♪♪ - I didn't realize the weight that I carry.

I think it was just this couple of weeks when people come up to me and asked me, "Are you okay?"

(ferris wheel engine roaring) And I'm so afraid of breaking apart after the trial.

I don't know if I can go through it again.

You never be ready for that.

♪ (ominous music) ♪ We were told it was a job.

We were not told that that's never how a child should be treated.

I don't wanna use my past to bury me alive.

I wanna empower myself to do something right.

To have that freedom to be who I wanna be, to live how I wanna live.

And for me, it was time to go back to Cambodia.

(birds chirping) (dogs barking) (speaking in foreign language) - I was born behind Svay Pak.

It was hard 'cause it was very violent.

When the sun go down, we weren't supposed to go out or allowed to go out.

So during the daytime, I definitely tried to take advantage of it.

To just run around.

And I loved to plant things.

I used to go steal my neighbor's flowers and the seed in it so I can plant it.

To me, it was the best moment of my life.

I didn't expect much.

I think I have to grow up really quick, that I didn't know how to be a child.

My mom had 13 kids and I don't know half of them.

As far as I know with my mom with just her last husband, they have six kids together, but one passed away and I don't know what happened to the other one, but there's four of us now.

My sister, we live together at AIM, but my youngest brothers, we got separated when they were baby.

- [Interviewer] Was there a point where something happened?

- Yeah, it all happened so quick.

I remember when it began.

There's a fire.

We were sleeping, taking a nap with my baby brothers.

The fire was behind our house and the stuff that we have, for us, we were so poor and we were already struggle.

When it happened, we just had to leave it all behind.

There's no picture of us when we were baby or when I was kid.

My mom was able to save one.

To just stand across the field and watch everything that we have and my flowers and the land that I used to play at, it was just all burnt.

From then on, we barely survive.

We live in a tent and we did whatever we could to survive.

Now that I'm actually here, I have that fear of what if?

What if I can't and what if it's too hard?

And what if I'm just not able to?

Being in the same place that traumatized me in the first place, I'm in it again.

You can still see the poverty that existed, but it was also cool to see there's so many tall building and a fancy store, which is really cool.

And Starbucks, I love that (chuckles).

(motorcycle engine roaring) That was seven year of not being in Cambodian and went back so it was a really drastic change.

I was such a good girl and I was a mama's girl.

She have a way of, I don't know, you can say wrap people around her finger.

I truly believe that she care and that she sacrificed for my life.

I was such a fool that I believed that.

- Reaksmey is a Cambodian girl that was sold by her mother at the age of nine.

Her mother sold her to a trafficker who sold her to an American pedophile.

She was with him week after week after week, suffering trauma at a depth we can't imagine.

They told us it was the worst case of child abuse they had ever seen.

- [Man] How old do you want?

Like under 10 or older than 10?

- Whatever, 10, it's good, yeah.

- [Man] If I have the girl with you, what do you want?

- Yes, I'd like a young girl.

- [Woman] I want to confirm, how old do you want?

- You have a virgin?

- [Man] Yes, but how old?

- If possible 14.

- [Woman] Girls, how old do you want?

- Young.

- [Woman] How old?

- What the youngest?

- [Woman] Huh?

- The youngest?

♪ (ominous music) ♪ - There was a bunch of cops.

I don't even remember how many.

(speaking in foreign language) - I was really scared because I didn't know what to expect.

I didn't know that we committed crime.

To us, we were in danger.

Not able to trust.

They were separating me from my mom who I know, who I thought was my protector.

She was in prison for almost a year.

I have to testify.

- [Interviewer] You testified to help your mom get out in Cambodia there?

- Yes.

I replay that all the time in my head.

We were told that the police is not gonna protect us.

We were gonna be arrested and put in jail.

And that was just so confusing.

Who's protecting me?

What's gonna happen with me?

- When we started the SWAT team, we needed to make sure that they were really victim centered rescues.

And when we do a raid, there are social workers who are actually rescued victims that have gone through the program and then went to school to become a social worker.

So when they come in, they're not just trained on how to handle someone that's in a traumatic situation, they've been through it themselves.

And that's made all the difference in the world.

- To go back and help and rescue girls and to be the one that say, "Hey, come into our arm and you're safe.

"Everything's going to be fine.

"You're not in trouble.

"It's not your fault."

To be able to have that, I think for me as a child, I think it would help tremendously.

For the longest time, I thought I did something wrong.

I felt so ashamed and I couldn't accept who I am.

And the truth is the worst and the good define who I am and who I will become in the future.

So I could have been bitter about what happened.

I could have blamed so many things on people, on God, but I chose to use those to make a difference and keep going.

- She was asked to testify here in California against the pedophile who had been torturing her.

11 years old in a foreign courtroom with the man who had abused her 15 feet away smiling at her.

- Looking at a man that make you feel so worthless.

And to have to tell and describe everything that happened and then somebody questioning if it was the truth, it was horrifying.

It was upsetting.

It was humiliating.

- In over an hour of testimony, it ended up in this man being convicted and sentenced to 220 years in prison.

What amazing courage.

(audience clapping) (boat engine roaring) - You came and changed my whole perspective of men.

But I did not like you guys at first.

I mean, I grow to like you.

- Well, that's very nice.

(Reaksmey and Bridget laughing) I've always appreciated that.

- I wouldn't be able to describe why I was so mean to him then, but now I'm like, "Wow, well, I get it."

The first time I met Don, I was so afraid of him because he was an American, but he want nothing in return from me.

He wanted me to know how much I'm worth and that I'm not a victim.

He always said that we are heroes.

(children and staff chatting) - The photo you see there is the day that Reaksmey was brought to our aftercare home.

And the healing process began.

(audience cheering) - When I went to the restoration home for the first time, the word that I would describe it was heaven.

(singing in foreign language) I felt safe there.

It was a home.

Oh, it was beautiful.

The waterfall on the rock and the nature.

So many trees, mango tree and there's a pool.

It was like I was in a dream.

And then walking into our room.

♪ (upbeat music) ♪ My bed, to have a bed.

And there was this doll.

I used to make a doll from a towel.

- [Interviewer] What was your first day like at ARC?

(speaking in foreign language) - I remember my princess ceremony.

We sing and then we ate after.

I have a crown placed on my head.

Every girl want to be a princess.

It was the beginning of something great.

(speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (laughing altogether) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (Reaksmey laughs) - I think it was frustrating for both of us because she's like, "Can you tell me how you feel?"

And I'm like, "I can't, I don't know.

"I can't describe it."

It was just hard to breathe.

I can't explain how I feel.

Having a safe place to just fall apart is very important for me because I don't wanna seem weak in front of people.

And it was that moment that I would sit and cry for 40 minutes.

For me, that was like, okay, that was good.

(speaking in foreign language) - She wasn't just a counselor.

She showed me what I'm capable of.

And she was protecting me from the truth.

She knew what the truth would do to me.

- She was reintegrated to a family here in California.

And she was supported to graduate from high school, graduate from cosmetology school, get a California license to be a beautician.

As life went on, she got to experience a different kind of love, romance.

She met a great guy.

They fell in love and were married.

♪ (upbeat music) ♪ - It was hard to have somebody that loved me and to be able to just accept that because it was so new.

- She decided that she had a creativity that wasn't being used as a beautician.

So she chose to quit and start her own business.

And she started a business making and designing jewelry and she's wearing one of her creations right there.

And you may wonder why isn't she here telling that story?

Well, the reason is she closed that company and two weeks ago, she and her husband moved to Cambodia.

Today, she's in Svay Pak in our employment center teaching other girls how to make and design jewelry, giving them freedom that they never had.

- Hello, it's me.

You know me girl (laughs).

(speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (vehicle engines roaring) - In my family, there's no one that actually have real wedding.

And I was able to have a ceremony in America for my host family that is in America and Sam's family for them to be a part of.

And this is just something that I wanted to do for my birth family.

It's his first time meeting my family.

And for me, it was a lot of emotion.

I honestly don't know if I was happy or if I was more anxious.

Now, every time we see each other, I am trying to do the best I can.

I just don't understand how could she ever do that?

She was so twisted.

From my memory, she was always in a neighbor's house playing card game, but somehow we never have enough money.

I don't know how I do it because I wanna run away from her.

I want my peace so bad, but somehow I felt like I need to be in her life.

(speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - To see the way my mom thinks that we owe her something, it was hard to love her.

At eight years old, I don't have to take care of the household.

I don't have to take all of those weight by myself.

And I surely didn't have to put in a position where I would be exploited or abused.

And yet, somehow she had the audacity to tell me that she sacrificed for me when all my whole life is as I could remember, I was the one that doing the sacrifice.

I was the one that putting myself in harm's way for my family.

(speaking in foreign language) - I think in that moment I lost it and I told her the truth that sadly, I was the parent in this household.

♪ (mid tempo music) ♪ My mom never told me to be selfless.

My mom told me to take.

Take advantage of the people around me.

(speaking in foreign language) (students clapping) - Mak Mom always tell me to serve, to encourage, to educate and empower.

To be able to have somebody that tell me even when you are a child, you can dream however big you want, that's empowering.

And I love, I love and I am proud of who I am and I'm still working on improving, but at least I'm allowed to do that.

(speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) ♪ (mid tempo music) ♪ (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (laughing altogether) (speaking foreign language) - I love you guys.

- I love you too.

- Thank you.

Bopha, (speaking foreign language)?

(speaking foreign language) (motorcycle engine roaring) ♪ (uplifting music) ♪ Some people think, "Oh, you rescue girl, "that's good enough."

It's not good enough.

You don't stop trafficking that way.

You liberate the girls.

And then they go on and liberate other girls.

That should be the cycle.

And who better to tell them than someone that have been in their shoes.

Prevention, rescue, restoration and re-integration.

The four aspects of stopping human trafficking.

The only way for it to function and to work, it need the full foundation.

I remember when my parents put me into school and I was able to attend.

I think the most was two week because we couldn't afford it anymore.

If I had something like this, I would have been able to go to school and be normal.

All right, I have decided that I'm gonna be a little girl and I'm gonna register.

Okay, I like bathroom.

It's very important to me.

Wow!

That's a privilege to have a bathroom like this.

it's so much better, it's beautiful.

There's so much love put into this.

I think this is the greatest thing that AIM have accomplished and they've accomplished so many great things, but this is beyond.

1500 kids, it's too cool.

It's too good to be true.

So I don't know.

There's a computer lab!

What the heck!

Alright, don't go on YouTube.

(laughing) Stay focused, you guys.

Type, type, type!

Oh this is so cool!

Wow.

Can I steal one of this?

Like, I wanna take it home.

(motorcycle engine roaring) I wanna take it.

(laughing) - You know what has amazed me, 'cause you're spirited right?

You have a strong spirit.

You never once got angry with me.

- I never?

I felt like I have.

- Oh, you have, many times.

That was a joke.

(laughing altogether) - No, because I couldn't decide whether I wanna love you guys or I don't.

And you were there.

And I'm like, "I wanna be able to feel like I could let go "and take the walls down."

And, like, I felt so bad now that I think that he doesn't know.

Like, you didn't- I don't think you knew what to do.

It was the first time that I actually was able to- Like, 'cause I feel safe.

Like, I was so angry, but I can't express it to them because it's not a safe place.

So, Don was my safe place to be my punching bag.

(speaking in foreign language) - Wow, I like that.

I like this whole thing.

I can't hit.

(speaking foreign language) (speaking foreign language) (Reaksmey laughs) - I'm married, I'm a woman now.

And finally, I discovered the truth that, wow, there were some ugly thing that happened and you protected me.

You never wanted to make me hate my parents.

(motorcycle engine roaring) I think that is just amazing.

♪ (mid tempo music) ♪ You know how you always tell us about Abraham Lincoln fighting to free slaves and he was your hero and this freedom fighter.

And then, that's you to me.

I will tell my children.

And I realized that yeah, I have a dream and that was to be Don and Bridget.

(children chatting and shouting) (singing in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - We're hearing the argument in United States vs Pepe.

- Good morning, may it please the court.

I'm James Lockland, I represent the appellant Michael Pepe.

I'd like to focus this morning on the statute under which Mr. Pepe was charged in conviction.

That's 2423C, which makes it a crime for U.S citizen to travel in foreign commerce and then engage in sexual acts in a foreign country.

The first question is whether that act applies to people who are residents of the foreign country?

- What you're saying is the statute doesn't apply to an American citizen who doesn't travel, he just lives in a foreign country?

- Correct, so if the statute doesn't apply to such residents then his convictions must be reversed.

- The particular statutory language of traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in illicit conduct, it seems to fit.

- I disagree, your honor, because I feel that when in a certain factual scenario, the court applies a statute and says it can be applied for these reasons because we're addressing these arguments that are being raised by counsel.

This particular issue was never before the court so it never ruled on this issue.

It was never raised by the parties, but of course encompassing all of this too, the last thing the court has to remember is the rule of Leonetti which means to the extent there's any ambiguity about whether residents are covered has to be resolved in Mr. Pepe's favor.

(ominous music) - In a week, I'm gonna be sitting across from the man that... (thunder rumbling) ♪ (ominous music) ♪ But I get to look back and see this young child and I get to feel for her.

As hard as it was going through the preparation for the trial, it was good for me because I have so much closure.

And it's nice because I don't have to be strong.

I don't have to say that I'm okay.

I can say I'm okay with being this hurt and allow myself to say "it's ok to go through this.

You don't have to be strong all the time."

♪ (gentle music) ♪ (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (laughing altogether) - [Male Reporter] Hundreds if not thousands of people arrested around California are not getting a chance to see a judge because of a temporary stop to almost all of court proceedings.

Every single case, other than a few exceptional emergencies, will be on hold at least until April.

- [Female Reporter] A health organization has officially labeled this a global pandemic.

And here's what it looks like right now.

- The trial just got postponed because of the coronavirus.

And we don't know for certain when it's gonna take place and that is very disappointing.

- [Female Reporter] Now, more than 1000 confirmed cases across this country.

But there is concern that the real number is much, much- - It's been an emotional rollercoaster, honestly.

And it was just so hard for me.

I feel like I'm losing control of everything that this uncertainty and high expectation...

It's very confusing.

- [Female Reporter] Coronavirus headlines throughout the day and many fear that this is only the beginning.

- [Male Reporter] Mr. President, a lot of people are concerned about how long all of this might last?

- [Mr. President] People are talking about July, August, something like that.

- I've forgiven him, but I would never put any child at risk.

If I have to do everything in my power to keep him locked up, that's what I'd do because that's the right thing.

♪ (mid tempo music) ♪ True freedom is when you get to speak out and inspire somebody else to stand up.

(birds chirping) You can either use this crazy thing to break you or use it to make you better.

It really is about who you want to become.

Just arrived in Cambodia.

It's been a long travel.

With the COVID-19 and all, but I made it fine and now I'm on my way home.

And gotta drop off some food for the people that are in quarantine.

So, I am on a mission and yeah, hopefully, I'll be able to help during this time.

The question that we all should ask, who do we want to become?

Then we get to motivate ourself to start doing something and make some changes.

You open up yourself to see the needs in the world 'cause when we stop thinking about ourselves, when we start caring about others, that's who I wanna be.

Live with passionate love for other people around you, for a cause.

Live to inspire.

And live to tell stories.

♪ (upbeat music) ♪