Last night on our way to the bar area for outreach, we stopped to talk to some of the streetwalkers. One of them, "Ay," seemed particularly troubled and wanted to explain the difficult life circumstances that led her to this work. She looked around nervously as she explained that this work is dangerous as some of the men are violent, refuse to pay and there is a high risk of AIDS and other diseases. She has experienced what I have read in studies showing that as many as 75% of women in prostitution are regularly assaulted by men. These women are raped, beaten, forced to do un-natural sex acts and even murdered. Even when the women request the clients use condoms, they are often refused, violently forced and their risk of HIV infection is high.

 

Women in prostitution suffer very high rates of Posttraumatic stress, depression, mental breakdowns, alcohol and drug addictions, self-mutilation, and attempted suicides. The majority of these women were also abused as children making them even more vulnerable to exploitation. As a "freelance" streetwalker, "Ay" does not pay money to the bar but she is more vulnerable to being raped, beaten, and disappearing. She also said that the police arrest them, keep them in jail for two days and fine them $20. "Ay" was already aware of the dangers but needs the money to support her children. We told "Ay" about NightLight and left her a phone number to contact us if she wants to make jewelry instead of streetwalking.

 

What concerned us the most last night was a little girl who is only 7 who was hiding from us and seemed quite frightened of us. Usually the kids come right to us and talk with us. This little girl was really frightened. The scary part though was when we witnessed her walk right up to a man, put her face into his belly and nibble on his shirt before he pushed her away. When I asked her mother why she was scared of us but not the men, she just smiled and had no answer. We are really troubled by the little girl's behavior. She is an illegal resident from Cambodia selling flowers in the bar areas to the men. She is at high risk of pedophile use and judging from her behavior may already be involved. This little girl is already seeing and experiencing more than most kids her age. Without intervention she will gradually transition into prostitution. We will try to keep an eye on her but it is difficult as they move around a lot. We are anxious to open our center where we can begin to offer safety and education for kids such as these, intervene when possible, and help the children and their "parents" to understand their choices and accept alternatives.

 

Tonight we witnessed two situations of sexual exploitation: One, "Ay," accepting sexual exploitation for the sake of her children, the other, a child at risk of sexual exploitation for her "mother's" profit. Prayerfully, this little girl will not become one of the streetwalkers resigned to a life of exploitation and prayerfully, "Ay" will have the courage to accept a choice to support her kids without destroying herself through sexual exploitation.

 

I wrote this poem several years ago when I met a 12 year-old girl who was being used by pedophiles. She was removed from the situation. I still have occasional contact with her.

 

Faa, what you've told me is more than I can take,

But how can I walk away from you,

You tell me of things that break my heart;

Secrets kids shouldn't even whisper,

Much less, be whispered to.

Faa, I want to run from this knowledge

But when I look at you little girl

Drawing cats and wanting to play

How could I walk away from you?

 

"Say, say oh playmate,

 Come out and play with me. . . ."

Songs of innocence drowned out in you.

You trace your ABC's,

You play in your spaghetti,

But, your time to play is gone

The night calls you to work -

They manipulate your need for affection

And call it play, but it is war.

It is destructive to your spirit.

 

Flower girl, on the wrong side of the altar;

An altar of demons, that binds you to men.

Flower girl, your roses speak of innocence,

Of purity, of true love, but they are an illusion.

The petals fall and wither before their time.

Petals, like confetti, celebrate youth,

But who wants a stem of thorns

When the petals have blown away?

What will you sell then, little flower girl?

What is left to celebrate, when a bed of roses

Becomes a crown of thorns?

 

Little flower girl, whose name means sky,

I want to fly away with you

Into a world of childhood dreams,

Of cotton candy clouds and rainbow promises

Where dragons are slain and good always wins.

You've shown me a little girl

But, little girl, instead of fairy tales

You speak of adult secrets.

How can I walk away from you?

 

"Say, say oh playmate, come play with me."

I will gently lead you to the "Rose of Sharon"

He too wore a crown of thorns.

His love does not invade.

His love will restore your purity

And renew in you the joy of youth.

"Say, say, oh playmate,

 Come out and play with me. ."

Faa, this love will not walk away.