I was human trafficked for 10 years. We can do more to stop it | Barbara Amaya | TEDxMidAtlantic
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Barbara Amaya ran away at the age of 12 after being abused by family members. She was taken in on the streets of Washington, DC by a couple who seemed nice, but ended up selling her into human trafficking. She was used for months and then sold to a man named Moses who took her to New York and continued to traffic her for many years. Now Barbara fights for other victims of human trafficking and to change policies that treat victims as criminals.
Barbara is an anti-trafficking advocate, speaker, trainer, author and survivor leader in the movement to end modern-day slavery and human trafficking. She is Senior Technical Adviser, Policy, Programs and After Care Services at SeraphimGlobal, and has been actively raising awareness of the sexual exploitation of children and domestic sex trafficking since 2012.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
A decade of her life was gone. Something no innocent girl or boy deserves.
Decades were stolen from me too. 💔😭💔
She was lucky... Some handlers keep their victims for life. Thats a real statement, Im on my 43rd year from being 12. Before that I was at the hands of the worst handlers... Parents that hate you.
@@maxgains5426 i'm sorry for you , you should really contact the police , dont lose your hope💖
@@marcirwilcox1160 no one cares
@@raymondflores5176 , then get out!
Criminalizing a child for being raped? That is unfathomable
You would think but our American system does it all the time.
That must have been terrifying, stepping into the room thinking it was going to be your family only for it to actually be your trafficker.
It must have felt like a nightmare that won’t end. I cannot imagine this poor girl’s hopelessness in that moment. 😢
They should ask for birth certificates and fingerprints from alleged parents. She wouldn't have ben released back to the trafficker. On the other hand, she came from an abusive family and who knows if they would have even picked her up, then she would have gone to prison.
@@theresabuhler938 - I'm afraid I disagree with you. They contacted the man; she told them where her parents were. You surely don't think her parents sent him there, do you? There was at least one law enforcement person there that supported the traffickers or her trafficker would not have been there awaiting her.
Terrifying
Probably the work of crooked cops.
"Heroin saved my life", truly few can understand what that must mean. To be barely surviving in that much pain.
my breathe just caught my chest when she said that - that is a deep and painful truth.
Lily Pad considering my sister just died from that drug a couple months ago, it sickened me at first but then I thought, oh god that's how she didn't lose her mind. She is a survivor.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Yes every person's story is different. But yes addiction can be cruel. For some it's a way out. For other's not so much..
I can only imagine what your family is going through.
Jess I'm very sorry for your loss and hope you and your family find peace ♥
please explain.
I was shot twice, and human trafficked from age 16 to 25 years old. My heart goes out to you, I understand.
i dont quite know what to say but i hope you're okay now
I’m so sorry that you had to experience that
sorry to hear that ...its horrible.
I wish I could take away your pain. :'(
omg. i have no words to express how sorry i am for what happened to you. Are you safe now?
It's discouraging that other speakers are given enough time to ramble on about whatever inane subject they are talking about but this woman who had such an important story to tell and clearly a lot more to tell than she did is given seven minutes, less than half the time of a standard TEDx talk.
Oh... I kept thinking that there are more parts to this video...
Greta Thunberg be like *nervous sweating*
There a several different and longer videos about that subject if you want
I think it’s a bit rude to assume that other presentations are just paintbrush bad
The truth? Our (as thus society’s)tolerance of truth).
...."But I did have an 85 year old man DIE ON TOP OF ME when I was 16 years old being trafficked in New York"-
I'm shocked among other things of this. sentence. right. here.!!
I know, right? Filthy old man. Even if he thought she was a legal adult, odds are he had a granddaughter roughly the same age. If you're old enough to be someone's parent, or worse, grandparent, you should not even be thinking about them in a sexual way, much less actually have sex with them. If you do, then you have no respect for your children/grandchildren who are the same age.
That's a weird argument. That man might very well rape his own granddaughter too. That is more of the issue here: men. There would be no victims if there was no demand. You need to be aware walking down the street that this might be every man you see or now. Your husband, father, son. Boss, co-worker, bank teller, doctor. The guy who sells you newspapers or gum. The guy passing you.
+thaliasghost I don't think that blaming men is going to help anything; just because there are a few bad men doesn't mean that you should assume that all men are bad, that won't help anyone.
Catlover_ I am not sure if you are naive or taking the piss here...Sadly its a lot more than a 'few' bad men.. Its men that visit sex workers, its men who visit strip clubs, its men who pay /steal/ watch for online porn, buy magazines and so on. Sure not ALL men do this: (just most) but ALL men are friends/family of men who do. Lets switch it around...If women in my life were supporting an industry that encouraged/supported the trafficking/abuse of young MEN and boys, destroying their futures and making it unsafe for ALL young boys everywhere. Then I would go out of my way every day to educated and try to stop my fellow females to stop their depravity. On every level..
catlover12670 there are enough bad men to make it a global epidemic! There are enough entitled men that every female I know was cat called or sexualized BEFORE starting puberty! There are enough that my 12 yr old daughter walked around the block and grown men yelled out the car at her to suck his.... she was 12! Oh, and it happened to my other daughter too! Not all men are bad, but almost all men contribute through mild action or complete inaction.... not all men, but enough men.
I’m disappointed TED did such a disservice giving her a fraction of the time to speak.
Yea censorship the elite run TED talks too they like to stick to quirky motivational speeches or life hacks
InexperiencedLady WithAGun Ugh it’s beyond sickening. They will be taken down soon.
TEDx is independent though. 🙄
@@inexperiencedladywithagun7851 TEXx is Independent.
@@Cmonbilly TEDx is Independent.
I wish she had longer to speak.....
SammiANSELAmdahl. Me too
I was thinking the same . The end felt so rushed and you can tell she had so much more to say .
Me too
exactly what i went to comment. how could she only be given less than 10 min...
yes me too!
Hello,
First I would like to thank each and every one of you who have taken time to post your positive comments, they mean more than you know.
I read each and every one of them.
Second I realize how very short my talk was, I've read your comments regarding this and my hope is to speak again at this years 2018 TEDX talk.
Unfortunately we cannot nominate ourselves so I leave it up to those of you who would like to hear more from me, incredibly the theme this year is Unbreakable!
A theme I totally relate to.
Today I speak across the country in many differing venues.
I would speak at TEDX again in a heartbeat, their platform their efforts to bring information about the issues of today truly is beyond powerful.
Thanks, I hope I speak again this year!
B
Do your talk without "tedtalk" just film yourself on video and put it out their for those who need it, and for those who want to support you further :)
I agree with Hannah! Use youtube as a platform and tell your story here
No, THANK YOU! SUPERHERO!!! GOD BLESS YOU
You can use social media to reach out and share your full story .... face book or youtube ....
I'm a survivor of human trafficking .
So much of this stuff is hidden from everyone. Seems like we only ever know after the fact. Traffickers deserve to die. They caused humans to go through worse than death.
It is everywhere. The more you look into this area, the more you will be simply unable to wrap your head around what you're discovering. Official involvement in this stuff is much more than we are told. If the public became aware of it, there would be riots. And the information is not that hard to find.
+noisepuppet dang.... how do we expose it without being law officials?
Benjamin Shurts That's a good question. If you look at a case like the one centering around Marc Dutroux (in Belgium starting in 1996), you see a criminal organization so well-connected and immune to prosecution and punishment that law enforcement seemed to be thoroughly infiltrated and co-opted, and even the investigating magistrate could not be protected. We can see hints of that sort of thing popping up here and there in the States, with police involvement. Search Google News for Oakland PD for a real eyefull right now. And look at the headlines. The press is complicit. They're calling high-level police involvement with an underage prostitution ring a "sex scandal." That's the term they're preferring! It's surreal. So I don't know how to fight it. I'm thinking a gigantic mass protest push in favor of democratic reforms would be a good start. We need public oversight and transparent institutions.
+noisepuppet well shit...
Here's a book that will keep you up nights. Google Programmed to Kill. It's by David McGowan, published in 2004. Look for the full text PDF. It's freely available. The first 6 chapters are about these trafficking rings. I'm through several chapters and am fact checking along the way. So far, factual. Just incredible.
I was watching a video called top ten craziest laws in other countries by a youtuber called Matthew santaro. Number one was a Swedish law stating a prostitute would not be arrested but her pimp and her costumer would. He didn't understand that the law wasn't crazy, it was put in place to protect the trafficked girl as she was probably coerced or blackmailed into doing it!
Saskia Faull Well, he is a man after all. He wouldnt be able to imagine the prostitute as a victim if she got paid to have sex. Sex that most of the the men enjoy more than women do (and I say this because woman dont reach an orgasm every time, unlike men).
+Carolus Anderson you're not being fair to kind men.
+Carolus Anderson also you're wrong. men don't reach orgasm every time either. God I'm sorry you're so ignorant. please for God sake think of the objective logic you're ignoring.
There's actually a name for it. It's called the Swedish model. It's also implemented in Norway, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, France, and Canada. American radical feminists such as Catherine McKinnon, who is also a law professor, have advocated the Swedish model in the US. The US is the only Western country where selling sexual services is illegal.
Personally, I do believe that the Swedish model is suited for the case of street prostitution, but there is also the question of escort agencies and brothels.
ewqdsacxz765 in america, if a girl gets arrested for prostitution she is let go if she tells the police who her pimp is, where he is, and her testimony.
These sick people traffickers wouldn't have a job if they weren't getting customers.
Gray Day that's what's so scary about the world. Enough people are so disgustingly sick in the head that not only are a ton of people making business off of trafficking, but even more people are providing the business, thus keeping it alive and keeping the victims enslaved.
yep. Stop the male client's/porn watchers etc and the trafficking stops overnight.. start educating our boys now, and our daughters and stop supporting companies/industry/networks that support this industry.. its an impossible task- but we can start locally
AKA men. The elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. It may bother some but its the truth.
@@sashy2495 women madams exist all over
Trafficers = Customers = Trafficers
What I find extremely disheartening is her not really even getting TEN MINUTES to talk about this EPIDEMIC!!! In light of the Epstein monster, why would they not give her MORE time to talk on this?!
Because its more prevalent and organized than anyone realizes. They let out drips of the truth to make people think its all there is
I wish this woman had more time to speak. She seemed to have had so many impactful stories that she wanted to share with us but just couldn't. Still an amazing talk!
She should've gotten more time to talk
Jo v. Z. Maybe she did not want a long speech
I wanted to hear more.
TED give speakers their time to talk I would have spoken longer if I had been given more time I’ve written two books now check them out online thanks for your kind words
My friend and i were on vacation with my family one summer. We were 14 years old. We were walking down the beach at about 10 at night just ahead of my parents, far enough away to chatter without being overheard and feel like we were independent lol. A woman who looked like she was at least late thirties was walking towards us with two guys who looked like they were either in their late teens or early twenties. She held out a coffee cup and asked if we wanted to come party with them. I laughed and said were only 14. She said "so?" My friend and i turned back after a minute and went back to my parents. The next year it came out that several young teens were being kidnapped while on vacation in that city but that there had been a hush up because it was a tourist town. I've always wondered if that situation could have been a situation like that or if it was something way different. But I'll never forget the two guys. They smirked the whole time like they thought it was so funny and all three of them looked out of their minds. Lol it was probably nothing but it made me highly aware at a young age of how untrustworthy people are.
You must have very little life experience if this is your idea of how trafficking happens. It is practiced in much more subtle and sinister ways than young people inviting one another to evening beach parties during summer vacations.
My prayers are with you. Am sorry that you went thru this cm glad that your parents were there to protect you.
+Helenaville - Since when is late thirties a young person? Kayla dodged a bullet and you know it.
@@helenaville5939 You have to be my favorite kind of person (sarcasm). You know, the kind of person that takes a story that has no intent of malice yet you still feel the need to rip it down. You must have very little life experience if this is your idea of constructive commentary.
Gosh saying no saves your life sometimes
That is insane that child prostitutes are given a criminal record. As far as I'm concerned, they are minors, and any sex with them, whether it was paid for or not, is a crime committed solely by the adults involved. The child should not be held responsible. Once again, I think it is America's problem with having privatized prison systems. Child prostitutes aren't dangerous criminals, they are victims, but the prison system profits more if they are treated like criminals rather than given the help they need. I'm willing to bet that that is how her trafficker ended up showing up instead of her parents -- they told her her parents would be there, but she had been gone for three years. Her parents probably assumed she was dead by then, and let's face it, given the abuse she sustained from them they probably didn't care much anyway. She was a forgotten teen by that point, and she would have profited the criminal justice system more by giving her back to her trafficker so that she could accrue more prostitution charges and more drug charges. Absolutely disgusting. I believe bringing the criminal justice/prison system back into the hands of the public instead of the hands of businesses will eliminate many of these problems.
I was thinking the same
Law Enforcement at Rikers handed you over to a human trafficker.
That’s some major proof of corrupt government officials involved in trafficking.
WE NEED TO DO MORE.
You are inspirational, Barbara!!
They spent years abusing me here in Florida, in service to human and drug traffickers, all under the guise of providing legal and medical care, no representation to stop them, not even sure why the abuse appears to have stopped, but it was so bad, it made me run right back to my childhood abuser, absolutely nowhere to go to, have spent the past 10 years begging for the option of euthanasia to be provided, but am kept silenced and isolated.
I can't believe there is such a life. How strong that lady is. She is not only survive but also saving other victims.
My kids were victims of abuse. I tell them often, "You can let what happened to you destroy you or you can turn it into a way to become a better person and help others." This woman is an amazing example of rising above her tragedy and trying to fix a broken system.
I don't think any child should have a record. The person who buys a child should have a record Well, in a perfect world, they would turn to ash and blow away and be remembered no more. The child should not be burdened. The pimps/traffickers/johns should be burdened. They have the power. Thank you, Barbara. May your life onward be beautiful and free of violence.
california removed the law for minors but now thats a loop hole to target more girls since they cant get in trouble
While in this trafficking example I definitely think children should not get a record for it. Children should most definitely have records if they are commiting crimes
Scary! Her parents, she hears, will spring her from jail, and it's just her trafficker!!
either he had connections with the police or he intercepted the call connected to the parents somehow but im sure the police and money were involved - its the '' trauma bond '' that creates the most problems
Deer Heart of course the police called him directly. He looks nothing like her. There is no way he could be her father so they knew he wasn't. And even then, they could have asked her if he was, but they didn't... so yeah the police did it.
He could have killed her after that!!!
Barbara, my heart goes to you. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing your story. Your courage is amazing. Thank you. We all need to hear this. Thank you for having the courage. Thank you
Melissa Marin Yeah great comment and all, just make sure to give the nice guys a shot too ehh...don't be so quick to dismiss them. Girls often make that mistake.
Melissa Marin 0
Arturo Garza :Shot of what.
نعم قصه رائعة
Powerful stuff! I wish she had more time, I would love to hear how she 'escaped from new York' How she found the strength to do it, did she find help? How did she stay safe? How did she deal with heroin addiction? I am amazed at her courage and strength and her dedication to bringing attention to the problem!
So y’all give everyone else 20 minutes, but she only had 7 minutes to talk about her story. Wow
She wrote a book called Nobody's Girl about this
thank you !!!
Thank you so much 😊
That was way too short. She should be nominated again to speak because she has so much more to share and we hardly even got the tip of the iceberg. What an incredible woman!
All pimps should get the death penalty.....
Agreed
To think that this video has 171 dislikes. Thats 171 horrible human beings.
Yes, I agree.
Right
Why did she only get 7 minutes? Ted talks are 20???
We are civilized human beings, we need to love one another and not sell one another to prostitution.
Amen !! How on earth do these men live with themselves ? The ones that are paying for the sex ?? In my opinion those types of people that pay for sex with young children are sick as hell and they are the ones that need to be locked up along with the traffickers. I just do not understand how you need sex so bad that you go and pay for it and rape a person that is drugged half the time ?? Love conquers All in my book....but I guess some people do not have that emotion in their DNA
These same men go home to their loving and unsuspecting wives and children.If love conquered all, how did the Holocaust happen? Rwuanda? Yugoslavian war? Isis?
Well done, you managed to insult both the sex industry and victims of trafficking at once. Either you think grown women aren't capable of making decisions for themselves, or you think trafficking victims make a choice.
duyndnvr Heathens are more civilized than this Sodom and Gomorrah Egyptian Babylonian empire of pedagogs.
@@janetfowler8634 we live like u in more peace actaully cuz a wife sux so strippers and whores for me
Such a inspiring , strong woman, I can't even imagine the pain she's survived.
Few victims are brave enough to share their stories. I applaud this brave lady.
@Luke Bryan Melbourne Australia still in stage 4 lockdown, so not great.
One of the strongest women I have ever seen. Thank you for being an inspiration ♥
What a lovely woman. I am also a victim -- of molestation, not trafficking. You make me proud to continue on. Thank you.
I learned that word TRAUMA BOND a few months ago ago after dealing with someone who inflicted trauma on me physically & psychologically &blamed ME for it and insisted that I confide in them about my feelings of trauma.
I dropped that person quickly , but I wanted to know what the words for what he was trying to do to me/my mind. They hurt you/try to break you and then use your vulnerability to "save you or fix the damage "thus causing a bond. I wasnt going for that
CREATE A TRAUMA BOND. Its sick .you have to kinda know yourself to recognize when something like that approaches. Its disguised as deep concern ,compassion,love and it's a bit authoritative. Used to further a relation and deepen the bond and create emotional "need" and emotion al supply
NARCISSISTS USE THIS METHOD .
THANK you for sharing your compelling story❤
Years ago I discovered (after the fact) that a girl I worked with had been trafficked. Her trafficker found her and was trying to convince her to quit and return to him. Then I didn't see her at work anymore. I think about her all the time. I feel like if I knew about the situation before I would've tried to do something but I can't blame myself. I know one of my managers knew so I pray they reported it. Idk what happened to her idk if she maybe got to the police or if she went back with him. Wherever she is I hope she's ok.
HyenaHarlie uh...maybe she went to cops & they gave her back to pimp...?
HyenaHarlie
She most likely quit the job because he knew where she was.
Maybe she out there or who knows...
I could not imagine the absolute terror and hopelessness she may have felt when walking into the room thinking she was going to be met by her family but instead it was her trafficker coming to pick her up from the police station. I am so sorry that she and so many others have to go through this.
I was disappointed the speech ended and no one had suggested anything more we can do to stop trafficking.
Read Barbara Amaya's book "Nobody's Girl". The appendix is full of recommendations and needed policy changes. She also does public speaking engagements for your specific group if interested.
my history teacher is doing a walk from nebraska city to another city in nebraska ( i forgot which one) but it's called walk forever free. he's walking to raise awareness for human sex trafficking
I wish this was taught in schools and colleges.
I absolutly agree
It is
Barbara I am so sorry for what you endured as a child and the things you experienced along the way. I have always felt a calling to help victims (esp) children and rescue, provide shelter and emotional help, love and support for them. Shame on the men that sold you and shame on those men that hurt you. I just recently found The Justice Ministry of Human Trafficking based out of Charlotte North Carolina and am ready to start the fight for victims here in Richmond Va or wherever the Lord needs me :) but I cannot tolerate hearing stories like yours and being silent anymore. God Bless you and all the victims. Thank you for sharing
Janet Fowler hi Janet any idea how to start such a missionary? I'm from Australia and this is a huge world wide problem it needs an army of people fighting it. I'm not even sure where I should begin....
Janet Fowler hi Janet any idea how to start such a missionary? I'm from Australia and this is a huge world wide problem it needs an army of people fighting it. I'm not even sure where I should begin....
What were her parents doing? If one of my daughters went missing I'd move heaven and earth until I found them.
Leon Gruneberg they were abusing her, that’s why she ran away.
I know I am late, but she very clearly said that she ran away because of abuse.
Sadly not all parents love their children.
It's possible that her parents didn't even file a report of her being missing. They may have feared she would report them for the abuse. Some people are weird like that. They might just tell people that she "went up north to live with relatives"
She did say they were abusing her. But even if they weren’t I wouldn’t blame a parent if their child was being used like that. New York and Virginia may seem close but they may as well be 5000 miles away. She was living in a totally different world. Who is to say that didn’t search for her. My first instinct isn’t to blame the parents in a situation like this.
Teonia McKenzie they were literally abusing her so they deserve to be blamed for the fact that they’re the reason she went out into the world as a child
HOW did her trafficker wind up in that police room?
Makes me sick to my stomach.
Good on you Barbara. Honestly, I can't imagine surviving that in any way shape or form. You say heroin got you through and that makes so much sense. I have had trauma in my life too (we are the same age so I understand the 60's and 70's) and I can relate to a. being dependent on substances (alcohol for me) and b. disliking the human race and c. having a dog as my best and only friend. Cleo is mine.
But this is not my story - apologies.
You are brave and you are so clearly resourceful despite the 22+ years of abuse.
Stick with the your mission. Please. For all of those women and girls out there who can't get away. Yet.
Sarah Drenth amen Sarah. I will be your friend even as far as Australia. Please take care and god bless you
First off thank you for taking time to watch and to also comment and secondly…I hear and understand you! Your comment was a few yes ago…I do pray your Cleo and you as well are doing good today!
This is so sad. Human trafficking happens right in front of us but we don't know it, because they look like regular people like you and me. However if you notice something off about someone don't ignore it tell the cops
Bethany O'Neal um...yeah, you must missed the part where cops give 15 yr old back to pimp...
I agree.
It's the same with missing people. If you recognise someone that has disapeared, speak up!
“vulnerable populations” being preyed upon. Critical points were made in you recounting your experience. You are both strong and courageous. You are impacting the lives of many. Thank you. I just want to hug you. Well once I wipe my tears.
My heart goes out to you, I’m so sorry that your youth and so much of your life was stolen. You are a role model for everyone. You didn’t let your hurt stop you from sharing your story. That is amazing.
When she individually counted the years...
My heart goes out to you Barbara Amaya, THANK YOU for sharing your story
Heartbreaking that this occurs right in our own cities and we are unaware of who is being impacted and where. She is so brave
Bunny Runner
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I love the person you are, your courage and strength, and what you are doing. We need to hear more trafficked women's stories.
I’m a social worker in the Denver metropolitan area. Many children who are trafficked are from undocumented families. I sincerely believe we need to solve the immigration/border crisis to help protect people from exploitation. Without documents they are more susceptible to being trafficked.
Once my coworker went to court for a child and wanted to request a child NOT be removed from his home. The female prosecutor insisted Child be removed. When they all showed up to court, the prosecutor was wearing red shoes and the judge came out wearing red shoes. They remove the child from his home and sent him to a county facility. Within a week my friend went to the county facility to visit the child. When he arrived the child was gone and was not at the county facility and was no where to be found. Some of you will know what I’m talking about.
What do the red shoes have to do with this?
Are you afraid to talk about the red shoe's.
@@criskp6861 it was a bribe
My AP World History teacher last year always said that "Human Trafficking" is a more neutralized term for slavery. We all know it's slavery, but it's less harsh to call it "trafficking." You think of slavery how you learned it in school: people were kidnapped from Africa hundreds of years ago and forced to work hard labor under unforgiving conditions. But you don't consider all the other forms of slavery in the world. You also don't consider that even though slavery is now illegal in the United States, and has been since The 19th century, that does not mean that it doesn't exist here. That all races, ages, genders, etc are vulnerable to fall victim to slavery and that it can be so different than working physical labor (although it very well may encompass that.). We live in an unfair world with some sick people, and I ache for those who are suffering because of it.
This is wrong. Slavery still exists worldwide and it has to stop
watersignwater be a change. Be a voice. Protest, raise awareness, help organizations that are making a difference. Check out Rapha House or Blackboxinternational
Bless your heart Barbara. I wish with all my heart one day you get justice for what these terrible people have done to you.
Rachel From England
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
She has excellent communication skills and a very commanding presence. I think she has the skillset for a public speaking career and the ability to get some additional anti human trafficking laws passed. Good on her.
Homes! Food. The same problem with homelessness, those with mental health issues, addicts, women in domestic violence. A safe place to call home filled with social workers, buildings with 100's of 8 x 10 spaces with doors that a person could run too and sort their life out.. a cafeteria with breakfast and dinner... job skills busses... no questions asked! Stay as long as you need, here's the key to your room and your locker. Trust me 8 x 10 is not much space a person would work hard to get a bigger place of their own... heck make then 8 x 6! A bed, lamp, nightstand, locker, Tv door! We all want more, but it could rescue all of us in a pinch.. the hitch? You can't stay if you refuse social workers.. we have got to do the basic needs to stop the violations.
deborah crowe They already have shelters like that and they're overcrowded.
Barbara Amaya is wonderful. I was so happy to find this video. I saw her last year at a conference speaking about Trauma-Informed Healthcare. I wish this was a little longer. I would love to see more of her.
damn I've lived in fairfax virginia my whole life, a lot of these ted talks involving horrific incidents have taken place near there... and yet its one of the richest counties in the usa ... says a lot about this country
Same, I recently found out that the Virginia is one of the top states for trafficking so be careful
Im from that area too and when she said she was from Fairfax my heart dropped
Powerful to hear you
So sorry for the betrayal of trust and harm
Amazing you have taken your power back and are helping others
T S 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
This is so terrifying, I praise her for talking about it. It’s so sad how women and young girls have to fear their lives all the time, worrying about traffickers, rapists, and abusers.
Chilling and eye-opening talk. I wish she had more time to speak... and I wish nobody ever had to go through what she experienced. I admire her strength in fighting for change.
Good on TED for letting her talk.
Bad on you for limiting her time like that.
I’m sorry they didn’t let you speak longer, it’s a very important topic. I’ve heard them allow people to ramble on about topics that weren’t even interesting. I heard another trafficked woman say that the worst of the worst are the people at the top.I guess this is one reason why trafficking is allowed to flourish. I’m sorry for what you went through I can’t even imagine being out on the streets at 12 years old. I was alone at 12 no one was watching out for me but thankfully I was not abused. You’re very courageous and I love listening to you talk and by the way you’re a great speaker. Thank you for sharing your story
Wow such bravery to share your story. Thank you. 🙏
Thank you for sharing this and for being active about this topic. I cried during your talk. You are such a brave and powerful woman.
i had an awful almost kidnapped experience yesterday (christmas) and i just woke out from a nightmare i just can’t put into words how scared i am stay safe these holidays everyone
leah stay safe 💕💞💞
I rarely comment on videos, but this was so moving and brave that I have to extend my warmest thoughts and wish you all the very best in the future, Barbara! Thanks for sharing this tragic story with us. You've done so well to turn your life around!
Such a short time, but still, such a powerful message...
I admire your strength in escaping that situation and talking so openly about it! Thanks for sharing!
All the love and light to you!
I was her age and hanging out on 14th Street in that environment around the same time. I was lucky because no one tried to take advantage of me. God bless the wounded and lost children.
thank you for never giving up and speaking out... i can't imagine how hard all of it must be... you have the strength like no other. Keep killing it girl, you are awesome and I hope you find happiness and people that appreciate how great, intelligent, strong, and resilient you are. You deserve so much better from this world.
brought tears to my eyes... i was almost trafficked as a broke 19 year old with a traumatic past. my heart aches for you.
12 and running from abuse and ended up in another nightmare.
These traffickers use psychological tricks and spells to create a false sense of friendship and loyalty. It turns into an addiction and the bond strengthens to points of insanity. These traffickers are causing severe damage to vulnerable children and they MUST be stopped.
Very powerful public speaker, such talent. I’m sorry this happened to you.
Thank God she survived and is able to share her story and help so many others! What a brave and wonderful woman!!
I can only imagine the trauma and pain she went through.... how terrible. I'm so glad she's doing her best to help others and spread the word...
Thank You for sharing. You are a very brave person, and a survivor. Tampa is very bad also for trafficking.
Sending you love and support. Thank you for your story so that we are aware so that we can prevent this from happening to someone else.
I cried, 12 years old... Still so so so young, innocent, vulnerable, confused.
I can't imagine the strength it must have taken, not only to endure the years of horrific abuse but then to tell a whole audience about it and raise awareness for others in similar situations....amazing lady.
Barbara's story is so important. I wish she had more time to talk. I don't know if I would be able to get through her book, but I wish there was a longer Ted Talk so I could hear her story more fully.
Thank you for sharing your story.
You can tell how difficult it is to talk about it for her. Thank you for speaking up.
Thank you brave and caring Barbara ! This abuse is a horrific stain on humankind. Wish you and your work the best success ! Hugs, love, peace and justice.
She had way more to say
So much respect ma'am, for your courage and your care.
I'm so happy that people are in agreement about this issue. It really is horrible that human trafficking exists.
Barbara I am beyond proud of you................... thank you for what you do
She's amazingly brave to tell her story in front of all these ppl.
This human trafficking stuff is ridiculous and more common than I imagined.
What we have to be responsible about are the conditions that cause guild and shame. Your work is precious, your experience is warrant. Keep living, cause the difference that can turn guild and shame into the designation of origin.
Barbera you are a powerful human and I’m so glad you’re here and telling your story. Thank you
Powerful Speech. Thank you for sharing. Only together can we tackle this crime.
thank you for your courage and strength
Please keep telling your story. I wholly agree that one is just as important as a billion. I hope that every time someone sees your story it changes a life through a chain of events. Thank you for sharing, I wish you had had more time.
Thank you for sharing, Barbara. You are courageous beyond measure. Also, your sharing about the 'trauma bond' piece of your story was incredibly important and helpful. Thank you.
so why didnt she get more time to tell people how to help?
Stopp those Monsters! My loveand blessing to you a brave soul that survived !
I miss you so very much Barbara Amaya! you are not forgotten and we are still working hard in your name 💜💜💜
I wish she had more time.