Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that consists of the buying and selling of people against their will for sex or labor purposes. There are an estimated 35.8 million people currently enslaved around the world[1]. It is a $32 billion per year industry and is the second largest criminal business, following drugs[2]. Each year in America, 200,000 women are forced into the sex trade and 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the states annually. As of 2009, less than one percent of trafficking cases were solved each year in our country[3]. Nothing like starting off the day with some horrifying stats, eh? I'm not here to depress you with wretched stories and filthy numbers. Today, I'm here to tell you how you can make a difference. Obviously, this problem seems completely overwhelming. It's easy to find yourself suffocating under the weight of the issue. I remember sometimes being so frustrated because I knew exactly what was going on, but I felt defeated because I didn't know what to do. My options were to break down brothels in Southeast Asia, shut down cocoa plantations in West Africa, become paralyzed with discouragement, or pray for opportunities. So, I prayed. I asked the Lord to show me ways I could make a difference and rescue His sons and daughters. Because of His great faithfulness, He showed me how small things can really make a big difference. It wasn't some overnight divine revelation. Slowly but surely, He revealed to me ways I can actually be a part of ending this thing we call human trafficking. Praise Him. For those of you who are feeling this pressing need to do something, welcome. The Bible says the Spirit of God is upon you to heal the brokenhearted and set captives free {Isaiah 61}. This very longing to seek and declare justice is directly from the Lord. Praise God for that. The way I see it, ending human trafficking is, at its very simplest, a three-fold process: prevention, rescue, and recovery. I would like to simply throw out some information and ideas I've adopted as a lifestyle that I believe makes a difference in those areas. Here are a few ways you can end modern day slavery. 1. Prevention: Educate & Purchase To those who have researched human trafficking inside and out to the point that it makes you sick, I know it sounds crazy for me to tell you to continue to educate yourself when that's all you've done. But here's the thing, this form of slavery is still evolving. It's changing quicker than we can catch up with it. In order to be a part of the change, we must know what it is we are fighting for. So, do some reading. Watch a few documentaries. Talk with a friend. There are many great resources out here and with information at our fingertips, we can easily share facts with others, which is a huge part of prevention. Knowledge is power, my friends. Another aspect of prevention I would like to shed light is the power of your purchase. Our money speaks louder than our words most of the time, so here are a couple really simple, but extremely effective, way of putting a voice behind our cash. Fair Trade is a global labeling initiative that seeks to insure fair wages and safe working conditions for employees while also avoiding child labor. When it comes to chocolate, coffee, and tea, you'll see a seal on the package that says, "Fair Trade Certified." This may seem small, but it is a huge deal! Also, I want to bring your attention to a fantastic website called Free 2 Work. What this site shows you is a letter grade of major companies, such as for apparel, coffee, toys, etc., of how well the companies do in making a conscious effort to avoid using slave labor in the construction their products. This is a great way to know which brands are selling you goods that are ethically sound, or brands that aren't. But if you want to continue shopping at Forever 21 and See's Candies without a huge lump in your throat, I wouldn't visit the site. You'll be greatly disappointed. Can't say I didn't warn ya. 2. Rescue: Watch & Pray As far as rescue goes, it's not likely that most of us will be busting corrupt business and breaking chains off of victims with our own hands. That can be extremely frustrating because of the weight of this issue. When you hear about small children being forced to work for nothing, your heart wants justice. But hold on, dear one. God will bring it. There is, however, something important we can do, and that is to keep our eye out for suspicious activity. After doing your research, which I know all of you will do because your such great students {wink wink}, you'll discover that most victims are those who have been sexually abused, living in poverty, in the foster care system, and the list goes on. If you see behavior that matches any of those profiles or characteristics, say something. There might be something serious going on, and it's better to be safe than sorry. Contact the Human Trafficking Hotline {call: 1-888-3737-888 // text: 233733} Know what a victim looks like. Know what a trafficker looks like. Keep your eyes open and stop crime in its tracks. Another aspect of this issue that I think we underestimate is the power of prayer. Most of the time when people tell me that there's not much I can actually do except pray, I get annoyed. I feel like if I'm "just" praying, I'm still not really doing much. But you guys, prayer is so powerful. Remember in the book of Acts when the church prayed so intensely that Peter was released from prison? THAT is the power of prayer {Acts 12}. Pray for captives to be set free. Pray for those around the world who are doing the hands-on rescuing. This action alone could change so much. 3. Recovery: Support & Empower Frederick Douglass said, "Verily, the work does not end with the abolition of slavery, but only begins." Something that took me a while to understand is the battle continues for the victim far after they are pulled out of the industry. There is an extensive recovery process, including tons of therapy, education, and basically just relearning how to live life. Something we can do is support safe houses that take in people who have been trafficked. There are houses in Asia and there are even houses in our local county. Another way you can empower those who have been rescued is by purchasing their products. Something that becomes an issue when a victim is pulled out of trafficking is, what will they do for a job? Fortunately, several organizations have jumped on that and taught them how to make earrings, design handbags, and sew clothing...even PJs! {If you don't have a pair of Punjammies, get some NOW.} I have so many bags, pants, and pieces of jewelry from places like this, it's almost embarrassing. BUT, I'm supporting a woman who has been rescued from slavery. I gave her a job so she doesn't have to turn to the streets. It's that amazing?! Giving you permission to shop right here. Take full advantage. In the smallest nutshell possible, that was an overview of ways we can end human trafficking and why. For those who would rather skip the rambling and jump down to the crash course, this is for you. ˙ Be a voice. Tell someone you know about what's going on. ˙ Host a movie night to watch Nefarious or The Dark Side of Chocolate. {Confession: I've seen neither! On my to-do list} ˙ Make the switch to Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate in your household. ˙ Buy pretty things from ministries aiming to end slavery and support those who are vulnerable {Check out my Links page for tons of places to shop} ˙ Check out Free 2 Work and write letters to the corporations with a poor rating, letting them know that we know what's going on. Speak the truth in love. ˙ Get together with your friends and have a prayer night. ˙ Feeling ambitious? Organize a 5K/10K/Half Marathon to fight human trafficking. {If someone organizes a half marathon, I would totally do it!} ˙ Get in touch with your local county to see what they're doing to end slavery. If they're doing nothing, educate them! ˙ Stay alert, especially at airports, massage parlors, nail salons, etc. Memorize the hotline and call when you see something suspicious. ˙ Have a trunk show party at your home by showcasing items from places like Feeding the Orphans, Sak Saum, or 3 Cords. Then you can drink Fair Trade coffee and eat sweets, too. How fun is that?! ˙ Wear a bracelet or some piece of jewelry that is constantly in view. The idea here is that people may comment on it giving you an instant opportunity to educate others. Also, it reminds you to pray! ˙ Have a fundraiser of some sort and donate the proceeds to a ministry that is currently fighting human trafficking. ˙ Check out Slavery Footprint and take the survey to see how many slaves you have working for you. Not fun, but extremely powerful. ˙ Research local events, such as conferences, that involve getting people together to join the fight. {Shout out to Justice Matters Conference! Y'all have my heart.} ˙ Pray, and come up with some ideas of your own! Together we can end this thing. Let's do it, yeah? Have any ideas of your own? Share by dropping a comment below!
Notes
"The Global Slavery Index 2014" Retrieved on February 13, 2015, http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/
"Reading Between the (Head)Lines: Human Trafficking in America" Dr. Dale Archer, Psychology Today, April 11, 2013, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201304/human-trafficking-in-america
Kevin Bales & Ron Soodalter, The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today (Berkley, CA, University of California Press, 2009).
Hi friends! This past Saturday, I attended a conference focused around the subject of reducing exploitation and putting an end to human trafficking. Gosh, it was so good. The Lord moved in many powerful ways. One of my favorite features of the conference was the exhibitor tables. Translation: TIME TO SHOP! An entire gym was filled with resources and merchandise from various global ministries that somehow played a part in fighting modern day slavery, preventing trafficking, feeding the hungry, international adoptions, serving the poor, and most of all, spreading the love of Jesus. If you know me well, you know I'm all over that stuff! I walked past each table in awe. I must have grabbed about a jillion pamphlets and flyers out of sheer excitement. Every booth had something unique to offer. Seriously, I felt like a kid in a candy store. #churchnerd I'm getting side-tracked. So like I said, it was time to shop. The great part about buying from these vendors is the idea of purchasing with a purpose. Each one of these accessories and pieces of clothing were handmade in poor nations by either a single mom desperate to support her child, an ex-human trafficking victim, or a woman receiving fair pay for her work when most of the others are being used as slaves. And because I'm a total girl, I feel the pressing need to tell you everything I bought and where it came from: Feeding the Orphans (FTO) // Ghana I love this ministry for many reasons, but I also have a true love for their products. Everything is made in Ghana to support their people and provide food for orphans. Their shop has tons of merchandise from bags to jewelry to t-shirts. And come on, aren't these headbands totes adorbs?!
Peace Makers Crafts // Mindanao, Philippines Okay, I love earrings. Fancy ones, classy ones, simple ones, giant ones... I collect them all. Even though my love for Charming Charlie runs deep, I would much rather choose to buy my earrings from women in the Philippines for fair trade. So on Saturday, I got three different pairs of these babies. There are some gorg designs and each pair are super high quality. The earrings below are made with real pearls. That's LEGIT, people! Check more out on their Etsy page.
Divine Chocolate You had me at hello. For real, how do you ever deny chocolate? And fair trade chocolate?? Even better. Do yourself a favor and go buy some.
Amazima Ministries // Uganda After reading Kisses from Katie, I checked out her ministry, Amazima, online and found their little shop. So for Christmas, I got some jewelry, WOOT. Women in Masese hand-crafted these necklaces and bracelets and because of our purchase, they have a job. So lovely.
International Princess Project // India Who loves pajamas? I certainly do! Well, International Princess Project is a ministry that employs women who are coming out of the sex trade industry and guess what they sell... punjammies! Love. Each pair are so bright and colorful and "made with hope in India". Sweet!
And that concludes my little tour of ministry shopping. I encourage you to check out each one of these organizations. Even if you don't feel like buying stuff or spending money right now, save all of the links! Go crazy at Christmas time! These are great gift ideas and like I've been emphasizing over and over... they're a purchase with a purpose! Love you all,
For the most part, human trafficking is a depressing subject. Women of all ages are forced to live a life of bondage and prostitution and are denied their identity and freedom. That's the reality. Very few victims are rescued and given a chance at a new life. Like I stated earlier, less than one percent of human trafficking cases in America are solved. There are not a whole ton of success stories that come to mind when this topic is mentioned. BUT, there is hope. Victims truly are set free and rescued. By the power of Jesus Christ, there is hope. The story can end victoriously. "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." {Isaiah 43:18-19 // NIV} Earlier this month when I was praying against human trafficking and all the dirty business that surrounds it, I came across this verse. And it was powerful. I knew it was how I needed to be praying for these women in captivity. I am believing in more rescue stories. I am trusting in a God who is fully capable of using His servants to bring justice to victims. This is possible. This is a hopeful story, I just know it. He alone can bring healing from physical and emotional wounds. Jesus can do a new thing in these innocent children and young adults. Redemption is possible and we better be believin' it. So while human trafficking is mostly a heavy topic to discuss or learn about, remember there is hope. Remember there are rescued victims and there will be more. Our God is a powerful God and through Him all things are possible. Declare victory and freedom in His Name! Pray in the affirmative for slaves. Be confident in the spirit there is healing. There is HOPE. And just because I love the picture painted in this dance...
Be encouraged. Pray for those who are enslaved - for victory, for freedom, for justice, and for HOPE.
Looking for more on the fight against human trafficking? The following organizations are dedicated to put an end to modern day slavery, whether it be through rescue, rehabilitation, prevention, or employment for trafficked women and those at risk. Find a way to help and bring hope to someone's story. Buy a bag. Wear a t-shirt. Tell a friends. Anything you can to support these missionaries and do your part to end slavery. Check it out!
Rescue Her {http://www.rescueher.org/} Love146 {http://www.love146.org/} Breaking Free {http://www.breakingfree.net/} Hello Somebody {http://www.hello-somebody.com/} Slavery No More {http://www.slaverynomore.org/} My Refuge House {http://www.myrefugehouse.org/} International Princess Project {http://intlprincess.org/}
Didn't catch part 1? Read it here! So now that we're all caught up on our stats, let's dig a little deeper into the subject of human trafficking by looking at the Biblical side of things. Well, we know that human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. Victims are stripped of their most basic human rights of liberty and freedom. They are forced to work (labor trafficking) or perform sexually for others (sex trafficking) against their will. Most are held in some sort of prison or a brothel and handcuffed, abused, and treated like commodities. Essentially, their lives are stolen. Bottom line, this is just wrong. What does the Bible say about all this? Throughout Scripture, a beautiful picture is painted of a God who has a heart for saving people, especially those who are lost, broken, and held in captivity. All human beings are valued and created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). He loves the trafficked and the traffickers; they are precious in His sight. However, God stands for justice and hates wrongdoing (Isaiah 61:8). This is obviously not right in His eyes. But where His spirit is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). Freedom from sin, slavery, and bondage. Jesus proclaimed while He was on earth that He came to release prisoners and liberate the oppressed (Luke 4:18). He sees all things. He loves trafficked victims and longs to set them free. So, what is our role we play in this mess? How do we react? We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and stand up for the poor and helpless. Justice must be served (Proverbs 31:8-9). We are called to intercede for those in bondage. The prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). We need to PRAY for victims currently in captivity and against future trafficking incidents. This alone is an incredibly powerful weapon in the fight against slavery. We are called to action. Scripture tells us that the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us, because the Lord has anointed us to set the captives free and proclaim that prisoners will be released (Isaiah 61:1). This is not merely a suggestion; it is a commandment. We are Jesus' hands and feet on earth. We must bring those victims justice and give them living hope, Jesus Christ. They need us. They need HIM.
Well, I hope this gives you a bit of a Biblical perspective on human trafficking. Remember to continue to raise your voice, pray for the oppressed, and get it on the action! The fight to end slavery is SO ON.
Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that refers to the buying and selling of people against their will for sex or labor purposes. This $32 billion a year business is the second largest criminal industry in the world, followed only by drugs[1]. Each year in America, there are 200,000 women forced into the sex trade, 14,500 to 17,500 humans trafficked into this country, and less than one percent of trafficking and slavery cases are solved[2]. Bottom line, this is something big that is getting little attention. The average age of a street prostitute is twelve to fourteen years old[3] (whether this is forced or voluntary prostitution, I am unsure. Either way, it's sickening.) Victims are sexually exploited and used any way their pimp pleases. Examples include prostitution, pornography, and other nasties I don't even want to repeat. Some girls are forced to sleep with twenty-five to thirty men daily[4]. If there was no demand of sexual lust amongst the population, sex trafficking would be put to an end. Period. America is listed on the top ten locations and destinations of human trafficking[4]. Our home state of California holds three of the top trafficking cities, which includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. The largest human trafficking incidence in America happens every year, at the Super Bowl[5]. Pimps, victims, and johns go unnoticed due to the substantial size of the crowd. Talk about literally hiding in plain sight. So there you have it, a little preview of what is known as human trafficking. There is some pretty yucky stuff going on in our backyard that we are incredibly blind to. This is happening. Here is your wake up call. Don't take it lightly, this knowledge is powerful. Raise awareness and pray for these victims. They deserve justice. Put an end to human trafficking.
Being the good little college student I am, I feel the need to give the works cited/references/whateveryoucallit info.
"Reading Between the (Head)Lines: Human Trafficking in America" Dr. Dale Archer, Psychology Today, April 11, 2013, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201304/human-trafficking-in-america
Kevin Bales & Ron Soodalter, The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today (Berkley, CA, University of California Press, 2009).
http://www.casre.org/about/slavery/ (Retrieved on September 30, 2013)
"Former Sex Trafficking Victim Shines Light on Dark Underworld of Super Bowl" Naomi Martin, The Times-Picanyune, February 1, 2013, http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/02/former_sex_trafficking_victim.html
"Super Bowl Is Single Largest Human Trafficking Incident in U.S.: Attorney General" Eleanor Goldberg, The Huffington Post, February 2, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/03/super-bowl-sex-trafficking_n_2607871.html
