Hear the Call

The Candy Shop

2011-07-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

The Candy Shop from Whitestone Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

A friend recently pointed me to this movie as an interesting look at child sex trafficking. It is a fairytale/parable and as such is not graphic in its details. (However, it is still dealing with a mature topic, so is not recommended for children.) I thought the movie itself was very well done and did an excellent job portraying the whole issue of child sex trafficking. For example, the man selling the candy (i.e. the children) showed clearly the kind of manipulation used in both getting children and in recruiting buyers. He didn't necessarily use violence, but he verbally manipulated them to do what he wanted them to do.

(Note: the rest of this review gives away the ending.)

At the end of the movie, when the candy started changing back into children, I was thinking, "That is not realistic! If a child has been sold and was used sexually, they can't just magically undo it!" I thought the whole movie had been ruined by making it seem that the solution was simple and quick. However, once the children came out and were presenting the box of broken pieces of candy, it made more sense. They had been able to rescue several children before any damage had been done. But there were also some who had already lost their innocence. (Although, in real life, there would be a lot more broken pieces.)

Finally, the very last scene showed that even though we may be able to rescue one group of children, that doesn't get rid of the issue completely. There are always more sellers and more buyers. Simply rescuing children doesn't solve the problem. Yes, it's much, much better than doing nothing at all. But we also need to work to stop child trafficking at the source - the men (and women) who purchase these precious young children.

Weekend of Fasting and Prayer

2010-09-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend, September 24th-26th, Women at Risk, International, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, is holding a time of prayer and fasting for the victims of s_x trafficking. They have a brochure available with more information and suggestions of specific things to pray for here (the link for the brochure is on the left side).

The Blind Project

2010-09-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Blind Project has run a design contest (called Be A Biographer) for an apparel line that benefits women coming out of the s_x trade. Three survivor stories are highlighted, and the designs are made to tell those stories. Kelsey Turner, one of the members of Hear the Call, entered three designs: Bound by Lies, Loved Now and Escaping the Cycle. Please consider voting for your favorite design in this contest, starting September 16th. Thank you!

Some Encouraging News

2010-08-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

After a two year legal battle, International Justice Mission was able to secure an anti-trafficking conviction in Cebu, The Philippines! This was the first conviction IJM was able to get there, and only the fourth in that region. The team there is hoping that this is the first of many such convictions, as they have many other cases in progress. Unfortunately, the way the legal system is set up there, it is not unusual for cases to take two to four years before the judge reaches a decision. Continue to pray for the many cases pending in The Philippines.
Not for Sale is building a Vocational Center in Lima, Peru where they can teach vulnerable people valuable vocational skills. Not only will this center be useful once it is built, but several men have been taught construction skills during the building of the center, enabling them to provide homes and schooling for their families, taking them off the streets and protecting them. Now local companies have begun recruiting these men! The next step in the process is to build the dormitories. Read more about this project here.
Want to learn about slavery in a more unconventional way? Check out this interactive website designed by a student for her senior project. Based on the book "Not for Sale" by David Batstone, this website lets you click your way through the story of a former slave and learn some of the facts of slavery at the same time.

Going on a Diet?

2010-08-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Kay Burrough (Firth-Butterfield) is going on a diet...the "Slave Diet." What does this mean? Well, starting August 9th and going as long as she is physically able, she will only be eating food that an Indian farm laborer in debt bondage would be able to eat. What a unique way to raise awareness of the issue of global slavery! And at the same time, she will be preparing for the class she will be teaching at St Edwards University, Austin, Texas on the issues of global slavery and human trafficking. To follow her as she goes through this diet, check out her blog: Slavery, street children...hunger.

2010-06-17T19:56:00.001-07:00

A lot of exciting things are taking place in the world of abolitionists these days. Here are some of the highlights:

Do you have any plans for Independance Day on July 4th? How about incorporating Free the Slaves' idea of declaring your independence from slavery this 4th of July? Free the Slaves encourages two actions this July 4th: take a picture creatively showing the word "free" (you can see examples on the page that describes this event) and raising money during your BBQs and parties to free a slave. Regardless of whether or not you join in this event, why don't you talk to your friends and family about the people around the world who do not have freedom?
Not for Sale is putting together a campaign called "Stop Them from Scoring" focused on raising awareness of the issue of slavery (especially child s_x slavery) in South Africa during the World Cup. This page describes the campaign. You can also see a video of part of their campaign, one to a video advertisement (I highly recommend watching this one - it's only a minute long). And here are the red cards they are handing out. Cards that say things like: "Last year, slave traders made R260 billion. That's more than Nike, Adidas and Puma combined." and "Enslaved children outnumber pro footballers. Makes you wonder what our favorite pastime really is."
So what's the big deal about the World Cup you ask? Good question. And one that this article answers fairly well. Notice this encouraging bit near the end of the article: "Stronger law enforcement has been proven to help. International Justice Mission views it as indispensable. In Cebu, Philippines, after two years of collaborative casework led by IJM, we saw a 70 percent reduction in the victimization of children in the commercial sex trade." Yay!
International Justice Mission also has a campaign: Five Weeks for Freedom. Fifteen bikers will be riding the 1800 mile long Underground Railroad route to campaign for justice for the 27 million slaves around the world who can't speak up. See if there is an event in your town - there are events in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and New York.

In the midst of these exciting happenings, we mustn't forget what is going on. Here is a blog post/article and video that, as the title says, puts faces to the statistics and focuses on child s_x trafficking in Atlanta. And, here is the newly released 2010 Trafficking in Persons report from the U.S. Department of State. This (very long) report defines trafficking, tells stories of human trafficking victims and survivors, gives details of each country's approach to trafficking as well as assigning each country a "tier" based on what they are doing in response to trafficking (this is the first year the US has included itself in this ranking).

One more thing: if you have any suggestions, questions, comments or tips, please let me know. You can comment below or email me. Thank you for reading and for your concern over the tragedy of slavery!

Day 14: What Next?

2010-06-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of prayer for those enslaved around the world. Thank you so much for taking the time to pray! Hopefully you have also learned a lot. Would you take some time to pray today about what you will do about the issue of slavery? Will you commit to continue praying? Will you keep current with the news on trafficking? Perhaps you will make it a point to write to various political leaders or write a letter to the editor in your local paper. Maybe you will begin talking about this issue with your friends. Perhaps you will be more careful about what items you purchase - looking to see if slaves have been used in the process or not. Or maybe you will even volunteer at an organization dedicated to helping free slaves.

Whatever it is, would you pray about how God might use you in the future? And would you pray that many people would rise up to continue what has begun - freeing slaves and working to help them heal?

Thank you so much for the time you have already committed to this cause! May God bless you for it.

"Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?...

"[The wicked] sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. ... The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, 'God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.'

"Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, 'You will not call to account'? But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. ...

"O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more."

~ Psalm 10

Day 13: Slavery in the US

2010-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

While we mostly hear about the slavery from around the world, there is also a lot of slavery just within the US. This fact sheet lists some of the statistics.

Pray for people to be aware of what is going on in their neighborhoods and communities and to be willing to speak up if something seems suspicious. (If you ever suspect a case of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-3737-888.)
Pray that police officers who catch victims in 'illegal' activity (such as a minor in prostitution, or a person here from another country without the proper papers) would realize the true situation - that they are enslaved and being forced to do that - and would have the training and knowledge to know how to handle that situation.
Pray for laws regarding trafficking to be put into place and enforced.
Pray for the people enslaved in the US to be able to escape, find a place of safety in which to heal, and be able to return to a 'normal' life.

* Note: the reason I do not spell out "s_x" or other similar words is simply to insure that my website won't be blocked by any web filters designed to filter out s_xually explicit material, because I believe this is an important message that everyone needs to hear.

Day 12: S_xual* Slavery

2010-06-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

First, I want to apologize for not posting this sooner in the day! But I guess it's never too late to pray. :)

Today we are going to pray specifically for those in s_xual slavery. To learn more about the girls in s_xual slavery, you can go to the "Learn More" page (about 2/3 of the way down the page).

Pray for the victims to realize that they are being lied to and that they are indeed enslaved. Sometimes they have been so brainwashed, that they think their pimp/owner really loves them and this is just what they have to do for now.
Pray for victims to be able to escape - specifically pray that they would be able to find trustworthy police officers, would-be 'buyers', and others in the community who would be able and willing to help them.
Pray for more safe-houses for the victims to be able to turn to. Often, especially in the US, there is no safe place that can really work with those who have escaped from slavery, so the best a compassionate police officer can do is arrest the girl so that at least she is safe for a few weeks while in prison. (See "Renting Lacy: A Story of America's Prostituted Children" for an example.)
Pray for a night of peace and safety for these girls and women.
Pray that the men who are causing the demand for these girls to realize that not every girl or woman is a willing s_xual partner...even if she may seem to enjoy it, she is most likely doing that in order to escape the punishment that would come if there were any complaints. Pray that the demand would end.
Pray for the men and boys who are being abused in this way as well. Too often we only focus on the girls, but there are boys who are being s_xually abused as well.
Pray for these victims to find hope and peace - even in the midst of the horror that they live - in Jesus Christ. While physical freedom is extremely important (otherwise I would not be keeping up this blog!), spiritual freedom in Christ is even more important. For without the hope and peace that come through Jesus Christ, the survivors of slavery - even though physically free - will not be completely free.

Day 11: Children in the LRA

2010-06-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

The focus today is on children who are forced into the military - specifically those in the Lord's Resistance Army. If you don't know much about this, check out the "Learn More" page (about half way down).

Pray that the war would be stopped - that the governments of the countries the LRA is in would put their foot down and do what it takes to stop all the violence.
Pray for the safety of the children who are not in it - that they would be protected from its violence and from getting forced into it.
Pray for safety and protection for the children in the LRA - not only physical protection, but emotional and mental as well. (Just think of the trauma experienced by grown men and women in war and imagine what it would be like for a child!)
Pray that they would be able to escape.
Pray for the children who have escaped or been rescued. Pray for their emotional, mental and physical healing.
Pray also that these children would have a chance to learn about the love of God for them and would be healed spiritually.

Day 10: Labor Slavery

2010-06-10T05:34:00.000-07:00

Our focus today is praying for the victims of labor trafficking. To learn more about this form of slavery, visit the "Learn More" page on the Hear the Call blog (the section on labor trafficking is about a quarter of the way down the page) and/or view this fact sheet from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Pray that the victims would be rescued or able to set themselves free (e.g. by paying off their 'debt') or able to escape.
Pray for 'blindness' on the part of the owners if any slaves decide to escape.
Pray that others would see the situation, understand what's going on, realize how wrong it is and then do something to rescue them.
Pray that they would have safety today from the brutality of their owners.
Pray that those who are rescued would have the courage to pay it forward to others (as in this story).
Pray that they would somehow hear of the hope they can have through Jesus Christ and would trust in Him for salvation and come to have freedom in Him - the most important kind of freedom there is.

Day Nine: Companies who use slaves

2010-06-09T05:09:00.000-07:00

Our focus today is on the companies who use slaves:

Pray that companies would be motivated - whether through pressure from the public, a sense of social justice, etc - to thoroughly investigate their suppliers to see if slavery is used at all in making their products.
Pray that companies who knowingly use slavery would decide to stop.
Pray that it would even be more profitable for companies do make their products without using slaves.
Pray that consumers would be discerning about which companies use slaves and would try to avoid them or at the very least try to use a slave-free company first.

If you are interested in knowing which companies use slaves, see this article for some informative links.

Day Eight: Awareness

2010-06-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

More and more people are becoming aware of the issue of human trafficking, but let's pray today that awareness would continue to increase. Of course just knowing about the problem won't solve anything, but the more people who know, the more people who will speak up against it, and thus a higher likelihood of something being done about it. So let's continue to pray that more people would not only find out about the issue, but that their hearts would be touched as well to do what they can to fight it. And you might even want to pray about yourself...what are you doing about this issue?

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

~Bishop Desmond Tutu

Day Seven: Government Officials

2010-06-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Our focus today is the government officials around the world.

Pray that those who are simply ignorant of the issue of slavery would be confronted with it and would then work to deal with it.
Pray for legislation to be passed that will help convict traffickers (and people who help support them).
Pray that legislation will be passed that will assure that people who have been rescued out of slavery will not be arrested or punished for things they had no control over, but will instead be assisted and restored to their homes and families.
Pray for the corrupt officials who accept bribes from traffickers to look the other way or to allow them to escape once they have been arrested.
Pray that local officials would not use slaves, but would instead seek justice and the ending of this abuse.
Pray for honest and trustworthy officials to be put into place who will be aware of the issue of slavery and able to work to end it.

Day Six: The Traffickers

2010-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

As strange as it may be, after hearing of the atrocious acts they commit, we should also pray for the traffickers and those involved in procuring, buying and selling slaves.

Pray that justice would be done.
Pray that the traffickers would get caught. Maybe they will mess something up or accidentally try to sell a slave to an undercover officer.
Pray that once caught, the traffickers would be arrested and convicted and appropriately punished. Too often, they get away with little to no punishment because of bribes or lack of interest on the part of the authorities.
Pray that their operations would get disrupted so that they are not able to carry on their business.
Pray that their business would become unprofitable and they would just give up.
Pray that God's Spirit would convict them of the sinfulness of their actions and that they would stop their buying and selling of people made in God's image.
Pray that they would realize their need for a Savior and that they would be able to hear about Christ and His work on the cross and turn to Him for forgiveness and healing. What an amazing testimony to God's grace and mercy that would be! How wonderful it would be to join with slaves and former slave owners (such as John Newton) before God's throne praising Him!

Day Five: "Potential" slaves

2010-06-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Let's pray today for those who are in a position where they are more likely to become trapped in slavery.

Pray for the people who are desperately poor and to whom a trafficker's promise of a good job and a wonderful future sound like a great opportunity.
Pray that they would be able to see through the deceit and be able to refuse the 'job.'
Also pray that they would be able to find a real job somewhere so they can make ends meet.
Pray for other people involved in the 'potential slave's' life to be able to see the signs of enslavement and to be able to step in to stop it and get assistance from others in stopping it.

Day Four: Families considering selling their children

2010-06-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

How do children end up in slavery? Sometimes they are kidnapped by a stranger, sometimes the trafficker/pimp convinces them to run off with him. But, more often than not, they are sold into slavery by a family member. Why would an uncle, brother, father or mother sell a child into slavery? There are several reasons. First of all, it may be that the trafficker has lied to them about what the child will be doing. The trafficker may tell the parents that he will be taking the child to a better place where the child will be able to get an education and do some work (such as being a waitress, housekeeper, etc.). Another reason is that sometimes the family is just so desperately poor, that they feel this is the only way they may be able to survive. Perhaps if they sell this one child, the rest of their family will be able to live. This is often further encouraged by the fact that it is common in some cultures to sell children to traffickers, so it doesn't have the same social stigma as it would have in the West. (To read a bit more, see here, here and here.)

So today, let's pray for those family members who may be considering selling their children.

Pray that despite their culture, parents would care for their children so much that they would not think of selling them, even to provide food for their family.
Pray that in some way they would be able to get the money and food that they need so they would have no need to sell their children.
Pray that the families would have discernment and would be able to see through the traffickers' lies to know what the true situation is.
Pray for more organizations to treat the underlying cause of families selling their children rather than only rescuing children from slavery.
Pray for people to advocate for these children, as the families usually have little to no influence in the community and no way to rescue their children once they realize the situation.

Day Three: Organizations, Workers and Volunteers

2010-06-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

Today, let's join in prayer for the organizations, workers and volunteers who are working hard to rescue and restore victims of slavery.

Pray that the organizations that fight slavery would make wise decisions with their resources so that the most people possible would be reached in the best way possible. Here are some organizations listed by name, though there are many others:

Free the Slaves "liberates slaves around the world, helps them rebuild their lives and researches real world solutions to eradicate slavery forever."
Invisible Children "uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore Northern Uganda to peace and prosperity."
Shared Hope International "exists to rescue and restore women and children in crisis" particularly in s_x trafficking."
International Justice Mission "is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, s_xual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression."
Women at Risk International is a Christian organization that works with women at risk around the world.

Pray that there would be unity among these organizations -that they would be able to work together at ending slavery rather than competing against one another.
Pray for the workers and volunteers at these organizations:

Pray for courage, boldness and safety as they oftentimes work in dangerous areas, confronting the slave owners.
Pray for wisdom and discretion as they interact with the victims of slavery and talk to the owners.
Pray for extra grace and patience as they work with the survivors - helping them to heal, keeping them safe and teaching them what they need to know to get back on their feet.
Pray for perseverance in working with local officials to bring the perpetrators to justice as there is much opposition, indifference and/or corruption.
Pray for encouragement as they probably often get discouraged at the enormity of the task and at how small their own part must look.
Pray for more people to join in to help - whether full time, part time or as a volunteer or prayer warrior.
Pray for unity among the workers - that there would be good communication, that they would show love to each other and be united in their cause.

Day Two: Slaves Who Have Been Rescued

2010-06-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to focus on praying for those slaves who have already been rescued.

Let's pray for their healing:

Physically: from various kinds of abuse.
Emotionally: dealing with all the hurt from over the years, understanding and being able to deal with everything that has happened to them. They often feel shame or guilt for what they have been forced to do (especially those who have suffered s_xual* abuse).
Mentally: they have usually been brainwashed by their captors and don't necessarily understand that they were enslaved and not free - they think that they are just helping their captor who really loves them and doesn't want to do this to them, but has to because of the circumstances. This is especially true for those who were in s_xual slavery.
Spiritually: that they would come to know the immeasurable love of Christ and the hope, healing and forgiveness that He offers.

Pray that they would be able to find jobs that would support them and their families so they don't need to go back into the same kind of lifestyle. All too often, they go back to that lifestyle (even though it may not be their preference) because that is the only thing they know.
Pray that their families would accept them back and not reject them because of cultural thinking that they are now "used goods" or worthless.
Pray for those who have been "rescued" but arrested because they were engaging in illegal behavior or were in a country illegally. Pray that the government officials and police would recognize the true case - that they are slaves and were forced into those circumstances - and would be able to help them and get them to a place of safety and healing.

Day One of the Two Weeks of Prayer

2010-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

"Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted." ~ Psalm 10:12

Thank you for your interest in joining us to pray about this issue of human trafficking. While many of us may not be able to go out and rescue people in slavery, we are able to work alongside those who do through prayer.

Today, let's pray generally for the people around the world who are enslaved. Let's pray that they would be rescued, and that they would find hope and healing through Jesus Christ.

If you don't know much about slavery today, this two and a half minute video gives a brief introduction.

"O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror." ~ Psalm 10:17-18

Did you know?

2010-05-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

Most people assume that s_x trafficking only happens in far away countries. Or, if it does happen in the US, it's when girls and women are brought in from other countries, and it wouldn't be too many. Shared Hope, International did some research and discovered that the U.S. government is committed to fighting trafficking and helping victims. The resources are targeted on the estimated 17,000 - 18,000 men women and children brought into the U.S. from other countries for labor or s_x trafficking. However, "there are over 100,000 domestic child s_x trafficking victims in the USA each year - 100,000 or more who don't come in from other countries - are our own children."

"The [Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000] states that victims of trafficking cannot be held culpable for the crimes they are compelled to commit while in slavery, yet in nearly every State in the Union, these child victims are arrested and charged with prostitution. ... The U.S. continues to arrest the trafficking victim and does not prosecute the individuals who buy sex from them...."

Quotes taken from "Renting Lacy: A Story of America's Prostituted Children."

Human Traffickers Convicted and Sentenced in India

2010-05-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

On May 3rd, two men and a woman were arrested, convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking and sexually exploiting three girls. International Justice Mission assisted the Criminal Investigation Department throughout the case. The girls are already doing much better in the aftercare homes they are in. Go here for the whole story.

The Witness

2010-04-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In Ocean's wide domains,
Half buried in the sands,
Lie skeletons in chains,
With shackled feet and hands.

Beyond the fall of dews,
Deeper than plummet lies,
Float ships, with all their crews,
No more to sink nor rise.

There the black Slave–ship swims,
Freighted with human forms,
Whose fettered, fleshless limbs
Are not the sport of storms.

These are the bones of Slaves;
They gleam from the abyss;
They cry, from yawning waves,
"We are the Witnesses!"

Within Earth's wide domains
Are markets for men's lives;
Their necks are galled with chains,
Their wrists are cramped with gyves.

Dead bodies, that the kite
In deserts makes its prey;
Murders, that with affright
Scare school–boys from their play!

All evil thoughts and deeds;
Anger, and lust, and pride;
The foulest, rankest weeds,
That choke Life's groaning tide!

These are the woes of Slaves;
They glare from the abyss;
They cry, from unknown graves,
"We are the Witnesses!"

So Who Should You Buy From?

2010-04-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

So, you have been alerted to the issue of slavery around the world. You know that slaves are involved in most production of chocolate, clothes, rugs...and basically any product you want to buy. Now you want to know if there is any place where you can buy things that are not made by slaves. That is a great question! Here are a couple of suggestions:

Free2Work grades companies based on the steps they take to actively prevent exploitation. So you can check out this website to research various companies you buy from.
Here are a few sites that list companies that are fair trade certified: TransFair USA Licensed Partners and Fair Trade Federation.
Chain Store Reaction lists companies' responses to requests for information about if they use slavery.
And here is a list of where to buy TransFair products.

Highlights of the Week: April 22

2010-04-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

(Note that we are simply providing these links to news articles that we found informative or helpful and that we don't necessarily recommend or endorse each site.)

Ohio has been in the news a lot recently in regards to human trafficking. A report came out stating that more than 1000 children under 18 years of age are victims of s_x-trafficking in Ohio during this past year. About 500 people showed up for the Parade of Tears on the campus of Ohio State University that brought attention to the issue of human trafficking. The FBI came in recently to train workers in the Health Department in Toledo (which ranks fourth in the country for human trafficking) in how to recognize human trafficking. And Ohio is being urged to make their laws stricter in regards to trafficking (this article describes the specifics).
Pennsylvania is also making the news, working to lay out laws that will hopefully stop human trafficking. One of the main things they are doing is making up signs that will be required to be posted in places where people are typically enslaved. These signs will have phone numbers that victims can call for help.
And New York is getting in on the action as well. They are working to pass legislation that will allow s_x trafficking victims to clear their criminal record of any accusations of prostitution (when in fact they were victims), which helps them to be able to get employment.
Finally, here is a brief article discussing slavery and the cocoa industry.

Slavery 101

2010-04-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

A very well-done twelve minute introduction to the problem of slavery around the world. Hear the stories of slavery survivors.

Highlights of the Week: April 11

2010-04-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

(Note that we are simply providing these links to news articles that we found informative or helpful and that we don't necessarily recommend or endorse each site.)

Majok Dhal, a young teenager, relates his story of slavery to Michael Gerson in southern Sudan. Michael describes meeting about 125 recently freed slaves in this article and also has several pictures here.
It's a little late for the focus of this article (Easter candy), but the main message is still relevant: "most of us are guilty of aiding criminal behavior, even slavery, every time we indulge in a chocolaty treat." Read the article to find out why and what you can do about it.
What about Canada? This article discusses slavery in Canada and what is being done (or, more accurately, not being done) about it.
This article addresses s_x trafficking in the Native American population.
A flight attendant doing what she can to spread the word to other flight attendants about the important role they serve in recognizing and reporting trafficking. In another article, students are making a difference and working to end slavery.
A brief article describing the extent of slavery in Nepal.
A case of human trafficking in Jakarta.
Key Member of International Human Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Twenty Years
Met Police Set up Trafficking and Exploitation Unit
Looking for a way to help? There is a lobby day in Pennsylvania, or if you're in California, you can call your representatives (don't worry, the article explains what you can say).
An interesting opinion article on why we should be doing something to end the LRA. Interestingly enough, this article says that apparently the US Senate passed the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. Maybe we'll actually be able to put an end to this atrocious violence. And the Ugandan government is planning to compensate individuals who are victims of the rebel activity.
Pakistan is showing improvement in combating human trafficking.
However, human trafficking is on the rise in Somalia.

Highlights of the Week: March 28

2010-03-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

(Note that we are simply providing these links to news articles that we found informative or helpful and that we don't necessarily recommend or endorse each site.)

The risk of human trafficking increases during the World Cup in South Africa. Be sure to also read this article for some tips on protecting your children.
More traffickers are arrested: in Delhi, Nigeria, Mozambique, Florida, Romania, England and New York. Remember, though, that simply because they have been arrested doesn't mean they will get much more than a slap on the hand. Please pray that justice will be done.
More countries are working to do more about human trafficking: Taiwan, the Middle East, a coalition in Florida, Senegal and the United Kingdom.
Dallas Jessup, the founder of Just Yell Fire, talked to a Human Rights Commission about an idea to train girls in how to keep from being trafficked.
People are raising awareness of trafficking: Freedom Week at the University of Richmond, the Human Wrong Initiative Week at Marietta College and International Justice week at Regent University.
321 killed, 250 kidnapped in a previously unreported massacre by the Lord's Resistance Army.
The UN Secretary General calls for the eradication of modern slavery.
Californians! Have you signed the California Against Slavery petition yet? If not, go here to learn more about it and here to sign the petition.

Highlights of the Week: March 20

2010-03-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

(Note that we are simply providing these links to news articles that we found informative or helpful and that we don't necessarily recommend or endorse each site.)

Modern day slavery in Canada - how it's happening, what the signs are, and what is being done (or not being done) in response.
Boys in India are being kidnapped and forced to work to provide the food that we buy.
See what a college student from Oklahoma is doing to end slavery.
Traffickers are being prosecuted in Dubai, Hong Kong, Dubai again
A company is actually doing something significant to help end child s_x slavery! The Body Shop is donating all proceeds from the "Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream" to ECPAT and from the "Bag for life" to the Somaly Mam Foundation. Also, every time someone "squeezes the lemon," becomes a fan of The Body Shop on Facebook, enters a drawing, etc. The Body Shop will donate $0.50 to $2.00 to ECPAT and the Somaly Mam Foundation. Check it out!
The unequal pay rates in Bulgeria contribute to the susceptibility of women to trafficking.
Fourteen s_x trafficking victims are freed in Indonesia.
Over 1000 cases of human trafficking were reported in Pakistan in 2009.
Human trafficking in Portland, OR is highlighted in this article as well as a brief summary of what is being done about it.
A girl who was enslaved in Belfast is rescued.
A man (who acted as "lawyer" for the Americans in Haiti who tried to smuggle children out) is arrested on charges of human trafficking
A review of a book written by a former victim of s_x trafficking.
Reasons why companies are not willing to look into their supply chain to discover if there are slaves involved in making their products.
Manpower is joining forces with the Not For Sale Campaign in the fight against human trafficking.
Mountain climbers raise awareness of human trafficking in Africa.
Allegations of human trafficking are looked into in Canada.
A brief look into s_x trafficking in Texas.
Two men in Sweden convicted of human trafficking.
Ethiopians are increasingly being trafficked.

Highlights of the Week: March 17

2010-03-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the highlights on the web this week regarding the issue of human trafficking. (Note that we are simply providing these links to news articles that we found informative or helpful and that we don't necessarily recommend or endorse each site.)

A man from Uzbekistan admits the role he played in trafficking hundreds of people in fourteen different states.
Women in southwest China are being taught to avoid trafficking. Read the article, though, to see the problems that are coming with this training - perhaps even putting the women in more danger.
A woman is recognized here for her work against trafficking.
According to the UN, South Africa is "conducive to trafficking" but is working to pass some legislation against trafficking and to be able to better prosecute those involved.
The Lord's Resistance Army has threatened attacks during the April elections in Southern Sudan. Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, may have moved to Sudan's Western of Darfur. See this article to read more and to see Uganda's president's reaction.
About 200 consumers gathered in Washington D.C. to advocate a block on imported goods that are made from forced labor.
Read this for a story from a former trafficking victim.
Religious leaders in Indonesia unite for training in fighting against human trafficking.
A normal, everyday mom talks about what she (and we) can do in the fight against human trafficking.

Trafficking in Haiti

2010-03-04T16:23:00.001-08:00

Following the earthquake in Haiti comes a higher risk for the women and children there. Traffickers take advantage of disasters to capture people to sell. Read this article to learn more.