Human trafficking is something that sounds like it happens in other parts of the world. The sad fact is, human trafficking occurs right here in Arizona, in our own communities and neighborhoods. Once a young girl or boy is victimized and “branded” it is extremely difficult for them to escape their captors. But now, a local organization is offering them hope and a fresh start.
Many times trafficking victims are tattooed or “branded” by their captors. This is done primarily to manipulate the victim creating a distinctive mark to indicate a trafficker’s “property.” When and if a survivor is able to escape, they are left with these visible marks on their body as a painful and constant reminder of their past.
Soul Survivor Ink., is a non-profit organization that helps survivors of human trafficking heal from their painful past by “branding” tattoo lightening or removal by using a proprietary and revolutionary procedure.
Gina Jernukian is the founder and CEO of Soul Survivor Ink which she started in 2014. In 2020 alone, they helped more than 1,000 victims break free from their past and start anew. She is trying to raise awareness of this problem and let victims know there are people and organizations available to help them.
Jernukian has been in the cosmetic and beauty industry for 21 years. She is a permanent makeup artist certified in paramedical tattooing. Once she started removing tattoos, she began noticing some odd ones that caught her attention. After speaking with a psychologist, she was able to identify that they were people who had been trafficked and the odd tattoos she was seeing were “brandings” given to them by their captors. It was after doing some research and learning that more than 90% of victims in America get branded, tattooing being the most common form. She decided to quit her job and dedicate all her efforts to helping victims of human trafficking.
One of the trafficking survivors shared how liberating it was to rid herself of this physical reminder of her former life. “I am so grateful to Soul Survivor for covering my many brandings,” said Alice B. “I can look at myself now and not constantly be reminded of my past.”
Soul Survivor Ink works to get “scholarships” or donations to cover the costs for these procedures. Typically, there is no charge to the victim.
Soul Survivor Ink is not limited to helping people in Arizona alone. They coordinate with local community organizations in 16 states and 31 cities nationwide to refer victims to safe, certified and trained technicians that can help them with their “branding” removal or covering.
“We work to give the victims a chance to breathe again,” Jernukian said.