As of 2023, 27.6 million humans are victims of trafficking, with an estimated 3.3 million of those being children just in 2022. Human trafficking is defined as the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation. Small children around the world are being kidnapped, stolen from their families, and sold for sex.
“Could you sleep at night knowing one of your children’s beds is empty?” This is a quote from the character Roberto Aguilar in the movie “Sound of Freedom” (2023). It is easy to dehumanize these numbers and figures, seeing them as numbers on a screen, 27.6 million people, and 3.3 million being children. Instead, when you imagine your little brother, little sister, or little cousin, you only begin to understand the significance of the numbers.
“Sound of Freedom” is directed, and co-written, by Alejandro Monteverde, produced by Eduardo Verastegui, and released by Angel Studios, an American independent media company. It is based on the true stories of Tim Ballard, a former special agent dedicated to rescuing children from sex traffickers.
The movie is filled with ineffable emotion, a masterpiece of a film with an intense emphasis on family as well as the unearthing of evil. The fact that it is based on a true story makes it more impactful, as well as the real footage they include of children getting kidnapped at the start of the movie.
The movie is described as a thriller, because the main character saves a little boy and then his sister from pitiless human traffickers. However, it is really a commentary on the issue, as it raises awareness of these real life problems and goes through a story that really happened with people that actually exist.
At the end of the movie, they show the real footage of scenes that happened in the movie, as well as the real faces of various characters. Watching this movie will give you a deep desire to help solve the problem of trafficking.
Sonny Bustamante, leader of the Truth Be Told club, when interviewed about the movie said that the “Sound of Freedom has a message that is very, very difficult to hear. But it’s one that everybody needs to hear. It sheds light on extremely important issues and learning about them is the first step to overcoming these issues. Everybody should watch this movie.”
If you have a suspicion of someone being a victim of trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888. They are available 24/7 to take reports. You can also text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733, and contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline Web Chat via www.humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
Report missing children or child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) or through the Cybertipline.
