Danielle Obenhaus told an audience at the State House last Wednesday that initially she would look no different than the rest of us.

But, as a survivor of child sex trafficking, she assured she is despite appearances. She spoke about how at a young age everyone is confused. We all believe our problems to be insolvable and we contemplate running away.

“I did run away,” Obenhaus said. “I ran away and ran right into a man who promised to love me and solve all my problems.”

At only 13 she was brought into the child sex trade, her pimp making a profit off her suffering.

Now 23, Obenhaus is one of the very few to successfully escape trafficking and works at Day One, a sexual assault and trauma center based in Providence, as a mentor coordinator. She works with young trafficked girls still under the control of their pimps, encouraging them to leave and providing the example of what can happen when you do.

“My pimp destroyed me in every way possible,” she said. “He’s ruined me for the rest of my life.”

Although she did escape, she admitted that it’s extremely hard to; there is fear of the pimp and what they may do if you try, the psychological hold they have over victims. Not to mention these individuals lack any financials, experience flashback anxiety attacks and depression.

“It’s a long, hard road to come out successful on the other side,” Obenhaus said.

As much as we hope stories like Obenhaus’ are few and far between, the trafficking of children is an increasing problem not only in Rhode Island but globally.

Peg Langhammer, executive director for Day One, said that human trafficking is a $32 billion industry, with upwards of 300,000 underage girls being sold for sex in America alone.

In an effort to combat trafficking and sexual exploitation of children within the state, Day One, along with the Rhode Island Human Trafficking Task Force, announced a new “coordinated, streamlined” protocol for the identification, reporting and protection of trafficked victims at the State House on Wednesday morning.

“This protocol is a guide for everyone. What to look for, the questions to ask, who to call and how to help a child that may be being trafficked,” Langhammer said.

In Rhode Island the average age of a trafficked child is 15 and are both male, female and transgender youth, who can be “sold” anywhere from 10 to 15 times a day.

State, local and federal agencies came together for the creation of the protocol, including the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), the Aubin Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office, the United States Attorneys Office and other social service organizations and law enforcement agencies.

Governor Gina Raimondo said, “These are our daughters, friends people in our community, and we owe them a Rhode Island where they can be safe and secure.”

She said that all of New England is facing a “serious problem” when it comes to the growing child sex trade and said as a state we must do more.

She commended the agencies for coming together over this issue and was happy to know that those trafficked children would be recognized as the victims they are rather than being criminalized, getting access to the critical resources they need.

Raimondo also encouraged across the board prevention initiatives because many traffickers prey on the most vulnerable and if as a state we can provide the support needed for those children initially, we can possibly prevent a child to falling into the hands of a trafficker. She said many children running from foster care are brought into the world of sex trafficking.

According to Day One, one third of teens, within 48 hours from running away from home, will be lured towards prostitution and anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of child trafficking victims have a history of sexual abuse.

Dr. Christine Barron works for the Aubin Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, which assesses and treats potentially abused and neglected children and has worked alongside the task force since its inception.

Having seen many cases of abuse and neglect she also called for prevention.

“Even if it saves just one child from this it’s worth it,” she said.”

Despite her profession, Barron admitted that before working with the task force she didn’t always recognize trafficked children and looking back she can think of those patients that would fit the profile. One concern for her is that nationally there is no standardized protocol within the medical profession of how exactly to deal with trafficking victims.

“We can all do a better job,” Barron said. “Despite being a sobering topic, I am hopeful this will be a strong foundation to see real changes and improvements.”

Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed said that the task force would receive support from both chambers and said the new protocol would change the way we address and prosecute cases of child trafficking.

“This topic often escapes the public conscious because it’s not an easy topic to talk about,” she said. “Education, awareness and training are critical in giving this state an upper hand in fighting trafficking.”

Langhammer said, “These are our kids and they are in every community statewide. This is a call to action that we bring an end to this.”

Now the task force will focus on providing training sessions, one of which will take place in Warwick at the Warwick Public Library on March 2 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on the protocol, Day One or the training sessions visit www.dayoneri.org.