Human trafficking is hiding in plain sight

By Kim Roberts
Clarion Herald

Human trafficking expert Yvette Fouchi told a St. Angela Merici pro-life group on April 25 that the pandemic triggered an escalation in underage victims being trafficked. 

“COVID opened up the online gateway,” Fouchi said. “The predators had a captive audience with everyone being at home on their computers. They adapted to the new technology and took advantage of the young people.”

Staggering statistics

Fouchi told the audience that the governor’s office has a new department keeping track of trafficking statistics, and, as of 2023, Orleans Parish was No. 1 in the state with 218 trafficked individuals, followed by East Baton Rouge Parish with 202; Caddo Parish with 142;  and Jefferson Parish with 84.

Of the 1,615 individuals trafficked in Louisiana in 2023, 83% were under the age of 17 and 84% were female, Fouchi said. The average age of victims is between 11-14.

“These were the ones we know about,” Fouchi said. “Remember, human trafficking tends to happen literally where the traffic is – up and down the interstates because of the easy on and off. And, our area is especially vulnerable because of the tourist industry, Mardi Gras, major national events and Bourbon Street that brings predators to town.”

Important message

Father Beau Charbonnet, pastor of St. Angela Merici, began the evening by asking the audience if they had seen the recent Jim Caviezel film about human trafficking, “Sound of Freedom.” Most people quickly raised their hands.

“Now, imagine that scenario happening right here in Metairie, because it is,” Father Charbonnet said. “That’s not an exaggeration.”

In his opening prayer, Father Charbonnet asked the Holy Spirit to dwell among everyone in attendance because society should be blown away that human trafficking exists and children are being used as objects, resulting in catastrophic pain. He emphasized the goal of the meeting was “to learn the reality of this issue and to build awareness of this epidemic.”

“I’ve worked with many sex-trafficked survivors; I know their stories,” Fouchi said. “This is not easy to hear.”

Fouchi said the best thing about “Sound of Freedom” was that it got people talking about the issue, but the film missed the opportunity to point out that human trafficking happens in this country and does not usually involve kidnapping. The most common place where predators stalk their victims is online through tracing apps and gaming.

Parents should be vigilant

The St. Angela pro-life ministry hosted the multi-generational group, 60 adults total, in the school’s gym in Metairie. Fouchi explained to the concerned parents and grandparents what human trafficking is, where it happens and what they can do to help.

“We wanted to make this presentation open to the public because human trafficking is a problem in the suburbs, where we live and work, and we need to learn how to protect our children,” said Erin Kalus, St. Angela Merici’s pro-life ministry director. “Parents need to be aware that this can happen anywhere. The more people know, the better equipped we will be to combat it.”

Fouchi told the group there are steps they can take to help: store the National Human Trafficking Hotline – (888) 373-7888 – in your phone; educate yourself by visiting polarisproject.org and humantrafficking.la.gov; engage in pastoral care through the Harry Tompson Center, Metanoia Manor and Grace House; get involved in public policy by supporting legislation and organizations to change conditions that make human trafficking possible; and make a plan to pray, once a week or once a month, or start a rosary group.

Fouchi has been giving presentations in the archdiocese since 2006 and has worked with girls who were sex-trafficked at 12-17 years old. They brought a human face to the chilling figures and stats, and she was able to build relationships with many of these young women.

“I do this because it is personal to me,” Fouchi said. “I had the opportunity to be in a safe house with the girls, and it changed me forever. People are in denial about young girls being sex-trafficked here in Louisiana. There is no easy fix, but there are things we can do as a community. Knowledge is power, and we can all do our small part to help.”

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