California’s Forgotten Children is a feature documentary about child sex trafficking. The film recounts true stories of girls and boys who were commercially sexually exploited in California and are now survivors and courageous leaders fighting for the rights of victims worldwide.
When one thinks of the terms human trafficking and sex trafficking, the mind might turn to images of young women and children in places like Eastern Europe or South America being preyed on by men, smuggled over borders and forced into hellish conditions and sex slavery.
Whilst this is a very real problem, Melody C. Miller‘s documentary reveals that the issue is a lot closer to home. It highlights the scale of domestic sex trafficking within the United States, with the focus on the state of California.
Statistics represent the stark reality of life for these forgotten children. 2000 children go missing in America every single day. Many come from the fostering programme and end up being swallowed up into this heinous world. A world that preys on youth and is a billion dollar industry.
It is an eye-opening, shocking and heartbreaking expose of the incredible damage, pain and trauma caused by a life of coercion and exploitation.
Told by the very people who were groomed, abused and ultimately escaped that life. These are not victims, they are survivors and say so in their own, incredibly powerful words.
As harrowing as it is to hear these first hand experiences, this is a film that seeks to turn a negative into a positive. By highlighting and raising awareness, similar to the survivors, it seeks to take control of the narrative and destiny of those affected. Miller develops a full picture by speaking to as wide a spectrum of people as possible. From survivors to law enforcement officers, campaigners, lawyers, etc. What it does is demonstrates the will that exists to make change in the world.
At the moment, the young girls forced into the industry are treated more severely than the men who abuse them. One of the changes required is to stop the criminalisation of the girls who are victims, not offenders.
There is much work still to be done but Melody C. Miller’s film provides a vital voice. Ensuring Children’s Forgotten Children are no longer forgotten.
California’s Forgotten Children is available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play.
Rating: 
Director: Melody C. Miller
Runtime: 94 minutes
Country: USA
