“A Path Appears”: Be a Part of Ending Sex Trafficking of US Children

“A Path Appears” at KPCC Crawford Family Forum (Photo – Debra Penberthy).

Have you noticed that the issue of human trafficking is in the news quite a bit these days?  What you may not know is that this issue is very close to home. In fact, Los Angeles County has one of the nation’s highest incidences of human trafficking, and children from the U.S. constitute many of these victims.

By Debra Penberthy

Last night, at the KPCC Crawford Family Forum (a jewel in Pasadena’s crown), I had the opportunity to see a harrowing and inspiring documentary film about sex trafficking in the U.S and Haiti. This PBS documentary is aptly called “A Path Appears.”

“A Path Appears” helps us to understand that prostitution is not a victimless crime.  We see that though those who are involved in prostitution appear to have chosen this path, they are in many real senses in slavery to this life: facing physical and emotional abuse and even death in the course of their everyday lives and when they try to leave this work.  The film highlights the innovative work that law enforcement and social support services are engaged in to drive down the demand for sex workers and to support the women and girls who are involved to build healthy and secure new lives.

One of the people who is featured in this film and was present at last night’s screening is Shana Goodwin, a former prostitute who is now involved in life-changing work, helping others to leave this life and become gainfully employed. She brought the underlying issues in the film into clear focus when she said, “I hate the term ‘child prostitute.’ How does a child choose to become a prostitute? That’s child abuse!”

“A Path Appears” is a followup to the groundbreaking film “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” which focused primarily on international issues that women and girls around the globe face and the Herculean efforts that are bringing about positive change for them.  Both films were made by filmmaker/producer Maro Chermayeff, and they let us into the heroic work of Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  Kristof and WuDunn’s book Half the Sky underpins the efforts of the international Half the Sky movement, aimed at ending oppression of women and girls by the end of the twentieth century.

For those in the San Gabriel Valley, you can view “A Path Appears” on PBS SoCal World.  Airing three Monday nights at 10pm: Jan 26, Feb 2 and Feb 9.  If you’re in Pasadena and not using cable (like me!), that would be channel 50-4. See here for more information about the film and schedules for viewings on TV and the big screen.