SAN DIEGO – A man who had two teenage girls smuggled from Mexico to Vista to work as prostitutes in North County migrant camps was sentenced Monday to more than 24 years in federal prison.

Adrian Zitlalpopoca-Hernandez, 33, was convicted in January of 10 counts, including sex trafficking by force and harboring illegal aliens.

Zitlalpopoca’s case ranks possibly in the top five of “serious” and “callous” criminal behavior that U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez said he’s seen in his 13 years on the bench. (more…)

I remember looking in my rearview mirror that day wondering what I had just done. Thinking, “What am I doing? Why would I ever leave San Francisco?” As I made the long drive down from San Francisco to San Diego I thought about all the pros and cons of my new decision. I had stepped out in faith but what if I was wrong. Who was I kidding? In this economy jobs were hard to come by and I chose to leave a secure one to volunteer with a new non-profit, GenerateHope. I planned on moving down and figuring out life as it came…this involved my living situation and full-time employment.

Against the warnings and better judgment of my family, I left what was comfortable and secure to begin serving women who had been sexually trafficked. I had no idea then what it would mean for my life but I knew I couldn’t imagine another day of sitting behind a desk living an unfulfilled life. (more…)

Check out this great article over on Diana Scimone’s blog.

The victims of sex trafficking are often homeless, runaway children, or simply women who have left a hard life for what they perceive to be a better one. Without the proper love and support they are easy prey for pimps.

These pimps often pose as boyfriends, showering the girl with affection and gifts–something they have not experienced before. They feel loved and cared for; the pimp becomes their ‘refuge’–someone whom they can run to when things are tough. Once the emotional bond has been formed, the pimps behavior changes drastically. In an instant, the loving boyfriend facade is replaced with reality–cruel, calculating evil. The one they trusted to care for them, now uses that trust to hurt them in every way possible. The pimps inform them that they are property and will do whatever is demanded of them. Not only are they property, but they are in debt. Every gift bestowed upon them must be paid for; this payment is prostitution. There are no other options. Once a pimp moves a child from her hometown into a strange city, the pimp can easily force her to work as a prostitute. At least one million American children are involved in prostitution each year.

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Society says that the students of today’s generation are lazy, uninterested and apathetic. That today’s students are more concerned about themselves and their futures then of those in need. That students are so saturated with sex in today’s media that they now willingly proclaim, “Look at me, I’m a sex symbol and I’m proud of it.” Society says a lot of things, but at GenerateHope, we have seen a new revolution of students who reject what society says, and instead answer the call to action.

On February 17, nearly 130 college students from Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) gathered at Colt Hall to hear members of the GenerateHope team share the vision and direction of GenerateHope. As they addressed a standing room only crowd, students filled seats, aisles, and even stood outside to learn about the problem of sex-trafficking in San Diego.

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A common misconception about human trafficking is that it only happens in foreign countries, to girls from those foreign countries. Instead, we have come to find it in our own backyard. The reality is that many of the victims of sex-trafficking in San Diego are not foreign women, but are in fact American women.

In every city there is a population of girls who are uniquely vulnerable to sexual exploitation and enslavement. Runaway, throw-away, and homeless children are propositioned for sex within 72 hours on the streets. With the rise of modern technology, the internet has made it increasingly easier, safer, and more convenient for sexual predators to satisfy their sexual desires. With the inherent secrecy of the internet, the public scrutiny/stigma is not present in the way that it was before the world wide web became such a dominant cultural force. This increased demand provides significant economic motivation for individuals to provide these men with victims–often homeless, runaway children, or simply women who have left a hard life for what they perceive to be a better one. (more…)

More than a month after the FBI announced it had rescued 52 children
from sexual slavery in a nationwide crackdown on child
prostitution, none of the victims is receiving the help specialists
say is necessary to overcome such trauma and rejoin society.

At least one, a 15-year-old Sacramento girl held on an unrelated
charge, remains in a juvenile detention center, according to a Los
Angeles Times check of the children’s situations.

Continue reading at Boston.com

As we move closer to opening our doors, we need your gifts, talents and passion. Please consider volunteering with one of our Volunteer Teams. (more…)

GenerateHope recently had the opportunity and honor to meet with two different delegations from other countries who are working to combat trafficking in persons. These groups, arranged by the Department of State have included representatives from The Netherlands, China, Haiti, Tonga, New Zealand, Guatemala, Lagos, Trinidad and Tobago.

It has been interesting to see that around the globe different nations are fighting this same cause, running up against similar struggles, managing various levels of support and for the most part also just beginning to get programs up and running as is true for us here in San Diego. It has been exciting to share our program plans and see the international support for our approach and our work here. It has certainly been agreed by the participants in these groups that NGOs (non-government organizations) and faith based groups are by far the most active in making a difference and pushing for change.

To make it as simple as possible for you to support GenerateHope, you can now donate right on our website. To donate now, visit GenerateHope.org and click on the Donate link at the top of any page.

Your donations are submitted securely through the Amazon SimplePay gateway, so you can donate with piece of mind knowing that we are receiving your donation and it is going straight to work helping young women who have been prostituted, trafficked, or otherwise sexually exploited.

By supporting GenerateHope financially, you are making a huge impact in San Diego, and throughout the world.