade and has seemingly become the newest, sexiest, hot button topic for a movement. this is an issue which deserves far more research, compassion and attention from informed and educated sources that are not promoting an agenda to prove a point of their personal belief.
we believe wholly that there is a difference between choosing to enter into a profession, no matter how controversial or misunderstood it is to people and suffering coercion while having your rights, dignity and choices taken from you daily.
sex work offered by a consenting adult and sought out by a consenting adult, where both parties have made an agreed upon choice is NOT human trafficking. in no way should it ever be associated with the horrific suffering endured by children, men and women within the US and globally who are subjected to forced labor and sex against their will.
we support the efforts of safe houses which care for the immediate needs and long term goals of healing as well as making sure that those we encounter in our areas of work are given attention and action. we have see, deal with and work with several survivors of human trafficking every month. it is beyond horrific and very real. we strive to offer compassionate care to those we encounter that trust us to journey with them.
