TanJueLing_Magazine

ISSUE 01. JULY 2021. 1

CONTENTS 3 EDITOR’S LETTER 4 YES, SEX TRAFFICKING EXISTS HERE AT HOME 6 WHERE IS IT HAPPENING IN SINGAPORE 8 DEBUNKING COMMON MYTHS 10 AMARA’S SURVIVOR TALE 12 LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS 14 YOU CAN STOP SEX TRAFFICKING 16 THANK YOU 2

3 HELLO, READER Xerum et ipitatate esequatur simi, venitate sequo vel elissunt. Dipid quat. Igendanto duciis dolesti nusae. Itam que volor Otaturibus eat. Est, odicabore eum is et dit autesed ex eosti cum acearum alit, sequae con WE BELIEVE Scan to view e-magazine We can save innocent lives by spotting the signs of sex trafficking. Est, odicabore eum is et dit autesed ex eosti Sincerely, Tan Jue Ling Editor-In-Chief (Hagar) 33

YES, SEX TRAFFICKING HAPPENS HERE AT HOME Sex trafficking is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, including sexual slavery. A victim is forced, in one of a variety of ways, into a situation of dependency on their trafficker(s) and then used by said trafficker(s) to give sexual ser- vices to customers. There are three types of activities defined as sex trafficking crimes: acquisition, transportation and exploitation; this includes child sex tourism (CST), domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) or other kinds of commercial sexual exploitation of children, and prostitution. It is one of the biggest criminal businesses in the world. Sex trafficking is a hidden crime that shows very low indicators of the crime even occurring. The people that get drawn into trafficking are usually forced into the trade by fraud and coercion because they are emotionally, psychologically, or economically vulnerable. Sex trafficking in Singapore is a significant problem. Singaporean and foreign women and girls have been forced into prostitution in brothels and been physically and psychologically abused. Sex trafficking victims in the country are from all ethnic groups in Singapore and foreigners. Singaporean citizens and foreigners, pri- marily women and girls, have been deceived, threatened, and forced into prostitution and unfree labour. Some of the 965,000 foreign work permit holders that comprise more than one-quarter of Singapore’s total labor force are vulnera- ble to trafficking; most victims migrate willingly. Between 2004 and 2007, 111 cases of trafficking in women and girls were investigated in Singapore. 44

They are often forced to wear revealing clothing and high heels. Many come from poverty and have little education. Perpetrators confiscate their passports and other docu- ments and guard or lock-up the women and girls. Some force them to sign phony contracts in a foreign language they cannot read. Sex trafficked victims experience phys- ically and psychologically trauma. Abuse is prevalent and they contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes without condoms. Malnutrition and food deprivation also occur. A number have depression and suicidal thoughts because of the trauma. Some are coerced to become sex traffickers themselves. Sex trafficking and exploitation is pervasive throughout all levels of Singaporean society. Male and female per- petrators in Singapore come from diverse backgrounds. A number of traffickers are members of or facilitated by criminal syndicates and gangs. Perpetrators are increas- ingly using websites and messaging apps to lure victims. 55

WHERE IS IT HAPPENING IN SINGAPORE Online Sites Instead of lurking in shopping malls and parks, predators befriend and sell women and children for now now on various social platforms such as Facebook and gaming sites. About 75,000 sexual predators world- wide are online at any given moment, often grooming children and women for sexual abuse. 66

Heartland High Rise Flats Attracted by low rents and the belief that they are less likely to be detected there, recruiters and pimps often operate their brothels at innocuous looking HDB flats. Such brothels have been detected at Serangoon, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Sem- bawang and Jurong West and at least 82 women have been arrested for suspected involvement. Red Light District Many victims are lured into forced prostituion at certain places including Orchard Tower, Clarke Quay bars and nightclubs and at Geylang. 77

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T COMMON MYTHS: Traffickers are typically strangers. S Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae 1 verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa eatus, aperum non- senim et preicat lam aspero te simuscid Victims are always physically detained. Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore 2 velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa ea- tus, aperum nonsenim et preicat lam aspero te simuscid The women involved make a lot of money. Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi 3 volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa eatus, aperum nonsen- im et preicat lam aspero te simuscid Sex trafficking only happens to lower in- come youth. 4 Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is an- dae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raes- sin pa eatus, aperum nonsenim et preicat lam aspero te simuscid 9

Q: Share with us your survivor tale AMARA’S STORY I grew up out east with my two sisters and my par- work there? He had mentioned this girl before, how ents, when they were still together. We were a typical she had sex for money and made really good money middle class family, nothing special. that allowed her to live an amazing lifestyle. He said As a kid I was involved in dancing and did really well if I did it, it would only be for a little while just long in school. But there started to be a lot of fighting at enough to make big money and then we’d buy a house home because my parents weren’t getting along. together. I don’t know if it was because of what was going on At this point I’d have done any thing for Ryan. So we with my mom and dad, but I went over to his friend’s house and I sat down with never felt okay with who I was. My parents pushed me to do well the girl. She explained how it all in dance and school, but it still would work. I would have to get pic- seemed like I was never good tures done and come up with a name enough. I think that hurt my to put on a website. Massage would self-confidence. I had a hard time be the appetizer, sex was the main making friends and began to hate course. I’d be paid by the hour. the way my body looked. I wasn’t comfortable with the whole When I was 12, I developed an idea but I kept thinking how this was eating disorder and started hurt- going to help Ryan. It would just be ing myself. Both of these provid- for a few weeks -- a part-time gig for ed relief for how I felt inside. my future with Ryan. Of course he My family really didn’t talk about made me feel like a hero for doing it any of this, they could see what and pumped my ego about how not was happening but it was like many girls had the looks and guts to they didn’t really care and didn’t do high-end sex work. want to talk about it. My sisters Then next thing I knew, I was work- pretty much ignored me. At 13, ing 12 hours a day, eight clients per I started drinking and all those day. For the first few days I felt really terrible feelings about myself sad, like my body wasn’t mine any- went away. more. I was in a lot of pain too. Ryan After an abusive relationship with an older guy, I met just sat at home and smoked ciga- Ryan. He was confident and charming. He made me rettes. I resented that. feel so good about myself. We talked a lot about what I came home from the parlour one we wanted in life. Before I knew it I was head over day exhausted. I had a total break- heels in love. down. I was crying and I told Ryan I couldn’t do this Things got pretty serious and were going great. About anymore. Letting those strangers be all over me, I felt two months in Ryan told me he had money problems, disgusted afterward. I told him it was wrong, doing a really big debt. this all day and coming home to him. He glared at me and said, “You better figure out how to deal with it, because I am not going to be with a girl who isn’t giv- ing me money.” My emotions were all over the place then. At first I was angry. I’d already been loaning him money but he needed Then I worried he didn’t love me anymore. Then I more help. He told me that his friend’s girlfriend was wondered if his anger was a sign that he was still crazy opening a massage parlor -- maybe I could go and about me. It was insane but all I knew was that I didn’t 1100

“He said if I did it, it would only be for a little while.” want him to leave, that I couldn’t imagine not being with him. A month later, Ryan wasn’t home I went into recovery and was later referred by the Singapore government and I was feeling suicidal. I’d taken to HAGAR. It was then when I learned that I was a victim of sex-traffick- a lot of sleeping pills. I called 911 ing. HAGAR helped me heal mentally and physically from my wounds, and the police showed up. They through their trauma care and rehabilitation programmes. They show- suspected what was going on and ered me with lots of love and care through the process. And they also put they asked me to tell them who me back into school, provided me with an education and taught me how my boyfriend was and to give to care and value myself. I excelled academically and took up a scholar- them more details. But I couldn’t ship in social work at Singapore Univeristy of Social Sciences (SUSS). Af- betray Ryan. I wanted to get out ter all of that, I am fortunate to receive assistance, begin the next chapter of the situation so badly, but there of my life and call myself a survivor. was never a moment, even when ** Today, Amara is a young women aspiring to help girls and children Ryan wasn’t physically there, that who have been abused and have suffered trauma. She also champions for I was at ease. I felt I was always the prevention of trafficking and abuse through increasing awareness in being watched. All I hoped was vulnerable communities, and helps the poor improve their living condi- that if I could just keep doing this tions. for a little longer, things would be The trauma that Amara suffered is indescribably extensive, but she is no different. longer bound by her past. In fact, Amara has contributed to the enact- And still I didn’t leave. One night ment of the Modern Slavery Act in Australia when she shared her story when Ryan came home, I just before a Parliamentary Inquiry. Today, that Act has been passed which started screaming at him, all my could change the future for those who are vulnerable, deterring potential drunken frustration coming out. traffickers from exploiting them. He beat me unconscious. I woke HAGAR provides critical recovery support for victims who have up hearing a conversation, “If we suffered the trauma of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, killed her, we can just bury her forced labour or extreme violence. You can be part of the EM- somewhere up north and no one POWER movement that enables survivors with the means to start will ever find her. She’s getting a whole new life. sloppy. Telling clients too much.” My ‘friends’ were starting to see Sex trafficking is never the victim’s fault. If you or me as a liability. someone you know needs help, scan the QR code After that, I started making plans and reach out to us. We are here to help. to leave. Ryan was out of Singapore so I looked for a room for rent. I 1111 found one far away from the con- do. I put all of my stuff into a cab and left. I heard from Ryan when he got back. He didn’t realize that I was leaving him for good this time. After that I changed my number. It was the last time I had contact with him.

LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION Victims sleep where they work. Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa eatus, aperum nonsenim et preicat lam aspero te 1simuscid 2Victims live and travel in a group, sometimes with people who do not speak the same language Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa eatus, aperum nonsenim et preicat lam aspero te simuscid 1122

Victims have very few items of clothing. Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa eatus, aperum 3nonsenim et preicat lam aspero te simuscid 4Victims bear tattoos or marks indicating ownership by exploiters Otasperibus esequib eariorpore nimagni squodi volore volupta sperspit vel iusda dolum quiam fuga. Essi cullore velestrunt. Is andae perae ex ent fuga. Et alicipicitas voluptae ditia est esequae verum core, cus volupta quatisincius raessin pa eatus, aperum nonsenim et preicat lam aspero te simuscid 1133

YOU CAN STOP SEX TRAFFICKING Know your stuff. Stop making a highly invisible issue, even more invisible. Ed- ucate yourself and your peers around to prevent sex trafficking from happening here at home. Scan the QR code to learn more. 1144

Hagar needs you, help victims of sex trafficking today. Exped expella voluptatur auditis ium quis am imincid que veribus dolupti atiustis doloreius aut autesed ut preptat ioriorpores ea dere, con porit et quis modit laborro maximinci cum et optur, omnis et aut lab ipsantur aut aut fuga. Itaecte mporerc hiliatur? Conseque voluptio. Itatus rat endant int, occab ium consernam recus aliquo beatquo magnistius. Harum eaqui as doluptas ipsuntia voluptate nu- saperum a voluptatium quundicipsum volorum labora con cusanih illorro blat. Nem. Nequidunt pro cus et lantist, estist velenihil illabo. Udam nia essin comnis conest, ut remque et laut esecus.Uciae quam aut aspero et maio. Nequi optasped es. Visit our website for more information or get in touch with us through the following channels. We hope to hear from you soon! HagarSingapore www.hagar.org.sg 1155

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