Film Screening in Recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Day Child Sex Trafficking Documentary Raises Awareness of Risks to Local Youth

Did you know that 100,000 – 300,000 U.S. children are at risk being forced into a life of sexual slavery each year? Did you also know that the FBI has identified the San Diego region as a “High Intensity Child Prostitution Area”? These, and other facts about the risk to San Diego children, are uncovered in the new 30-minute documentary “Indoctrinated: The Grooming of Our Children into Prostitution.”

“Indoctrinated,” a film produced by Legacy Productions in association with the San Diego County Office of Education and The ACTION Network, uncovers the scope and destructive nature of child sex trafficking and teaches parents and youth about the tactics used by pimps and gangs to recruit, groom, psychologically coerce and indoctrinate their victims into a life of sexual exploitation and violence - A life that no one would ever choose.

In recognition of National Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11th, STAT! Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking will screen “Indoctrinated” at 5 locations around San Diego County. Locations include: Alvarado Hospital Conference Center, La Mesa First United Methodist Church, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, UCSD and The Church at Rancho Bernardo.

The film includes exclusive footage from the streets of San Diego as well as interviews with former sexually exploited youth. Law enforcement, prosecutors, government officials, social service agencies, and former exploiters are interviewed, providing shocking statistics.

“It’s terrifying to think that many of the things I did as a teen, like hanging out at the mall, now put young girls at risk of being manipulated into prostitution,” says Kathy Blair, president of Soroptimist International of La Mesa. “It’s imperative that we get this information out to the community, especially to parents, educators and teens. I’ve met some victims’ parents and the horror they are going through is unimaginable,” says Blair. “Education and awareness is crucial.”

“We are screening the film at multiple locations to allow as many people as possible to attend,” says Paula Day of Soroptimist International of San Diego. “At each location the screening will be followed by a Q&A session with local experts including victims, law enforcement, prosecutors and service providers. Some of the locations have limited seating so we encourage people to register early.”

Soroptimist is a nonprofit service organization of business and executive women whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and around the world. STAT! Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking is a coalition of six Soroptimist clubs in San Diego County working together to raise awareness and help victims of sex trafficking.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the film begins at 6:30 p.m.

Register to attend a screening of “Indoctrinated: The Grooming of our Children into Prostitution” at www.stat.eventbrite.com