‘I just wanted to end it all.’ Human trafficking victim shares her story of abuse and escape
News 12 spoke with a young woman who says she is a survivor of human trafficking. She says she agreed to anonymously share her story of freedom in the hope of inspiring others to get help.
Human trafficking disproportionately impacts women and children. According to the Office of the Attorney General, the Garden State is considered particularly vulnerable because of its proximity to major cities like New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
News 12 spoke with a young woman who says she is a survivor of human trafficking. She says she agreed to anonymously share her story of freedom in the hope of inspiring others to get help.
"I thought I was dating a guy that actually loved me, and he was just using me for my body," she says.
Traffickers often trick or lie to victims with promises of love, money or a job - and that was the case for this woman who says that from the age of 16, she was a victim of sex trafficking.
"I became more suicidal than I was as a younger teenager and I just wanted to end it all," she says.
That’s when she hit her breaking point and reached out to Covenant House New Jersey for a way out.
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"I came here in 2018. I was kind of nervous and scared because I was looking for a shelter and a place to stay and safety basically," she says.
Covenant House New Jersey is the statewide provider of human trafficking victim services.
Between this year and last year, it has served over 400 victims and survivors. Some of the services it offers include housing and counseling. Covenant House New Jersey CEO Julia Einbond says they meet people where they are.
"A lot of young people we serve at Covenant House have experienced human trafficking, but they don’t have the language to talk about it and having services available to people who need them is how you find and help survivors," she says.
Statistics on how many victims are being trafficked are hard to home in on, however, trafficking can happen anywhere - and to people of all ages.
"Don’t be afraid to open your mouth because if you’re afraid to open your mouth you won’t get anywhere no one will know that you need help," says the survivor.
Attorney General Matt Platkin announced last week the dismantling of two human trafficking rings in New Jersey, with suspects facing 20 to life for their crimes.
For more information on how you can get help or help someone else, click HERE.
