McNuggets for Sex in Australia

Apparently in Brisbane, Australia, the payment to a child trafficking victim can be as little as a serving of chicken nuggets and shelter.

27-year-old Ronald Vikrash Gander was already living with his underage girlfriend in Brisbane, Australia when he became a pimp.  In June 2008, his girlfriend's teen friend ran away from home and sought shelter with Gander.  He told the runaway girl that in order to pay rent, she had to prostitute herself.  Gander placed ads in local newspapers and began to sell the young girl to men, primarily in their 40s - 60s, for sex.  After each encounter, Gander would buy the girl chicken nuggets as a "reward".  It was also the only form of payment she ever received.

Gander kept all the money the girl earned, which he said went to cover living expenses for the three of them, the car that drover her between buyers, and of course- the chicken nuggets.  She eventually told her guidance counselor and school what was happening, and is now safe.

This story shows that manipulative pimps can easily control children, especially vulnerable ones like runaways, with very simple things.  A reward of her favorite food may have been enough to keep this girl under pimp control, just like promises of love, safety, or money are for other girls.  It's also a reason pimping children is so lucrative- his only expenditure was chicken nuggets.  We can prevent child trafficking from being so lucrative reducing demand from buyers and educating and supporting young girls.