1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 My name is Coco Burthman and I'm a child traffic survivor and I have something to say. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:12,000 I survived 15 years of sex slavery that my own family put me through in particular my mother. 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:17,000 It was my my traffic here. I was able to escape 10 years ago at age 15. 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:26,000 By running away from home. I was born into traffic in and I'm already publicly about this. 5 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,000 For those of you who don't know my story, you can look it up. 6 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,000 But what I want to talk about today is something that happened last night. 7 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:42,000 And that just won't let go of me and I felt really strongly called that I need to put this message out there. 8 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:52,000 I am trained with an organization called Adaptive Operations that performs rescue operations of human trafficking victims. 9 00:00:52,000 --> 00:01:08,000 So these are men who work in FBI, CIA and police officers who volunteer there free time to put their lives in danger and bring freedom to those who are enslaved. 10 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Most people don't understand that we have more slaves today than ever before in history. 11 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000 The numbers are staggering, the suffering unprecedented. 12 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:24,000 We have over 40 million people worldwide held as human trafficking victims. 13 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,000 The capital of human trafficking is not the world third world country. 14 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,000 It is here in the United States. 15 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,000 And 80% of customers worldwide are American men and women. 16 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,000 It is a 53 trillion dollar enterprise worldwide. 17 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:44,000 And it's the most lucrative crime around the world because unlike drugs, you can sell a human being multiple times. 18 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:52,000 Last night I was invited to go with Adaptive Operations on a rescue mission in Las Vegas. 19 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:58,000 Most of us people associate Las Vegas as the party city, the party capital. 20 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:03,000 Most of you don't know what is happening right underneath the strip. 21 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,000 Las Vegas has a tunnel system of tunnels. 22 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,000 There are not long to use anymore but the city. 23 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:15,000 However, in those tunnels, they live people. 24 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,000 I just want to head up. 25 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:20,000 This video is inscripted. 26 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,000 It's just going to be blurred out whatever comes to my mind. 27 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:32,000 But I went last night really, really long with Adaptive Operations and those heroic men 28 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:40,000 to try to find traffic children who are being trafficked in Las Vegas and who are missing. 29 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:46,000 The tunnel system in Las Vegas and I want you to please Google Las Vegas tunnel 30 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,000 and see how people live down there. 31 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:58,000 These are homeless people that live under the worst condition possible in the United States. 32 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:05,000 And it's no wonder that those people who live down there and mostly minors become victims to human trafficking 33 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000 because they're so vulnerable. 34 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,000 They have nothing. 35 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,000 Of course, they'll take anything they're just being offered to them. 36 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,000 So if a trafficer lowers them into something promised, 37 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,000 of course they go into it and they don't know that they're being learned into sex slavery. 38 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,000 Somebody asked me today, 39 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,000 So what is human trafficking? What does it mean? 40 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,000 There's different forms of human trafficking. 41 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,000 There's labor trafficking. 42 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,000 There's organ harvesting. 43 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,000 There's sex trafficking. 44 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,000 And many other forms. 45 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,000 And I am focusing on sex trafficking since I'm a survivor. 46 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 And I was trafficked in Germany. 47 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,000 I was in traffic somewhere in Eastern Europe or Asia or whatsoever. 48 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,000 I was trafficked in a well-developed industrial country with a high education level. 49 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,000 I went to school. 50 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,000 I went to dance classes. I went horseback riding. 51 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:58,000 I had a normal life until the doors in my home are closed. 52 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:06,000 And I was raped 10 to 50 times a day. 53 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Not every day, it's seasonal. 54 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:16,000 While you enjoy Christmas morning or your summer vacation that you've been longing for for so long, 55 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:22,000 I panicked because I knew the demand for child sex would increase because people started to have time on holidays. 56 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,000 And who are the people who buy children for sex? 57 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,000 These are not any scum boxes. 58 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,000 Her people were just sort of daily basis. 59 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,000 Police officers, lawyers, doctors, teachers. 60 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,000 People we trust are children too. 61 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:45,000 And the reason why I'm so frustrated is that people don't understand what is going on. 62 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:50,000 We trafficking is everywhere. It happens right in front of you and you don't even know. 63 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,000 And what are you looking at? 64 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,000 I was asked today. 65 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,000 So the stupid question of, so you still messed up? 66 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,000 I was never messed up. 67 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,000 I had a normal reaction to something really, really, really unnormal that should have never happened to me. 68 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:12,000 Yes, I suffered from PTSD. Yes, I have anxiety. Yes, I'm working on it. 69 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,000 And so are all the other survivors out there. 70 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 But we are not messed up. 71 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:22,000 Those who are messed up or those who are abused as the blame is on the perpetrator. 72 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Never on the victim. 73 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,000 Stuff out of stupid questions. 74 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,000 Don't do that. 75 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,000 We have enough victim blaming. 76 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,000 We have enough shaming in the world. 77 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,000 How about we go ahead and educate ourselves so we know what the signs are? 78 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,000 So I wrote it down so people know what the signs are. 79 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,000 There are different signs you can look for in human trafficking or abuse. 80 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,000 Because it is everywhere. 81 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:50,000 Physical signs of human trafficking, branding, scars, burns. 82 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:55,000 I'm trying, I will try, I am to include pictures into this video. 83 00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Rending is a tactic from a trafficker who were victims already into trafficking. 84 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:11,000 And forces choose or bread marking on their skin to do make sure everybody knows who that victim belongs to. 85 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,000 I was branded as a child. 86 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,000 I have a little start to chew on my finger. 87 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:21,000 If you can see it, that was put down from the trafficking ring when I was a child. 88 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,000 So everybody knew which ring I belong to. 89 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:26,000 Teacher saw it. 90 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:27,000 Never asked a question. 91 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,000 What it's called here of hesitant to. 92 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,000 I mean come on. 93 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:35,000 And my nourish especially child victims and who are being trafficked. 94 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,000 Happened to me as well. 95 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,000 The younger you look, the more money the trafficker receives. 96 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,000 So of course they want to try it to hold a puberty as long as they can. 97 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,000 Which happens by starving a child. 98 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,000 Dental issues. 99 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,000 If it's victim maybe older. 100 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,000 Trafficked by a stupid pimp somewhere. 101 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,000 They don't take care of their gentle health. 102 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,000 They don't give them money. 103 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,000 So of course and then of course the drugs in alcohol and smoke. 104 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:03,000 Everything will attack. 105 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,000 Dental. 106 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,000 I victim is usually disoriented. 107 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,000 I moved at least once a year. 108 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Wow, I was trafficked. 109 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 I had a normal quote on quote live. 110 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,000 But I was in 16 different schools. 111 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,000 Why? 112 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:20,000 It's a tactic of a trafficker to keep victims desorientated and have them give them no opportunity 113 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,000 to build a support system for the victim. 114 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,000 Also with trafficked victims here in the United States. 115 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:30,000 If you're a lured into it and the trafficker forces you in just sex 116 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,000 delivery. 117 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,000 They will trade off victims among other traffickers after a while. 118 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,000 So that the victim never stays in one location for too long. 119 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,000 And then other abuse signs as of bruises scratches. 120 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Why would you have a hand print on your wrist? 121 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,000 That's an abuse sign. 122 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,000 Ask questions. 123 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,000 I had this as a child. 124 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,000 Teachers didn't ask questions. 125 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,000 Virgo signs of trafficking. 126 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,000 They think the numbers spawns as they are controlled. 127 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,000 And allow someone else to speak for them. 128 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,000 Not willing to discuss their injuries because they're free. 129 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,000 And fearful anxious. 130 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,000 So they're really paranoid. 131 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,000 What are medical signs? 132 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,000 You're in their problems. 133 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Public pain. 134 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 Reptile trauma. 135 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,000 Why? 136 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,000 If you're right 10 to 50, 5 o'clock a day. 137 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,000 Do you think down there it's going to be okay? 138 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,000 No, you're in so much pain. 139 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:30,000 You're being exposed to everything. 140 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,000 And it's not your fault. 141 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,000 It is the traffickers' fault. 142 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:40,000 And that people who buy a victim and take advantage of those quality powerless. 143 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,000 And chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically, chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically chronically 144 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:39,000 So tired of victim blaming, I'm so tired of the world looking down upon me and all the other victims. It is not our fault if you're victim, it's not your fault, it's the fault of those traffickers and everybody asking society who closes their eyes and ears and mouth when they see something. And if you see something, why are you so afraid to call the police? Police is scared to help us. And if you're afraid to call the police, you can call the human, the national human trafficking hotline. 145 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:49,000 They can let it right now and it pin and write this down. The national human trafficking hotline is 888-373788 146 00:09:49,000 --> 00:10:02,000 And if you're a victim and you don't want to talk to someone on the phone, there's also a text message that you can send and you can text help to 2-3-3-733 and you'll receive immediate help. 147 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:17,000 Whatever circumstances you're in, just know it's not your fault and don't let anyone else tell you it is, it is not. Whatever happened to you, it should have never happened to you, it should have never happened to me. I was thinking like enough to get away at age 15. 148 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:26,000 I should not be sitting here today. I should be a drug addict. I should be a prostitute. I should be dead. I should be living down there in the tunnels with all the other people. 149 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:37,000 There's so many who need our help and it's not fair that we all get to live a happy life and a blessed life and go to the movies and have fancy cars and complain about our sushi. 150 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:47,000 While there's people living out there who are being gangworked every day, who are being warded, who are being tortured in ways that you can't even imagine. 151 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:59,000 And I'm sorry that I'm being so drastic today, but it just broke my heart. I've been this person come out of the tunnel yesterday when we walked in at midnight and this man or not man. 152 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:12,000 I'm not even sure if he was even a legal agent. I could see his face and he was just broken. He was so broken and we need to stop human trafficking. 153 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:22,000 I was blessed and be lucky enough to be sitting here today going to school to become a lawyer because this issue is a worldwide problem. 154 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:36,000 It is the greatest human rights challenge of this century. We can't be blind. You've thought slavery and then back then no. It is bigger than ever before. 155 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:52,000 You need to go educate yourself. Talk to your children about it. Yes, it's a dark topic, but I guarantee you if you talk to each other about human trafficking, I promise you your child will not become a victim to it. There's so many ways to traffic a person, a child. 156 00:11:52,000 --> 00:12:04,000 I can't possibly explain everything within 15 minutes. Please go. Operation Underground Railroad offers a one-hour training for free on their website. Just go there. 157 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:20,000 Just literally just Google. There's so many options of people keep asking me what are the signs. I'm happy to revet them. But if you just put in Google what are the signs of human trafficking statistics of human trafficking, where the trafficking happened, you will get all the answers. 158 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:28,000 I have seen so much too much. There are people out there while I'm talking here and while you watching this video, we're being raped. 159 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:48,000 It count this time of the day. We must stop this and I'm asking you share this video with everyone. I don't care. I don't care about the threats I'm getting. I don't care if I'm making myself a fool because I know I have to stop. I was lucky enough ten years ago to get away after my sister was murdered because she wanted to talk to teachers. 160 00:12:48,000 --> 00:13:08,000 I was only able to run away because I didn't have a role model. I took TV shows as my role models, which was long-awaited, especially with the units that turned me, that I'm being abused. Why wasn't there anyone teaching us as children? What are the uses? What human trafficking looks like? Why didn't have to be a TV show? 161 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:14,000 So go ahead. Share this video. Learn something. Do something. Say something.