"I’d sell my fucking organs."

Imagine your wife had to go to Turkey for business reasons. There is an acquaintance of yours and he offers to be her guide. He speaks the language and seems like a decent guy, so you think it’s a good idea as she’ll probably be safer. Several days after they leave on the trip, you receive a phone call from him.

He says, “I sold your wife.” You find out he sold your wife into sexual slavery for $1000.

How would you feel? What would you do?

I watched the suffering of this man grappling with just such a painful absurdity. He tried to be as rational as possible because he knew that might be the only way to get his wife back. He breaks down at one point and says, “I’d do anything to get her back. I’d sell my fucking organs.” It is a story that Hollywood would kill for but it probably wouldn’t sell because it is too real.

The documentary Sex Slaves follows the sex trafficking industry and tells the story of several individuals and the cataclysmic suffering they experienced. The documentary focussed mainly on Eastern European women who end up exported to over 50 countries, including Canada. Women in poverty think they might be getting work abroad as a domestic labourer or waitress and instead they are sold into bondage. Many will end up being raped by 10 men each night. I can think of few worse things in this world than human trafficking. The only thing worse would be the subset of sexual trafficking and that could only be more gruesome if it specializes in children.

I cried and I felt sick watching the documentary. So why watch it?
It is important to know that such atrocities are occurring in this world - that they are happening in your country! Additionally, such things should be viewed to understand the potential depravity of humans as well as their resilience. Finally, watch it to appreciate how unbelievably lucky you are.

These are the horrors we all block out. We do so at our peril.