Why I Chose This Book
I chose The Road of Lost Innocence to learn a little more about human trafficking worldwide and also to learn more about Cambodia, a country I hope to visit within the next few years.
About the Book
Written as an autobiography of Somaly Mam, the founder of several successful foundations to combat human trafficking and rescue and rehabilitate former prostitutes in Southeast Asia, this book was a very insightful and quick read. Somaly Mam’s story is not unique to so many others who grew up in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and are still growing up today, but her journey out of the circle of prostitution and how she decided to turn her experience and understanding into an incredibly positive force is really amazing.
Thoughts
Reading this makes me think twice about the ethics of many aspects of tourism. While I can’t think of any situations where I’ve encountered children or young women I’ve thought were victims of prostitution, I have seen plenty of children selling jewelry, cigarettes, and candy in publics spaces and I know they must be reporting to someone who does not have their best interest at heart. While it may seem like buying from those kids would help them, I know that often it just helps perpetuate the practice and it’s best to avoid that altogether and hopefully break the cycle.