BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – With the explosive Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial underway, it’s bringing abusive relationships into the national spotlight.
Those violent encounters are also happening right here in the Mountain State.
The US Attorney’s Office for Southern West Virginia says it’s dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse with every available resource.
“It gives us the opportunity to educate our community about what human trafficking or sex trafficking looks like,” said AWAY (formerly Women’s Resource Center) Executive Director Reginia Thomas. “Isolation, they usually target vulnerable people or people who lack that socioeconomic resource. Perpetrators are knowledgeable on who they can sway or bring into their realm of this type of victimization.”
The graphic nature of Combs’ allegations and evidence against him shows there isn’t a perfect description of an abuser, from prominent global figures to those among us.
“With a domestic violence situation — whether it be with sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, there is no one size fits all with what that person would look like,” Thomas said. “It could be your next door neighbor. It could be a cook at a restaurant, it could be the pastor at a church.”
Combs’ 24-hour news cycle trial could be triggering for survivors.
“We do have a counselor, support counselor on staff,” said Thomas, adding they are easily accessible, 24-7. “Speak to a crisis advocate; we are here for you. And all our services are free and confidential.”
The challenge is coming out of the shadows to seek help.
“It’s dangerous for a victim when they attempt to leave their abuser or traffickers. That’s their support system,” Thomas said. “That’s how they’re surviving economically. And they see them as family. We can help them get a safety plan together for them to escape.”
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline — on average, it takes a victim seven times to leave before staying away for good.
“That abuser is losing their power and control and it angers them. They may threaten them ‘I’m going to kill you’ or, ‘I’m going to do something to your family member.’ It’s not so cut and dry that they can leave any time they want,” said Thomas.
With Combs’ trial on such a national platform, survivors can know they are not alone, because it’s not always evident who else has been victimized.
“Just to have that community and support group, I think could be very empowering for them,” Thomas said. “It’s up to each individual to decide when it’s their time to share or if they ever want to share.”
FOR SUPPORT
AWAY (Formerly Women’s Resource Center)
304-255-2559
