RECRUITMENT, EXPERIENCES, AND FLEEING: THE AGGRAVATING CYCLE OF TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION This section describes the recruitment process and experiences of trafficked and prostituted women and children. It also details the experiences of women and children who are currently in this situation, and how they were able to flee only to find themselves returning to prostitution. Here, the transition from trafficking to continuing prostitution is described. Among the 18 respondents, the median age when they were recruited is 15.7 years old. The youngest victim who was recruited is 9 years old, who was pimped as a “shine girl” (usually offers “hand/blow jobs”). Moreover, one respondent was recruited to work in a bar when she was still 12 years old and was transported to Mati City, Davao Oriental. Upon reaching the place, she was immediately forced to have sex with customers. Among the respondents, fourteen (14) were still minors when they were recruited. This means that their age put them in vulnerable situation and at risk of being trafficked or forced into prostitution. The vulnerability of minors/young children is further grasped in the number of years that these women and children are in prostitution. Among the respondents, one of them has been in prostitution for 22 9