Speaking for the Silenced HV Podcasting Network

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name:  Speaking for the SilencedEpisode 9:  Sex Trafficking: Part 2Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!
You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.
In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will be focusing on two stories of sex trafficking that occured in New Jersey, not far from where we are now. 
Segment 1: TrentonIn January of 2018, state troopers found a 17 year old girl was found alone, in the middle of the night on the side of Interstate 295 (Eventually she revealed she was sex trafficked by Ashley Gardener and Breon Mickens of TrentonFor the days before she was found, Gardener had arranged between 5 and 15 men for the teen per dayWhile Gardener was the so-called mastermind of the operation, Mickens did the grunt workAs of 2021, Mickens has been sentenced to 5 years in prison while Gardener has received 50.This is a reminder that sex trafficking is a very real and present threat.The next story will focus on the an international human trafficking ring exposed in 2021 run by a considerably larger group.
Segment 2:  Group TraffickingIn early February of 2021, Authorities announced the charging of 22 members of a sex trafficking operation that made its base in Bergen County.More than 50 women, most of them immigrants from Mexico, were caught up as victimsHad over 1500 clientsVictims ranged from anywhere in the late teens to the mid-30sThey were promised jobs and shelter but were then forced into prostituionThe crime ring was reportedly bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars every month from the work of the captive womenThe women were compensated with half of what was paid for the prostitution, but most of it was used to pay off their “debt”Currently, the prosecutor’s office is coordinating efforts with the Covenant House to provide shelter and crisis care for the 50 plus women rescued from the trafficking sting.
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Speaking for the Silenced! See you soon!
Music Credits:   Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico Stafspan...

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name:  Speaking for the SilencedEpisode 8:  Sex Trafficking: Part 1Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!
You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.
In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will be discussing one the most pervasive forms of human trafficking, which is sex trafficking. This crime reportedly makes up 79% of human trafficking instances all across the world. Virtually everyone knows or has heard of it, yet sex trafficking is still not given enough attention in mainstream media.
Segment 1: BackgroundDefinition of sex trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or cause a minor to commit a commercial sex act.
Includes prostitution, pornography, and sexual performance exchanged for any item of value.
May occur at brothels, clubs, hotels, and other night-time locations to sell their servicesAs of 2019, the National Ceter for Missing and Exploited Children has estimated thatn1/6 runaways were likely sex trafficking victimsSex trafficking victims are both genders, although a majority are women and girlsSexual assault among males is given much less attention
Segment 2:  Clearing up some misconceptionsCommon misconception that sex trafficking only occurs in “shady dealings”; this is untrueBy establishing trust early on and a degree of intimacy, the traffickers can exploit this laterPrositution is often looked down upon but can often overlap with sex traffickingMany of these women have their appointments arranged for them by men known as pimps, who are individual traffickersHowever, not all sex work is sex trafficking. In general, the stigma that exists around sex work has caused many of the workers to fear going to law enforcement Contributes greatly to the insidious nature of human trafficking
Segment 3:  How can we prevent sex trafficking?The best thing the average person could do is learn to recognize the signs of sex traffickingUnstable living conditionsImbalanced power dynamics with the employerAbuse, threats, or clear signs of manipulationspan...

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name:  Speaking for the SilencedEpisode 7:  Organ Trafficking: Part 2Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!
You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.
In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will end a two-part segment discussing organ trafficking. Today, we will focus on a real-life incident of trafficking that occurred in Kosovo in 2008.
Segment 1: BackgroundVictim’s name is Yilmaz Altun, located in Pristina, KosovoFainted in middle of airport due to wound from organ removalIt was found that the organ donation was conducted a clinic in Pristina called MedicusMedicus was a chain of organ trafficking clinics that were designed solely for the purpose of making profit.Preyed on the poor and vulnerableCrime ring was operated by Lutfi Dervishi and his son, both Kosovo physicians.Actual organ removal was conducted by Yusuf Ercin Sonmez, a Turkish surgeonThe main operators of Medicus had been on the run for some time, evading capture since their operations were exposed in 2008. However, a few have been incarcerated
Segment 2:  Even more twisted originsThe Medicus Case has an even more complex twistCouncil of Europe found connections with Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)Terrorist group that sought to seprate Kosovo from YugoslaviaThe KLA reportedly began organ trafficking in 1999People and authorities have even began to suspect that Hashim Thaci, Prime minister of So how is the link between Medicus and the KLA established?Kidneys harvested from the Serbian captives were transported to Sonmez, the doctor who was involved in the transplants in MedicusPublic hoped that Medicus could be linked back to the KLA and ex Prime Minister Thaci. 
Music Credits:   Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico StafAt the Restaurant by Monolog Rockstars
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Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name:  Speaking for the SilencedEpisode 6:  Organ Trafficking: Part 1Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!
You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.
In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will begin a two-part segment discussing organ trafficking, perhaps one of the least visible forms of human trafficking. 
Segment 1: BackgroundInvolves a lot of stealth and intricacy, many crime groups participate in itOrgan demand is much higher than supply, what makes the practice so lucrativeMost traded are kidneysAverage wait time for a kidney is around 3-4 yearsTime is much too long, people take desperate measures
Segment 2:  How does it happen?Traffickers target the most vulnerable as in other forms of traffickingOffer a lump sum of moneyEngage in insanely upscaled resellingActual removal of organ is done without care for the patientOrgan buying and selling is illegal in many countries, many engage in something known as “transplant tourism”, which is legalLittle regulation on transplant tourismCoVID-19 has bred the perfect conditions for an influx of organ traffickingInflux of debt, traffickers can more easily extort organ removalsHospitals are backed up with COVID-19Waiting lists for organs increases, demand increases
Segment 3:  What Has Been DoneTracking through the monetary transactionsRaising initiative: Project Protect initiativeLegislation targeting transplant tourism and organ traffickingInvolving the private sectorWorking through social media platforms, where many ads are posted for organ buying and selling
Music Credits:   Brooklyn and the Bridge by Nico StafAt the Restaurant by Monolog...

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name:  Speaking for the SilencedEpisode 4:  Child Soldiers: Part 2Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!
You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.
In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will finish a two-part segment discussing child soldiers and their roles in wars. This week’s episode will focus on the country of Yemen specifically, a place infamous for their frequent employment of children in fighting. Yemen is a desert country in Western Asia.
Segment 1: BackgroundYemeni Civil War fought between Houthi Rebels and Saudi Arabia starting in 2014In 2011, there had been political uprising, led to the warNow given support by Iran, a Shia majority nationShia and Sunni Muslim divide + conflictYemeni Civil War predicted to end quickly, continues todayBoth sides exploit child soldiers
Segment 2:  Set-Up for Child SoldiersVillages left impoverished, no food/resources, disease Houthis and Saudi Arabia coalition take advantage of this, target the villagesOffer jobs to the unknowing children before throwing them into the warHouthis engage in form of indoctrination in summer campsMake fighting out to be a holy, noble purposeIn 2020, the UN had counted 163 cases of children being turned into soldiers by Yemen.In 2021, Houthis have continued their advancementUS is trying to pull out of support for Saudi coalition
Segment 3:  What Has Been DoneOrganizations and groups are fighting child soldiers in YemenBelieve it violates International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute ban on child soldiersTrying to have the UN interveneCRUCSY program that reintegrates childrenPrioritizes safety and assimilationIssue is at its roots connected to the Civil War, so hard to pinpoint exact solutionVisit the Children And Armed Conflict UN website or the Borgen Project to learn more about the issue.
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Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name: Speaking for the SilencedEpisode 4: Child Soldiers: Part 1Tune into this week’s episode of #SpeakingfortheSilenced!
You are listening to Speaking for the Silenced podcast with your host(s) Jacqueline Sun.
In this episode of Speaking for the Silenced, we will begin a two-part segment discussing child soldiers and their roles in wars. A child soldier is someone who is under 18 years old who is compelled through force or fraud to engage, directly or indirectly, in armed conflict. They may work under the military or a non-government organization.
Segment 1: Background of Child Soldiers93000 children found to be soldiers around world South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.First use in Iran-Iraq war
3 causes
Poverty/Bad Home Conditions
Find food/income/home
Survival/Protection in Warring Zones
Outside threats of attack/organizations coerce families or child themselves
Force, Coercion, or Indoctrination (as seen in the Iran-Iraq war, where it all started)
Young, weaker, and more easily manipulated.
It is an extensive form of trafficking
Never a truly voluntary choice
Segment 2: The Experience of the VictimsNot always used in direct combat.
3 main uses:
Fighting: 
Child more vulnerable, experience chronic injury or mental illness
Sent on suicide missions, talk about the Iraq-Iran war experience
Reconnaissance: 
Due to unassuming nature, act well as spies
More trustworthy, experience less resistance, bring information back to their organization
Sexual services: 
Girls are frequently targets, given to adult soldiers as compensation
Suffer physical and mental trauma, highly susceptible to STIS
Segment 3: The AftermathPTSD plays huge role :
Adults more likely to find help, children more likely to shut down
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