Film brings evils of sex trafficking to light

	Originally Published: 1/16/2012
Reading-based nonprofit works to end global problem
Becca Y. Gregg  Reading Eagle
Martins Bike Shop Inc. 4 Friends Hair Center Art Plus Gallery Related Articles Anti-trafficking group to hold free informational training meeting [+] Enlarge. (4 pictures)   - Buy This Photo Reading Eagle: Tim Leedy  Bob Morrison, Reading, founder of Freedom and Restoration for Everyone Enslaved, speaks to the audience of the movie "Very Young Girls" at the R/C Reading Movies 11 on Sunday afternoon. Berks Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Berks Women in Crisis held the panel discussion following the screening. Becca Y. Gregg on Twitter Becca Y. Gregg on Facebook It's a problem many believe is a world away. But that's just the misconception that local advocates are hoping to shatter. Sex trafficking, they say, is a serious problem that in recent years has expanded  into our own backyards. "Trafficking was suspected in over a dozen cases in Berks County in the last two years," Bob Morrison, founder of the Reading-based group Freedom and Restoration for Everyone Enslaved, known as FREE, said. "And we had our first conviction  this past September." Morrison was referring to the case of Paul S. Sewell, 46, of Reading, who is  awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in September in U.S. District Court in  Philadelphia to sex trafficking of girls ages 14 to 17 in a Reading-based online  prostitution ring. A co-defendant, Michael Johnson, 40, pleaded guilty Sept. 7 to sex trafficking for shuttling prostitutes to meet clients. In an effort to raise awareness of the growing problem of sex trafficking, the  Berks Coalition Against Human Trafficking, in conjunction with Berks Women in Crisis and FREE, led a discussion group and screening of the 2007 documentary "Very Young Girls" at R/C Reading Movies 11 on Sunday afternoon. "This is not entertainment," Morrison told those attending the film, which focuses  on the sexual exploitation of children in New York. "It's not an academic exercise. We're not here to make you upset. We're here to put you into action. "This is happening. We've got thousands of people who are potentially at risk.  We don't know how many are in captivity, but we want to be a part of making a change." According to Hugh Organ, associate executive director at Philadelphia's Covenant  House shelter, many victims are recruited into the lifestyle under the false pretense  of love. "Human traffickers, domestically and abroad, are not going to tell people, 'Come  with me, you'll be beaten, raped and have sex with 30 men,' " he said. "They're trying  to sell love. Not only are they their pimps, they're their drug suppliers, lovers and in some cases the father figure in their lives. They sell love." But with loopholes in the laws, challenges loom when it comes to fighting sex  trafficking, Morrison said. "We have a national average of solving 70 percent of homicides, and 1 percent  of human trafficking cases are prosecuted," he said. "It's far from perfect right now.  It's hard to  prove it." With vigilance from ordinary people, more cases can be brought to the attention  of law enforcement, resulting in the rescue of more victims, said Morrison, who  himself got involved after learning of a suspected trafficking raid in his community. "Every day people have played an instrumental role in stopping human trafficking, " he said. "But the risk is still there. "We need to be vigilant to identify the possible places where people may be  vulnerable to being drawn into this kind of lifestyle." Contact Becca Gregg: 610-371-5032 or bgregg@readingeagle.com.