A Screening Guide for the Documentary

A Screening Guide for the Documentary

What I Have
Been Through is
Not Who I Am

Produced by WITNESS

ECPAT-USA

www.ecpatusa.org www.witness.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
3
Introduction 3
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America 4
A Synopsis of the Documentary 4
7
Preparing for a Screening 7
Dispelling Myths 8
Who is ECPAT-USA? 9
Terms to Avoid 10
11
Fact Sheet to Hand Out
Post-Screening Audience Evaluation
Post Screening Organizer Evaluation
Appendix: How to Host a Screening

A Note on this Screening Guide
Before you show the documentary, print up enough copies of pages 8 and 9 for the expected
audience and ask them to fill out the evaluation form after watching the movie. Print them on
separate pieces of paper so that the audience can take the fact sheet home with them. After the
screening fill out the organizer evaluation form and send it together with the audience evaluations to:

ECPAT-USA
30 3rd Avenue, Suite 800A
Brooklyn, NY 11217

By doing this you will help us make this Media Guide and guide better, as well as help us in producing
our next documentary.

In addition, there is an appendix to this document that you may find useful in how to host a screening.
This is intended for people without an official way to organize a group of attendees. While you may
not need it yourself, it does contain some important considerations, such as defining what you want
the audience to take away from the screening after watching it, as well as what kind of action you’d
like them to take. Thank you.

2 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

INTRODUCTION

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN AMERICA

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is a catch all term that covers the various
methods of how children are abused, most typically for the financial gain of a third party but not
always, and includes prostitution, pornography, sex tourism and other forms of human trafficking.
These child victims are coerced, deceived, and forced into performing commercial sex acts. CSEC is
a violation of children’s human rights, international law, federal law, and the laws of many states.

CSEC is one of the worst, yet unaddressed, forms of child abuse in the United States. It can happen
in any city or town, trapping children of all social backgrounds in violence and trauma. Despite their
abuse, victims are frequently arrested, detained, and even prosecuted as juvenile offenders.

A SYNOPSIS OF THE DOCUMENTARY

What I Have Been Through Is Not Who I Am brings together a diverse set of experts from juvenile
justice, law enforcement, advocates, and services providers to speak about the traumatic effects of
commercial sexual exploitation of children. They also share examples of how legislative reform
measures and new approaches are helping shift our response from punitive to restorative.

In this short documentary, we meet Katrina whose childhood as a good student in a middle class
home abruptly ends when she is manipulated and sold for sex by a trafficker. Her compelling and
emotional story takes us from Atlanta to New York City to Atlanta again, from desperation to recovery
and success. Katrina’s inspiring story reminds us that with understanding, opportunity and support
victims can become survivors.

Katrina and experts in the field provide a glimpse of a cycle of violence and a broken system.
However, the story does not end there. Katrina challenges us to see survivors in terms of their
humanity, value and potential – not their past. Once we see exploited children in these terms, we
realize our response to their trauma is in critical need of reform.

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PREPARING FOR A SCREENING

Before hosting a screening, you should watch the documentary and all the extended features, writing
down any questions you might have. See if you can find any answers within the following FAQ or on
the ECPAT-USA website. E-mail any remaining questions to us and we will try to answer promptly.
To request a copy of the documentary, informational materials, or for answers to any of the questions
you might have, please contact Max Mayer from ECPAT-USA at [email protected].

DISPELLING MYTHS

Prostitution is Not a Victimless Crime
Victims will almost always appear to be willing participants when in truth they resent, despise, and
hate the exploiters that are paying to have sex with them. One of the most common aspects of “John
Schools”, programs that can serve as an alternative to jail for people arrested for buying sex, is to
have prostitute women and girls come in and tell purchasers what they said to their ‘clients’ and what
they were actually thinking. A survivor might say some of the same compliments, word for word, that
the exploiters heard during their own encounters, but then say they were thinking the exact opposite
(She told him he was handsome, when she was thinking he was disgusting). This dispels the illusion
for many exploiters that the girls appreciate them and find them attractive, they realize these girls are
victims who were only saying what they needed to in order to get paid.1

Knowing that they are not willing participants only dispels half the myth, however, because we have
to understand how these girls got into that position in the first place. It is difficult to imagine being
coerced into prostitution, and it is easy to say, ‘I would never put myself in that position,’ but
remember, we’re talking about teenagers here. 300,000 American children are at risk of being
commercially sexually exploited.2 What makes them at-risk problems in the home such as physical
abuse, domestic violence, drug use, serious mental illness, and sexual abuse all contribute to a child
being at-risk. Unable to trust their parents to take care of them, they may turn to an outsider for
support, love, and affection. Traffickers know how to be manipulative and take advantage of children
with vulnerable psyches.

4 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

1 An Investigation Into ’John’s Schools’, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation,
http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/2f/FileItem-149841-Johnsschoolreport.pdf
2The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children In the U. S., Canada and Mexico, University of Pennsylvania
http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/restes/CSEC_Files/Exec_Sum_020220.pdf

Teenagers that have been prostituted are victims, not bad kids
These children are almost always coerced or forced into prostitution, and even if they did choose it
willingly, if they’re under 18 they are not old enough to make such a decision. They are children and
should be protected by the government, the community at large, their friends, and their family. Safe
Harbor legislation is one way in which state governments are taking an active role in the protection of
children. Save Harbor laws often mirror the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, which
is Federal Legislation that defines children engaging in commercial sex as victims and not criminals.3
The reason why Safe Harbor legislation is needed is because the TVPA is only utilized when the FBI
or other federal law enforcement agencies are involved. Since local police officers most likely to
encounter trafficked children, it is important they be given the tools to save these children.

Teenagers engaging in prostitution are trapped; they cannot just leave whenever they want
How often does a victim of domestic violence leave their partner? The relationship between a
trafficker and their victim is a similar one, but worse. The child likely ran away from home, dropped
out of school, and broke other laws while with the trafficker, such as aiding him in his drug dealing.
These girls are afraid of the police and feel like they cannot return home out of guilt and shame. Many
traffickers brand all their victims with the same tattoo in the same place so they see themselves as
belonging to him, reinforcing the mental prison. And just like in a domestic violence situation, when
the victims of CSEC do manage to overcome their fears and leave, their traffickers track them down.
One shelter in San Francisco found that 82% of the prostituted individuals seeking services had been
physically assaulted.4

Even without a trafficker, prostitution of children is still exploitation
While not all teenage prostitutes have traffickers, that does not mean make money. One study found
that 43% of runaway youths in Los Angeles exchanged sex for food or shelter5. In addition, the age of
consent ranges from 16-18 state to state. So an adult having sex with anyone 15 or under is likely to
be committing statutory rape (state laws vary on penalties and exceptions).

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3 U.S. Laws on Trafficking in Persons, US State Department, http://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/
4 Melissa Farley and Howard Barkan, “Prostitution, Violence Against Women, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”, The
Haworth Press, 1998
5 Kipke, M., S. O’Conner, R. Palmer, and R. MacKenzie. Street Youth in Los Angeles: Profile of a Group At High Risk for
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 1995.

Prostituted children do not make a lot of money, they are often destitute
Those involved in the sex trade are seldom allowed to control the money they make, and are forced
to hand it over to their traffickers or madams.

What is the definition of Sex Trafficking?
Federal law defines a victim of Sex Trafficking as: a person who is induced to perform a commercial
sex act through the use of Force, Fraud and Coercion, or a person under age of 18 who is induced
to perform a commercial sex.6

Children play a major role in the sex trade
Since 2003, the FBI, in conjunction with other government agencies and local law enforcement, have
rescued more than 1,200 children from prostitution, and over convicted over 600 traffickers, madams,
and their associates.7

Human trafficking doesn’t just happen in the developing world, it happens here too
Trafficking can happen to U.S. citizens in every U.S. state, in all social classes and amongst every
race. No one is immune from it. A trafficking victim does not need to be transported between states or
brought in from another country to be a victim of sex trafficking; they may simply be forced,
defrauded, or coerced into prostitution.

Human trafficking is very common
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Human Trafficking is tied for
second place with Arms Dealing and is fast growing, expected to outpace the drug trade within the
next few years.8 A lot of drug dealers are switching to prostitution because its viewed as a safer way
to make money, drugs are evidence and don’t require testimony,9 and in addition drug supplies need
to be replenished, where as a victim can be exploited over and over again.10

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6 U.S. Laws on Trafficking in Persons, US State Department, http://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/
7 Innocence Lost Initiative, http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac/innocencelost
8 About Human Trafficking, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/index.html
9Targeted, some drug dealers switch to prostitution; Authorities fear surge in human trafficking
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/10/26/targeted_some_drug_dealers_switch_to_prostitution/
10 Drugs are finite; a girl is “re-usable”, http://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/9255

WHO IS ECPAT-USA?

We exist because we believe that children everywhere are entitled to the fundamental right to live free
from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography, and trafficking
for sexual purposes.

We seek to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children by
1: Raising awareness of the issue
2: Advocating for the victims
3: Developing policies for private companies and law enforcement agencies to fight the problem
4: Passing legislation that protects the victims and penalizes the traffickers and exploiters

We are the leading policy organization in the United States and belong to an international network of
organizations that have offices in 73 countries around the world.

TERMS TO AVOID

Words have power and your word choice when explaining this issue is crucial in dispelling the
preconceived notions people may have about the issue.

Child Prostitute: This term denotes agency, a child who chooses to be a prostitute. Use Victim,
Child Victim, or Prostituted Child. For someone who is no longer being exploited you can use
Survivor or Child Survivor.
Pimp: This term has lost so much of its past negative connotation due in large part to popular media
portrayals of traffickers as comical minstrels or underdog, urban heroes. Use Trafficker or Panderer
instead.
“John”: This term denotes anonymity without portraying the person for what they are, an exploiter of
children for sex. Use Sex Purchaser, Sex Buyer, or Exploiter. It’s okay to use the term John School.

It’s okay to use the more familiar terminology when a discussion begins, but be sure to mention that it
is an inaccurate term and then use one of the preferable alternatives listed above. If audience
members use the above terms in their questions, you shouldn’t chide them for it, just use the
preferred terms in your response to their question without making mention of their error. They will
self-correct as long as you set a good example for them.

7 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

Fact Sheet

Up to 300,000 children nationwide are at risk of falling victim to some sort of sexual exploitation.11

14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the U.S. each year.12

1.2 million children are trafficked every year throughout the world.13

25% of sex tourists abusing children outside the United States are American and Canadian.14

The Safe Harbor Act

Background: Unlike any other sexual assault victims, commercially sexually exploited children are
frequently arrested for causing their own victimization.

 Prosecuting and incarcerating a child for prostitution re-traumatizes him or her and leads to
increased recidivism rates.

 State human trafficking laws do not adequately protect children.
 Judges often elect to prosecute minors for breaking pandering laws instead of protecting them

under human trafficking laws,
 Law Enforcement are under pressure to have high conviction rates, prostitution cases are

quick while trafficking cases take more time and money to investigate and have lower
conviction rates.

What can Safe Harbor do?
 Protect and prevent any person under the age of 18 from being charged, prosecuted, or
incarcerated for prostitution.
 Refer exploited children to special services and shelters that will support their recovery.
 Require the training of law enforcement, judges and first responders to recognize the signs of
human sex trafficking.

Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Washington State
have all passed such legislation, Texas has a de facto form of it due to a state supreme court ruling.15
None of these laws are perfect, and more can be done to improve them where they already exist,
including more enforcement efforts. Go to http://ecpatusa.org/safe-harbor/ for more information.

11 http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/restes/CSEC_Files/Exec_Sum_020220.pdf
12 http://www.justice.gov/archive/ag/annualreports/tr2006/assessment_of_efforts_to_combat_tip.pdf
13 http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_exploitation.html
14 http://ecpatusa.org/resources/statistics/
15 http://ecpatusa.org/what-we-do/helping-children-in-america/law-project/state-law-project/

POST-SCREENING ORGANIZER EVALUATION

WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IS NOT WHO I AM

The importance of your feedback can not be emphasized enough: not only does it allow us to
improve our work to protect children in America and abroad, but it also allows us to continue the
distribution of this documentary. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey below and send it
back to us. If you have any attendant evaluations filled out please send those as well.

 e-mail: [email protected]
 Fax: (718) 935-9173
 or by mail: ECPAT-USA, 30 Third Avenue, Suite 800A, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Name: Organization
Address:
e-mail: Telephone number:
Location of Screening: Date of Screening:

Number of Attendees:

 1-10  10-20  20-30  30-40  40-50  50+ (Estimated: ________)

Primary Age Range of Audience:  40-60  60+
 13-18  17-22  22-40

Primary Target Audience:  Law Enforcement  Judiciary  Social Workers
 Students  General Public
 Direct Service Providers  Other: ________________________

What was your goal(s) of the screening?
 To build public awareness about the issue of CSEC and answer general questions.
 To prompt a discussion about the issue within my community and provide information about the

rights of children.
 To inspire viewers to support a state or local program related to CSEC and to make a difference

concerning the issue.
 To explore how this issue affects audience members in more personal ways.
 To engage viewers in support of larger goals and to protect children from CSEC in any form.
 To raise funds for .
 Other: _____________________________________________________________________

Did you hold a post screening discussion?  yes  no

Awareness Value: How much did the documentary increase their awareness of the issue? (1 meaning they knew a lot
beforehand, 5 meaning they’ve never heard of it before the seeing the documentary)

Educational Value: Do they feel more knowledgeable about the issue having now watched the video? (1 meaning they

learned nothing, 5 meaning learned a lot)

Action Value: Do they want to take action against CSEC having seen the documentary? (1 meaning no one wants to do

anything, 5 meaning they all want to do something)

Not at All Very Much (Please circle one value per line)

Awareness Value 12345

Educational Value 12345

Action Value 12345

POST-SCREENING AUDIENCE EVALUATION

WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IS NOT WHO I AM

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is a serious problem facing our nation.
The importance of your feedback can not be emphasized enough: not only does it allow us to
improve our work to protect children in America and abroad, but it also allows us to continue the
distribution of this documentary. Please take a minute to complete this survey below and hand it back
to your host.

On a scale of 1 through 5, (5 being the highest), please let us know how you felt about the film
concerning it’s:

How much did you know about CSEC before watching the video? (1 meaning you’re an expert who

already knew a lot, 5 meaning you knew never heard about CSEC before today).

Knew A Lot Never Heard of it Before

12345

Do you feel more knowledgeable about CSEC having now watched the video? (1 meaning you feel
you learned nothing, 5 meaning you feel you learned a lot)

Learned Nothing Learned a Lot

12345

Do you want to take action against CSEC having seen the documentary? (1 meaning you’re not
interested in doing anything, 5 meaning you are very interested in fighting against CSEC)

No Interest Very Interested

12345

Please use the space below to add any further comments or feelings about the documentary.

Name (Optional): Email Address (Optional):

 Yes! I would like to receive updates on your fight against the Commercial Sexual
Exploitation. Please sign me up to ECPAT-USA’s e-mail newsletter.

APPENDIX: How to Host a Screening

Step One: Identifying your Objectives
What would you like to get out of the event? Some suggestions are:

1. To raise funds for ECPAT-USA to continue the fight against CSEC
2. To build public awareness about CSEC and answer general questions
3. To help prompt a discussion about the issue within your community (whether that be a

counseling center, law enforcement agency, judiciary committee, neighborhood, or the general
public) and provide information about the rights of children in America.
4. To inspire viewers to support a state or local program related to CSEC and to make a
difference concerning the issue.
5. To explore how this issue affects audience members in more personal ways
6. To engage viewers in support of larger goals and to protect children from CSEC in any form.

Engaging the audience to take action following the event can seem like a daunting task, but with
advanced preparation it is not very difficult. Having flyers prepared that state what you want the
audience to take away from the screening is a great way to ensure your message gets across. For
example, if you are a member of an anti-human trafficking group you can publish flyers with your
website address, organizational profile, and the date of your next meeting. If you want to start an anti-
human trafficking group, set up a website for your group and publish flyers inviting others to join.
meetup.com is a great website to organize and coordinate meetings as well as recruit new members.

Fund raising on behalf of ECPAT-USA is greatly appreciated, and you can do so by collecting money
or checks after the screening, by selling socially conscious products available on our website, or by
selling some other form of product and donating the proceeds to ECPAT-USA. If you intend to sell
products found on our website, be sure to purchase samples, if not a complete inventory, well in
advance of the screening date.

11 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

Step Two: Identifying your Audience
To make the most of this opportunity, we encourage you to be clear about::

 What type of screening you want to hold, will it be…
o Open to the public or invitation only? A large space (50+ seating) or a small space (20
or less)? Something in between?
o Only a screening with Q&A, or accompanied by a speaker, speakers, or a panel
discussion?
o An open discussion that engages the audience?

 Who will your audience be?
o The General Public? Parents? High School or College Students?
o Social Workers? Law Enforcement? Policy Makers? General Public?

 What message do you hope the audience will take away from the presentation?
 Do you want them to engage in the issue afterwards?
 Do you want them to make a donation or to purchase socially conscious products that support

ECPAT-USA’s work in fighting CSEC?

Step Three: Reserve the Venue
If you’re only inviting specific people and their friends, you should have a good idea of how many
people to expect. If you’re reaching out to more than your home can seat comfortably, you’ll need a
public venue. If you are a High School and College student you should be able to reserve classroom
space that can accommodate up to 30 people with ease. If you’re an adult, you should check with
your local public library, community center, or house of worship as many of them have meeting rooms
that can easily facilitate 50+ people, just be sure that they can seat as many people as you intend to
invite. See what dates they have available and make sure they know that it’s for a human rights
cause, institutions that normally charge a fee may be willing to waive it for you. If they won’t waive the
fee, make sure you can afford it before proceeding.

 Make sure the venue can play/project the DVD, and has enough seating for the audience
you wish to invite.

 Always reserve the venue for the time and date of the screening before advertising it.
 Contact ECPAT-USA and request informational materials to give to your audience in as

far in advance as possible.

12 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

Step Four: Get the Word Out!
If the screening is by invitation only, you should already have a good idea of how you will contact the
people you wish to see the documentary. If your screening will be open to the public, see if friends,
family, colleagues, or even the venue owner can help in promoting your screening. Contact your
local newspaper, radio, or television news stations and ask how you can best utilize their services to
publicize your screening. Print up a flyer that contains the time, location, and purpose of the
screening. Include any sponsors of the event. Don’t be afraid to contact another organization in your
community for advice on how to promote the event. For a flyer template, go to
http://ecpatusa.org/take-action/spread-the-word/host-a-screening/

If you know you will be providing refreshments, advertise this in your flyer.

Step Five: Screening the Documentary
Have a short introductory speech prepared for before the screening and a closing statement for
after the screening. The speech should clearly relay your objectives of the screening to the
audience (see Step One) so that when they watch the film they have in mind what they should be
paying attention to, and leave the event with that thought in their minds.

Try to provide refreshments for audience. It’s a short documentary, but it will be appreciated
by any attendees and can help improve the mood of anyone who arrived grumpy.

When hosting a screening in a public space, there are four easy but very important steps you
should take if possible.

1. Arrive at the venue early and ensure their DVD equipment is working properly. See if you can
hear the video clearly by playing it and moving about the room. Contact the facilities
management if you encounter any problems.

2. Place informational materials provided by ECPAT-USA or other organization on all the seats
at the venue, or as many seats as you realistically expect will be filled.

3. Know by what time you and the audience must leave the venue. Be sure to leave yourself
enough time for Q&A if possible, and for cleaning up.

4. Know where the restrooms are so you can direct people to them if asked.

13 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

Step Six: Post-Screening Discussion
The most challenging part of the screening will be discussing it with the audience afterwards. This is a
sensitive issue that requires a sensitive approach to discussing it, which is why we recommend you
be prepared by having a social worker, discussion facilitator, psychologist or other form of therapist
there to counsel anyone who needs it during or after the film. We encourage you to be very clear
about why you are holding a post-screening conversation with the audience, which could be:

1. To further build public awareness of CSEC in America and answer general questions from the
audience

2. To provide information about the rights of children in America
3. To dispel the myth that only certain populations are affected by CSEC
4. To discuss how the audience members can make a difference on this issue at the local, state

and national levels.

Step Seven: Providing Information on How to Take Action
We urge you to inform your audience that actions they take can help ECPAT-USA’s campaign to
protect children from sexual exploitation. Ways in which they can do this are:

1. Make a Donation. People can make checks out to ECPAT-USA and give them to you to mail.
2. Write a letter to their government officials. There are a number of Safe Harbor laws on the

books or being considered in different states, as well as the federal Trafficking Victims
Protection Act. By writing in support of them you can ensure these programs remain funded
and protect children that are falling through the cracks. Current legislation and sample letters
can be found at the ECPAT-USA website.
3. Start a Movement. It's possible that in preparing for the screening you already cultivated a
group of friends dedicated to the issue, and you should definitely see if anyone else who
attended the screening is willing to join you. You can learn more about the issue together,
plan other awareness raising events, or try to tackle the problem head-on through advocacy
and activism. Based on the collective skills and time commitments of the individuals in your
group, you may be able to make an even greater difference than individually thought possible.

14 ECPAT-USA Screening Guide

EVENT PLANNING CHECKLIST

WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IS NOT WHO I AM
Preliminary Planning – six weeks or more before the screening

 Essential: Book a venue that can:
 Play the DVD
 Accommodate the number of attendees you wish to invite

 Recommended: Invite speakers, panelists, and moderator
 Recommended: Request informational materials from ECPAT-USA
 Recommended: Ensure the presence of a social worker, facilitator, or some form of

therapist to be present for the screening and discussion
 Recommended: If open to the general public, design a flyer and print out copies for the

venue to have on hand and for you and any other volunteers to post up in the area.
 Recommended: Contact a local area news outlet to see if they will cover the event.
 Recommended: Buy products in advance to display/sell to the audience.

Logistical Planning – several days before the screening
 Essential: Confirm with the venue that everything is in order on their end.
 Essential: Confirm with any special invitees (social worker, therapist, speakers, panelists,
news media, volunteer assistants, etc.) that they will still be able to come
 Essential: Print enough copies of the fact sheet and post-screening audience evaluation
forms for all potential attendees
 Recommended: If serving a large audience, pre-order refreshments.
 Recommended: Print enough copies of your own flyer for all potential attendees

Final Preparations – Day of the Screening
 Essential: Arrive at the venue early to ensure everything is in working order.
 Essential: Double check their systems by playing the DVD and testing the volume levels.
 Recommended: If serving a small audience, pick up refreshments.
 Recommended: Place informational materials on the seats at the venue
 Recommended: know what time you and audience need to leave by
 Recommended: Know where the restrooms are located.

After the Event
 Recommended: Fill out post-screening evaluation and send it to ECPAT-USA.