Trafficking of women and children (sexual slavery)

Trafficking of women and children is a term that has been applied indiscriminately to several very distinct topics:

• emigration by women in general seeking an improved economic situation for themselves and their families;
• women under the age of 18 (but "adult" in the sense that they are past puberty and are living independently) emigrating for the same purposes as the women above;
• "children" (that is, people under the age of 18, but past puberty, and living independently) engaging in voluntary sexual activity with adults, either for simple enjoyment or for economic benefits that the activity provides;
• children (in the traditional sense of the word -- that is, young people who have not yet reached puberty) engaging in voluntary sexual activity with adults, either for simple enjoyment or for economic benefits that the activity provides;
• "children" (people under the age of 18) being forced into sexual activity with adults, and;
• slavery - the kidnapping of people, keeping them in bondage, and forcing them to do horrible things which they would not wish to do voluntarily.

All of the above are "hot buttons" guaranteed to excite the public, and ensure that government funding, as well as private donations, continue to stream into the coffers of certain NGOs, providing comfortable employment opportunities for unscrupulous (or misinformed) people.

By "confounding" (combining together) all of the above topics (which should each be dealt with separately), publicity campaigns have been mounted to create panic among the public.

If anyone, separating the categories, tries to discuss the possible benefits and harms to the people in any particular category, those people speaking out are then viciously attacked for "being in favor of the rape of children", etc. Therefore, the topics (which should not be grouped together in the first place) are never intelligently addressed.

But, still, a lot of people are making a lot of money by creating the panic that they have.