A Courageous Conversation About Human Trafficking Featuring George Mason University Graduate Student Ms. Chloe Brakens

Looking back, in 1986, Whitney Houston sang a powerful, positive message about nurturing our children and believing in their potential, titled “The Greatest Love of All.” “I believe that children are our future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Please give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.” That was then, Today, the UN Secretary-General urgently reminds us of our duty to leave no child behind. We now face a new battle against a monster called human trafficking—a grave violation of human rights that preys on the most vulnerable among us, our children. As we confront this crisis, it is shocking to realize that children make up one-third of all trafficking victims, enduring horrors that range from forced labor and sexual exploitation to being forced into armed conflict. The rise of the digital age has only deepened this threat, giving traffickers new ways to reach and exploit young lives across the globe. The scars left behind—both seen and unseen—steal away childhoods and futures. In the United States alone, nearly 10,000 children are now trapped in the nightmare of commercial sexual exploitation, forced to endure unspeakable acts day after day. Meanwhile, the perpetrators often slip back into everyday life, escaping justice and leaving their victims in the shadows. Against this backdrop, we are delighted to feature an educational perspective from our guest storyteller, Ms. Chloe Brackens, a current graduate student at George Mason University in Virginia. Take action: Learn more, speak out, and support efforts to protect children from trafficking.