Implying

I am not implying that people is positions of power and influence are directly involved in grooming rings and group based sexual exploitation of children and adults, I’m stating it as a known reality.

 

I am not simply suggesting that those positions include legal and justice fields, police departments, teachers and educational professionals, school and day care staff, councils and authorities, bankers and financial institutions, the elite, journalism, property owners and managers, business owners and successful entrepreneurs, sports providers, entertainers, health care personnel and many many more, I’m stating it as clearly as I can.

 

I am not implying that all children are vulnerable, I’m stating it as truth and fact.

 

I am not simply suggesting that adults are vulnerable to grooming techniques and abuse, exploitation and harm, I’m stating it very clearly.

 

I am not gently implying that some gaps in protection, risks within environments and avoidance by systems are deliberate in order to protect perpetrators, I’m stating it clearly.

 

I am not hinting that drugs, pornography, internet sex rooms, illicit goods, protection rings, money laundering and more are part of the grooming rings systems, I declare it.

 

I am not hinting that not all survivors are trapped by those specific activities or individuals, many never encounter drug use or get brought into contact with other crimes. Many do. There are various types of manipulation and control used by groomers and abusers. Talking with survivors is the only way to get a clearer bigger picture. I declare it.

 

I am not subtly suggesting that perpetrators, abusers, groomers are in all walks of life, all types of environments, and men and women, young and old of all backgrounds, I’m declaring it.

 

I’m not implying that one of the groomers, abusers greatest shields is how the public views survivors, how we define vulnerability, how we understand trauma, how we like to victim blame and how we look for the monsters instead of seeing they are human, I’m stating it loudly.

 

I’m not hinting that survivors must be heard, not passively but actively, involved and integrated, informed and empowered, respected and protected, in order to care authentically and also to learn from the insights and knowledge they possess. I’m declaring it.

 

I am not implying that abusers can be that friendly neighbour, the kind family member, the generous business owner who gives so much to the community, the successful person who surely wouldn’t need to do that to anyone, the rich one, the powerful ones, the charismatic one, that lovely lady. I am stating it.

 

I’m not suggesting that children of all ages and backgrounds are currently being abused, groomed and brought into worlds of terror, disconnection and exploitation, in every community, I state it without doubt.

 

I’m not implying that the world of sexual exploitation, all exploitation and manipulation, of grooming whether individual based or group based can and will involve brutal violence and intimidation, I declare this.

 

I am not hinting that abuse, grooming, harm and manipulation is carried out against children by people they know and are encouraged to trust. I am stating it.

 

I am not simply suggesting that schools, health care providers, social clubs, care services for children, boarding schools and all levels of staffing within can and are directly involved in the abuse and grooming of children and in grooming rings, I am declaring it.

 

I am not hinting that those of positions of power with duties to protect have been actively covering up, deflecting attention from, disguising and ignoring knowledge of grooming and abuse. I state it clearly.

 

I am not skirting around the fact that by seeing adults as willing, complicit and fully responsible for the abuse they endure is a foundational reason why the abuse continues in plain sight but unnoticed, how adults are trapped in the world of adult sexual exploitation and abuse. I state it.

 

I am not hinting that abuse, violence, grooming and exploitation of children and adults is capable of happening in every town and village, every city. I state it. In offices, business premises, cafes and bars, colleges, schools, flats, posh houses, back rooms, restaurants, friendly houses, expensive hotels, everywhere, in plain sight. Now.  I declare it.

 

But I also state:

There are people, professionals, people around us who are genuinely, authentically and purposefully committed to prevention and protection.

There are systems, environments and organisations devoted by action and words to improving safeguarding and providing meaningful safety and protection.

There are survivors who are in positions to speak, talk, write, challenge, educate and empower.

There are people who “get it” about trauma, human behaviour, disconnection, true self, risk and hope.

There are those who see beyond the veil of normality and everyday to see the reality and abuse happening.

There are those who understand how grooming, grooming rings, abuse, exploitation operates and how to shine a light on it.

There are those who know how to actively equip children and adults with the words, insights, self power, knowledge needed to improve their safety and the safety of those around them.

There is hope.

We are not alone.