human trafficing in our own back yard...

Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of “Very Young
Girls” on display at the Redemption Theatre in Blue Island

Very Young Girls is an exposé of the commercial sexual exploitation of girls in New
York City as they are sold on the streets by pimps, and treated as adult criminals
by police.

Chicago, IL, Wednesday, May 25, 2011: This world-acclaimed documentary “Very Young
Girls” exposes the truth of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation to bring awareness to
the plight of urban girls. The SCREENING &DISCUSSION will be at the Genesis on the Ave
5811 W Chicago Avenue, Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 5:30-8:30p.m. This event will be
hosted by GEMS Council of Daughters Sisters of Chicagoland & Co-Hosted with Roman
Morrow, Former Candidate 29th Ward Alderman.

This issue is partially poignant because of the recent surge of missing and exploited children in
the Chicagoland area. Between 16,000 and 24,000 women and girls are impacted by the sex
trade in Chicago every day (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation). Very Young Girls is an exposé of the
commercial sexual exploitation of girls in New York City as they are sold on the streets by pimps,
and treated as adult criminals by police. The film follows barely-adolescent girls in real time,
using vérité and intimate interviews with them, documenting their struggles and triumphs as
they seek to exit the commercial sex industry. The film also uses startling footage shot by pimps
themselves, giving a rare glimpse into how the cycle of exploitation begins for many women.

The film identifies hope for these girls in the organization GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring
Services), a recovery agency founded and run by Rachel Lloyd, herself a survivor of sexual
exploitation. GEMS is committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation and domestic
trafficking of children by changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and
revolutionizing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth. Very Young Girls
will change the way law enforcement, the media, and society as a whole look at sexual
exploitation, street prostitution and human trafficking that is happening right in our own
backyard.

For Release 7p.m. CST, May 13, 2011