It’s Complicated – Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking

Elaine Meyerson, the Executive Director of Center for Hope and Safety (formerly Shelter Our Sisters) and Patrice Lenowitz, the Center’s Community Educator, were the speakers at the March 24th Study Group, It’s Complicated – Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking.

Ms. Lenowitz, a survivor of domestic violence, gave a riveting presentation. It’s a sobering and disturbing fact: human trafficking targets girls as young a twelve and boys as young as six. She showed a film and spoke passionately, presenting the facts and statistics about this heinous crime. It was most disheartening to hear about the lack of legal support for the victims, young children stolen from our streets. Forced to perform sex for hire, often they are arrested rather than rescued and helped, and our legal system treats them as criminals. On the other hand, sex offenders (Johns) are given a few hours of education that they appear not to take seriously in order to have the offense removed from their record. Ms. Lenowitz speaks at schools around Bergen County to help educate children, parents, and teachers.

Ruth Seitelman
Chair, Study Groups

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L-R Patrice Lenowitz, Ruth Seitelman, Elaine Meyerson