338: Survivor Alia Azariah – From Online Victim to Advocate for Youth and Aftercare

Alia Azariah joins Dr. Sandie Morgan to discuss her journey from being an online victim of trafficking to becoming an advocate for youth and aftercare. Alia Azariah Alia Azariah is a passionate advocate and survivor dedicated to ending human trafficking and empowering those affected by this grave violation of human rights. Her focus lies in creating safe and sustainable communities through education and advocacy, service provision, and social justice. With a combination of professional knowledge, personal experience, and compassion, she works diligently at both local and national levels to create lasting change in the lives of trafficking survivors through specialized training and safe housing initiatives. Key Points Alia shares her personal experience of being groomed and trafficked through social media, emphasizing how vulnerabilities prior to being online contributed to her exploitation. She describes how traffickers use psychological tactics, such as fulfilling unmet emotional needs, to build trust and manipulate victims. The lack of awareness about the dangers of social media during the early days of platforms like MySpace contributed to the ease of exploitation. Alia explains how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs helps in understanding vulnerability beyond just economic hardship, showing how traffickers exploit various unmet needs. Traffickers deliberately create or exploit a sense of dependence, offering victims what seems like support or love to gain control. She discusses the importance of community and long-term support in a survivor’s healing journey, highlighting that recovery requires more than just therapy or shelter. Alia emphasizes the need for survivor inclusion in leadership roles, pushing for organizations to provide survivors with professional development opportunities rather than limiting them to direct care roles. She challenges organizations to evaluate their approach to survivor leadership, advocating for hiring based on character and potential rather than just experience. The conversation highlights the gaps in services for minors exiting trafficking, emphasizing the critical need for effective emergency stabilization solutions in the first six months post-exploitation. Alia advocates for policy changes at local, state, and national levels to improve services for trafficking survivors, particularly minors. As a mother, she applies her knowledge by implementing strict social media guidelines for her children and having ongoing discussions about online safety. She will be participating in the Insure Justice conference, where discussions on improving survivor resources and policy will continue. Resources Alia Azariah on LinkedIn Safe House Project Transcript [00:00:00] Sandie: Welcome to the ending human trafficking podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. This is episode number 338 survivor alia Azariah, from online victim to serving youth and aftercare. My name is Dr. Sandy Morgan, and this is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice and make a difference in ending human trafficking. [00:00:35] Alia Azariah is a passionate advocate and survivor dedicated to ending human trafficking and empowering those affected by this grave violation of human rights. [00:00:49] Her focus lies in creating safe and sustainable communities through education, advocacy, service provision, and social justice with a combination of professional knowledge, personal experience, and compassion. She works diligently at both local and national levels to create lasting change in the lives of trafficking survivors through specialized training and safe housing initiatives. [00:01:22] Alia, it is such a delight to have you on the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. And as I was reading your bio, it sounded like you've been part of Global Center for Women and Justice for years.

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