Human Trafficking

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Every July 30th marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Hebrews 11: By faith Abraham…set out for a place…not knowing where he was going. At any given time, 20-27 million people, not knowing where they are going, end up trafficked into abusive labor situations, indentured servitude and sex slavery. Trafficking is modern-day slavery; the second largest and fastest growing illegal trade in the world, valued at around $32 billion.

The U.S. isn’t exempt from human trafficking within our borders, one of the factors that increasingly drives U.S. faith-based groups to this issue, bringing it and its victims into their congregations. Evangelical Christians were key passing the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which prevents the quick deportation of many migrant children. More than 3,800 religious leaders lead by Bishop Minerva Carcano, United Methodist Church, petitioned President Barack Obama to intervene on behalf of thousands of children fleeing violence in Central America. Cross-denominational Freedom Sundays, Freedom Shabbats and interfaith conferences are dedicated to this human exploitation, spread due to desperate circumstances over which victims have little control.

Refugees, prostitution and slavery are addressed in Christian, Jewish and Muslim scriptures, and many believe the fight against human trafficking is a moral and religious call. Rescue and rehabilitation have become top priorities.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Many people think the U.S. is immune to modern-day slavery; think again. Check out this informative visualization data by country and commodity. Then measure of your personal “slavery footprint”.

Trafficking is a serious crime. Report it. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center offers a help hotline for anyone who either suspects human trafficking or victims looking for help. The phone number is 1-888-373-7888.

Learn more. U.S. State Department has some good data resources to explore if you wish to learn more about the extent of this global scourge and what’s being done.

Fifteen ways you can help fight Human Trafficking: http://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/index.htm

On June 30, Secretary of State John Kerry told some haunting stories while delivering the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. This U.S. State Department report is "the world's most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-human trafficking efforts." It rates 190 nations on how effectively governments are tackling the human trafficking industry. CNN pulled together a comprehensive summary of this year’s findings. (Well done, CNN.)

Secretary Kerry noted, “All 20 million are people just like everybody here. They have names. They have or had families and they are enforced to endure a hell – a living hell in modern times that no human being should ever have to experience. In some places – particularly where violent extremists are able to find a contemporary safe haven – and I might add, a temporary safe haven – the atrocities are both rampant and overt. A 34-year-old survivor recalls approaching one of her captors in Syria, a member of the terrorist group Daesh. She pleaded with him to halt the incessant rape of a 12-year-old girl, telling the terrorist, “She’s just a little girl.” And he replied, “No. She’s not a little girl. She’s a slave.”

Illustration courtesy of League of Women Voters of Connecticut

The Global Refugee Crisis feeds human trafficking

The economies of conflict and human trafficking don’t just intersect, they reinforce each other. Conflict zones, lacking basic human security and the rule of law, are places where people are especially vulnerable. It’s the perfect storm -- violence, no legal protections, disrupted livelihoods, hunger and poverty, the breakdown of social systems.

The current global refugee and immigration crises – the largest since WWII -- has fed the growing and lucrative trafficking industry. Refugees may feel greater need to hire smugglers to escape current dangers, only to be sold into abusive labor situations, indentured servitude, prostitution and sex slavery; while debts owed to smugglers create additional conditions for trafficking.

With the risks of return so great for so many refugees – gang violence, rape, torture, murder -- refugees may be willing to put up with high levels of labor and sexual exploitation to avoid being returned to their dangerous country of origin.
Women and children, make up the majority of the world’s refugees, and the majority of those who are exploited. Children separated from parents are particularly vulnerable to being trafficked. Not to be forgotten, irregular armies are using forced labor, child soldiers and sex slaves in many of today’s conflicts.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Find out which companies are committed to insuring their products and services do not rely on slave labor and how you can help use your faith voice to influence other companies to do better.

Be a better shopper. Some of the biggest trafficking violators are in your cupboards and closets right now. We can all do better:
Chocolate: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/us/chocolate

Tea: Not My Cup of Tea

Fashion: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/us/fashion

Download the Better World Shopper or Free2work apps to help you make better choices when shopping.

Support Organizations that Employ Survivors. A few examples: Imani Jewelry (http://www.imanilove.com/) Trade as One (http://tradeasone.com/) Sak Saum (http://saksaum.com/)

Teach others. Stop The Traffick has a unique educational project called GiftBox.

Further complicating matters for women, the international presence -- foreign troops, nongovernmental staff and other outsiders -- creates demand for sex services. Disparities in power and resources can result in forced or coerced sex for survival. Prostitution is sometimes one of the only ways refugee women and their families can make money – and let’s face it, it’s tough to call it voluntary when you can’t feed your family otherwise.

According to Anne P. Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, better protection from the risks of human trafficking can be achieved with improvements in 5 areas: a refugee-centered philosophy, improved legal protections, shifts in relief and social assistance programs, focus on durable solutions for refugees, more information-sharing between those working on human trafficking and refugee issues.

“At the heart of any solution to the problem of trafficking risks for refugees is the need to recognize and support refugees’ talents, strengths, and agency. Refugees are often treated as disposable people, pawns in larger political games or the unwanted refuse of intractable conflicts. When refugees are able to participate in peacemaking, to contribute to the societies they join, and to support their families, the risk of being trafficked is reduced.”