Student uses platform to raise awareness on the sex trafficking of children

By Harold López

From pageant queen to activist, FIU student, Isabel Logins, uses her crown to raise awareness on the sex trafficking of children.

A senior and mass communications major with a concentration in international relations, Logins has been in the pageant world for over two years.

“I was previously in the Miss Universe organization and now my pageant coach is the director of the USA Queen of the Continents and we are working together to prepare for the Queen of the Continents competition in Feb. 2019,” said Logins.

Logins got into pageants in hopes of making connections with news reporters.

“I feel like if I win, I will get the platform necessary to grow in my field,” said Logins.

But, Logins’ life does not only revolve around the crown. She is the official spokesperson for the non-profit organization called, Global Childrens Rescue, whose mission is to educate parents and children on the warning signs of human trafficking to help prevent abductions from occuring.

“I attend events with Global Childrens Rescue to help raise funds for them to continue what they need to do. They help families who don’t have the funds to hire proper FBI in order to look for their child,” said Logins.

Logins knew a co-worker who had been sex trafficked.

“It was so shocking to have met a victim. I have met victims at events. But, she was so immune to the situation. When she talked about it, she had no emotion towards it,” said Logins.

Logins says that the average age for a girl to be forced into sex trafficking is 12 to 14 and that it happens everywhere, even in nice neighborhoods.

The organization investigates recent missing children cases to fill the void during the crucial time period when law enforcement cannot commit the resources, as well as cold cases that have been overlooked throughout time.

“I found this organization because I wanted to find a way of helping this cause in any way that I can. I talk about it often on my social media platforms because I have so many young girls looking up to me,” said Logins.

Depending on the circumstances of the case, the average cost for a human trafficking rescue can range from $50,000 to $100,000. Personnel, research, planning, investigation, and victims’ needs all factor into the total cost of a rescue.

According to Ark of Hope for Children, it is estimated that 76 percent of transactions for sex with underage girls start on the Internet.

“It’s important to stay cautious. These people who sex traffic typically hunt for girls through social media. They end up taking them and selling them on the black market,” said Logins. “You can even be taken to a different country which makes it a lot harder for law enforcement to find you.”

A typical overseas rescue can cost anywhere between $75,000 and $150,000 depending. One rescue operation can save anywhere from one child to 100 children depending on the size of the organization.

“You have to be involved because you have a purpose,” said Logins.