Trade in Human Beings

Wednesday’s editorial highlights a small band of local citizens doing their best to combat the nefarious practice of human trafficking.

Human trafficking -- slavery by whatever name -- is a largely hidden crime, not easily prosecuted, netting high profit with low risk. It happens here on the Grand Strand and a small but dedicated area coalition formed two years to combat this insidious, illegal activity is looking to expand its concern to the state of South Carolina.

Kelly O’Neill-Bagwell, a Myrtle Beach area interior designer, is president of the Eastern Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking. She helped form the group after she realized the Grand Strand is particularly suited as fertile ground for sex slavery or forced labor: A coastal area, a tourism-based economy with transitional workers in housekeeping and strip clubs and near a major corridor such as Interstate 95. O’Neill-Bagwell became involved through her work in Zonta, the international women’s advocacy and service organization. Other groups represented in the coalition include the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston, the Rape Crisis Center, Project Lighthouse, which assists young runaways.

“A million people are trafficked every year over international borders,” O’Neill-Bagwell says. Women and children are 80 percent of the victims, often lured by the attraction of having a chance at “The American dream.” Once they leave their homes “victims are easily controlled by threats against their families.” Often, the victims of human trafficking are themselves ultimately arrested and charged with a crime such as prostitution. By the time it’s been determined that the women are themselves victims of human trafficking they may have left the area. O’Neill-Bagwell says “when victims are found, rescued, there’s always an interim” before the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act can be used. O’Neill-Bagwell says there are documented cases of human trafficking here, although the prosecution often is for crimes involving illegal drugs or prostitution. “Sometimes the victims themselves don’t realize they have rights -- or even that they are being trafficked.”

Creating public awareness and education are part of the coalition’s mission as well as providing help to victims of human trafficking. O’Neill-Bagwell says new coalitions are being started in Greenville and Hilton Head.

Kelly O’Neill-Bagwell, a Myrtle Beach area interior designer, is president of the Eastern Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking. She helped form the group after she realized the Grand Strand is particularly suited as fertile ground for sex slavery or forced labor: A coastal area, a tourism-based economy with transitional workers in housekeeping and strip clubs and near a major corridor such as Interstate 95. O’Neill-Bagwell became involved through her work in Zonta, the international women’s advocacy and service organization. Other groups represented in the coalition include the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston, the Rape Crisis Center, Project Lighthouse, which assists young runaways.

“A million people are trafficked every year over international borders,” O’Neill-Bagwell says. Women and children are 80 percent of the victims, often lured by the attraction of having a chance at “The American dream.” Once they leave their homes “victims are easily controlled by threats against their families.” Often, the victims of human trafficking are themselves ultimately arrested and charged with a crime such as prostitution. By the time it’s been determined that the women are themselves victims of human trafficking they may have left the area. O’Neill-Bagwell says “when victims are found, rescued, there’s always an interim” before the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act can be used. O’Neill-Bagwell says there are documented cases of human trafficking here, although the prosecution often is for crimes involving illegal drugs or prostitution. “Sometimes the victims themselves don’t realize they have rights -- or even that they are being trafficked.”

Creating public awareness and education are part of the coalition’s mission as well as providing help to victims of human trafficking. O’Neill-Bagwell says new coalitions are being started in Greenville and Hilton Head.