Human Trafficking

BREAKING THE CHAINS OF MODERN DAY SLAVERY

For most Americans, “slavery” is a word of the past. A word that brings up visions of U.S. History class in junior high school and stories about African Americans on southern plantations. However, slavery is a man-made disaster that remains hidden from the front pages of our newspapers and out of the headlines of the blogs we read.

Hurricane Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami of 2004 are both catastrophic events that you can probably recall vividly. You know where you were, and what you felt… but every day, the laws against human trafficking go without enforcement, and unnoticed. We need people to stand and put an end to this disgusting practice face to face.

The U.S. Department of State reports that of the 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked across our borders, nearly 80% are women and 70% are sold for sexual exploitation. Many are tricked into leaving their homes with the hopes of a better life, while others are forced into drug addictions to be kept under control. They may even be sold by their own families to pay off debts.

UNICEF estimates that approximately one million children are forced into the commercial sex trade, and are the most vulnerable demographic for spreading the HIV virus. For these kids, there is no “safe sex” option; they’re forced into unsafe, demoralizing sexual encounters several times a day with “customers” bartering for their innocence.

Why hasn’t there been a public outcry for the prevention and elimination of human trafficking? Unfortunately, the problem is a complex web of secrecy and distance. It is not hard to find the victims of human trafficking, but because of the susceptibility of low level law enforcement to accept bribes and overlook the practices of human trafficking, the activities go unchecked. In addition, the majority of victims are overseas. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world…” That means the whole world, regardless of whether or not they speak a different language, or live with different cultural values. Until we can love the world indiscriminately, we will not look beyond our air conditioned living rooms and run of the mill shopping plazas.

I call you to care. To inform. To act. Simply praying for the victims and making it a topic that you are passionate about are all you need to begin the process of making a tangible difference in our world. Increase public awareness by talking about the enforcement (or lack there of) of the Protect Act, which prosecutes those who travel overseas and participate in sexual encounters with trafficking victims. This will not be an epidemic wiped out overnight. We will need to be vigilant and determined.

“This is the duty of our generation as we enter the twenty-first century—solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanizing meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others.” -ELIE WIESEL

GIVE BACK

Make a donation to an anti trafficking fund to assist the victims of human trafficking.

GET EDUCATED

Learn about the TIP (Trafficking in Persons) Report. This is a report released by the State Department that ranks countries based on their compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Then spread the word.

GET INVOLVED

Become an activist for Human Trafficking and read the article “Preparing for a Career in Human Rights” by Gary Haugen on the IJM website.

OUR GOAL:

Raise awareness and demand action. Using our voice and our vote to create change in America and Internationally. Create a “safe place” for these children to find refuge and support advocates who will rescue them.

OUR PARTNERS:

International Justice Mission
Branded PHX
Streetlight PHX
Servant Works