Activist, author and survivor to speak on human trafficking

Barbara Amaya grew up fast.
At the age of 12, Amaya ran away from her Virginia home to escape an abusive environment. While she was cold and hungry trying to survive on the streets of Washington, D.C., a couple took her in and groomed her for prostitution.
After weeks of being trafficked in the nation’s capital, she was then sold to a man who would in turn use her to work the streets of New York City.
It is her story about her life growing up as part of the United States’ human trafficking epidemic that Amaya will share as she speaks on April 20 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, hosted by the Crime Victims Center and Children and Youth Services.
“I didn’t know I was a victim until 2012,” said Amaya. “I knew what happened to me, but I didn’t know it had a name for it.”
Today, Amaya is a champion and advocate for victims of human trafficking, abuse and exploitation. In December 2014 she was the recipient of the James B. Hunter Award, which is given to people, groups and businesses that promote cultural diversity and equal rights for all residents of Arlington County, Virginia.
“She (Amaya) was chosen because she was a survivor of domestic sex trafficking and an internationally recognized advocate, speaker, consultant and survivor and leader in the movement today to end modern day slavery,” explained Michelle Grant Shumar, executive director of the Crime Victim’s Center.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. in the campus’ Swimmer Hall Auditorium in the Williams Building.
“I don’t use notes. Lately, I have been putting up one photo from that summer when I turned 12. I want people to understand that I was a child,” said Amaya. “I am saying I was a child, but they will (now) see it.”
Since April is National child Abuse Prevention Month, National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19 to 25, Shumar said the Crime Victim’s Center wanted to shine a light on healthy sexuality programs and the prevention of sexual violence on college campuses.
Dr. Charles Patrick, chancellor and chief academic officer of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus is happy that the campus is hosting this event for the community.
“Sexual violence on college campuses is an important issue to us at Penn State Fayette, where we strive to provide a safe and secure educational environment,” he said. “We are pleased to be hosting this forum for the Fayette County Crime Victims’ Center and Children and Youth Services because it benefits the community as well as our student body.”
Representing Penn State Fayette at the event will be Joseph Segilia, director of outreach for Continuing Education, who will provide the introduction to the event.
Shumar and Gina D’Auria, administrator at Children and Youth Services will also speak and introduce Amaya.
This presentation is part of the Crime Victims Center’s 40th anniversary commemoration.
“They (the Crime Victims Center) are coming up on their 40th anniversary. I looked up the date (1975), and I would have been 19,” said Amaya. “I was on the verge of not being around too much longer. I want to say something like when you guys started out your services for victims it was 40 years ago. I was probably one of the people that could have used one of your services.”
“We are hoping to increase the knowledge of indicators of sexual abuse and exploitation. We are hoping to increase the dynamics of sexual abuse and exploitation and the links between child abuse and human trafficking, and increase the knowledge of professionals and their responsibilities of reporting sexual abuse and exploitation,” said Shumar.