The abuse and trafficking of women and children is and has been a long-standing issue in the country and the world.

I'm a survivor and was raised by a single mother who is also a survivor. I know firsthand the struggles women and children in this situation have to deal with. Many never escape their situations because they have nowhere to go, no way to get out, and no support when they leave. Many abuse and trafficking victims get financially trapped, which makes escaping impossible.

If they are somehow able to escape their situation, that's just the beginning. After escaping, the survivor will need somewhere safe to go, trauma-focused therapy, and support to rebuild.

Shoto Sanctuary aims to be that support system. We help women and children escape, get access to mental-health providers, housing, lawyers, and rebuild their lives. With all the craziness going on in the world right now, the survivors are falling through the cracks and ignored.

I refuse to let these women and children continue to suffer. I refuse to ignore their cries, hoping that someone else will step up to help them. I refuse to force them to depend on organizations that ignore them or only provide support that looks good in the media.

The systems that were supposed to protect these women and children have been compromised and have been failing them. If we care about this, it's up to us to protect them.

Any support you provide will help. If you've been looking for a way to help and get involved, this is a start.