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What is Human Trafficking?

2012-01-25T01:57:00.000-08:00

Human trafficking -- also known as "trafficking in persons" – is linked to some of the worst forms of human rights violations. It has been identified in almost every country in the world, including the United States. Victims are all ages, races, genders, ethnicities, religions, and come from all socio-economic backgrounds. There is no one profile of a trafficking case.

Trafficking cases are never the same, and involve various profiles of traffickers and facilitators. In some cases, a trafficker makes false promises to a person about a job opportunity, education or marriage. Later, the trafficker does not follow through on these promises and forces the person to do other work, like prostitution.

In other cases, traffickers force victims to work in various places until their debts are paid, and threatens them with violence, the police, or immigration. Trafficking case studies indicate that in some instances victims have been abducted or sold to other traffickers.

According to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (the “Palermo Protocol” of 2000) defines human trafficking as:

[…] the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

Elements of trafficking:

On the basis of the definition given in the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, it is evident that trafficking in persons has three constituent elements;

The Act (What is done)

Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons

The Means (How it is done)

Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim

The Purpose (Why it is done)

For the purpose of exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.

Human Trafficking versus Smuggling:

Human trafficking and smuggling are NOT the same thing.

Smuggling – people pay to be transported illegally to a new country and are free from their smugglers upon arrival.
Human Trafficking – whether they expect it or not, trafficked persons are enslaved and exploited by their traffickers. What sometimes begins as smuggling can end up as exploitation and trafficking, but not all trafficking involves crossing borders.

To ascertain whether a particular circumstance constitutes trafficking in persons, consider the definition of trafficking in the Trafficking in Persons Protocol and the constituent elements of the offense, as defined by relevant domestic legislation.

Signs that a Person Might be Trafficked

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has a comprehensive summary publication listing the human trafficking indicators. It is noted in the publication that not all indicators listed are present in all situations involving human trafficking, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators neither proves or disproves that human trafficking is taking place. For the complete list, see the United Nations Human Trafficking Indicators [PDF]

What is not human trafficking?

Smuggling: Smuggling is not trafficking, and it requires the movement a person across country borders. Smuggling is a crime against the government, and trafficking is a crime against a person. Smuggling can turn into trafficking if the trafficker threatens or uses force, deception or other means to subject a person to exploitation.

Illegal adoptions: The kidnapping or unlawful buying/selling of an infant or child for the purpose of offering that child for adoption represents a serious criminal offense, but it is not a form of human trafficking, as it does not necessarily involve the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel services from a person. As stated in the travaux preparatoires of the Palermo Protocol, only “where illegal adoption amounts to a practice similar to slavery . . . it will also fall within the scope of the Protocol.”

The trade in human organs: The trade in human organs – such as kidneys – is not in itself a form of human trafficking. The international trade in organs is substantial and demand appears to be growing. Some victims in developing countries are exploited as their kidneys are purchased for low prices. Such practices are prohibited under the Palermo Protocol, for example when traffickers use coercive means, such as force or threats of force to secure the removal of the victim’s organs.

Child pornography: Sex trafficking of children can involve several different forms of exploitation, including the production of child pornography. However, the production of sexual images representing children – which increasingly includes drawings and computer-generated images – is not sex trafficking unless a child is actually induced to perform a commercial sex act for the purpose of producing the pornography. Distribution and possession of child pornography, while often criminally prohibited, are not acts of human trafficking.

Prostitution: Prostitution by willing adults is not human trafficking regardless of whether it is legalized, decriminalized, or criminalized. There is no universally accepted definition of trafficking for sexual exploitation, and individual countries have differing legislation

What can you do?

1) Learn the signs of human trafficking

2) Memorize the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-3737-888

3) Volunteer with a local anti-trafficking organization

4) Share what you've learned with friends and family

5) Buy products where people are paid a fair wage, and whose human rights are respected.

Eugene homeless youth photo exhibit: 'It personalizes it. It humanizes it'

2012-01-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

A new exhibit at the downtown Eugene Public Library focuses on homeless youth in Lane County. Full story, here.

One of the service providers mentioned in the video is Looking Glass, Youth and Family Services. More information about this non-profit and the important services they provide for youth in Eugene and Lane County and be found here.

Child Sexual Abuse: "Listen to Kids" Interview with Jennifer Talbot

2012-01-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

Listen to an informative interview with Jennifer Talbot from ListentoKids.org, and local host Ken Ackerman. Jennifer discusses ways the organization trains schools, instructors and parents how to talk with children, and how communities can learn more by taking training classes to help prevent child sexual abuse and bullying . Click here for the interview.

For more information on this topic and how to schedule a training, check the Listen to Kids website. Click here.

What is Prevention?

2011-11-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

When we talk about preventing human trafficking, what exactly does that mean? The who, how, where and when questions can be overwhelming, and can sometimes be easier to manage in smaller chunks, just as long as they are part of a comprehensive and holistic effort.

A good example of that was a recent OSCE meeting which addressed the issue of vulnerable children.

Mariana Katzarova, ODIHR's Senior Advisor on Anti-Trafficking Issues said, “Children need protection from discrimination, violence and the consequences of poverty and social exclusion, as these are the root causes which make them vulnerable to trafficking.”

Here is the full article:
Better child protection can prevent trafficking, say participants at OSCE human rights conference

10 Year Anniversary of the Harkin-Engel Protocol

2011-09-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Halloween is fast approaching, and many of us will soon be buying chocolate treats. As you stand in the candy aisle, consider this - the chocolate you buy could be tainted with child labor.

Today, Sept. 19, is the 10-year anniversary of the Harkin-Engel Protocol, an agreement by America's largest chocolate companies to stop forced child labor on cocoa farms in West Africa by 2005. Sadly, not much progress has been made, and hundreds of thousands of children are still forced to work under abusive conditions for long hours on these farms.

The largest and most iconic chocolate manufacturer in the United States, Hershey, lags behind its competitors in ending these abuses. Hershey has also been accused of exploiting student guest workers here in the U.S. as part of a cultural exchange visa program.

Hershey must raise the bar and certify its chocolate as Fair Trade, ensuring that forced child labor is removed from its many chocolate products. Please urge Hershey via its online contact form or at 800-468-1714, to protect workers and certify its chocolate as Fair Trade, ensuring that forced child labor does not produce its products.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

1. Participate in the Hershey: Raise The Bar! campaign. Distribute flyers/petitions as part of the campaign asking Hershey to go Fair Trade and end child and forced labor in the cocoa industry. Pdf available at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.

2. Organize a screening of “The Dark Side of Chocolate” at your home, school, congregation, etc. during Halloween week. This important new documentary reveals that the nightmare of child labor, trafficking and slavery is continuing in the cocoa fields. The screening toolkit includes a petition for viewers to sign asking Hershey to end child labor/slavery and go fair trade. More information is available at the Web sites of Global Exchange, Green America and International Labor Rights Forum.

3. Participate in Reverse Trick-or-Treating You can learn about how much fun Reverse Trick-or-Treating can be by watching a video. (Portland specific info, here).

4. Distribute Reverse Trick-or-Treating flyers on Halloween, whether or not you request a kit. Download the flyer at Reverse Trick-or-Treating.

5. Distribute fair-trade-certified chocolate minis to trick-or-treaters who visit your household. To purchase the mini chocolates, visit Global Exchange Store, Equal Exchange Coop, Sweet Earth Chocolates, Coco-Zen . or another of your favorite fair-trade chocolate companies..

6. Use fair trade chocolate for your next fundraiser.

Equal Exchange has school and inter-faith fundraising tool kits.

7. Become a member of the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition

Click the link on the right hand side of the website to learn more about membership opportunities.

A Public Health Approach for Advancing Sexual Health in the United States: Rationale and Options for Implementation, Final Meeting Report

2011-09-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Final Report from Sexual Health meeting at CDC

From the April 2010 consultation on “A Public Health Approach for Advancing Sexual Health in the United States: Rationale and Options for Implementation.” The meeting generated a tremendous amount of enthusiasm within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and among our partners. We hope that this summary of the meeting-including invited presentations and reactions, and recommendations by meeting participants-will prove useful to you and to others interested in using the sexual health framework to normalize dialogue around sexuality and sexual behavior, enhance educational and preventive services, and improve health outcomes.

Since the meeting last April, a number of important steps have occurred relevant to our effort to promote sexual health both internal to and outside of CDC. While not an inclusive list, notable examples include:

Release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which identifies the opportunity for working together to advance a public health approach to sexual health that includes HIV prevention as one component
Initiation of a coordinated communication project by CDC to identify appropriate frameworks, metaphors, and messages to promote a sexual health approach to a range of stakeholders
New strategic initiatives by CDC and the Office of Adolescent Health to reduce teen and unintended pregnancy
Publication of an important commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association calling for action to address sexual health and of a special issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine on the “Findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior”
Creation of a formal Sexual Health workgroup of the CDC/HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment
Recommendation by the Institute of Medicine that “the proportion of the population engaged in responsible sexual behavior” be included as a Healthy People 2020 Leading Indicator
Publication of a CDC Request for Applications addressing the creation of a national coalition to address sexual health (CDC-RFA-PS11-1112 A National Coalition to Enhance STD/HIV Prevention through Promotion of a Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness)
Efforts to complete the transformation of the “green paper” discussed at the meeting in April to a White Paper on Sexual Health including development of a CDC definition of sexual health.

Sincerely,
Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., F.F.P.H.
Director National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Inside Story Interview: New ILO Child Labor Report: Children in hazardous jobs

2011-06-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

In a new report issued on the World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warns that a high number of children are still caught in hazardous work.

The report says that some 115 million children, more than half of the 215 million child labourers worldwide, do hazardous work.

The report also indicates that the largest proportion of children in hazardous work relative to the overall number of children in the region is in sub-Saharan Africa.

But the largest number of children in hazardous work is in Asia. In Pakistan for instance, despite the existence of child labour laws, the fate of children has not improved.

The international community says it hopes to eliminate the problem by 2016. Is that realistic?

Isn't working, even in hazardous conditions, the least of two evils? Do children in poor countries have other options?

Inside Story with presenter Folly Bah Thibault discusses with Susan Gunn, the author of the ILO report on Child Labour in Hazardous Work from Geneva; Marco Manacorda, an economics professor at Queen Mary University of London and researcher at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics from London; and Vandana Shiva, an ecologist and anti-poverty activist from New Delhi, India.

*****

The full study is available here

The ILO press release is available here

New Study Shows Media Underreport Child Sexual Abuse, Miss Key Aspects of Issue

2011-05-31T13:52:00.000-07:00

New Study Shows Media Underreport Child Sexual Abuse, Miss Key Aspects of Issue

Labor Trafficking of US Youth

2011-05-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Human trafficking - forced labor, bonded labor and sexual exploitation - is a very real crisis that nobody really likes to talk about. Even less known, is the forced and bonded labor of US youth, which typically presents itself as magazine or product sales, but can also be identified in the agriculture or construction industries.

With summer just around the corner there will be job listings in newspapers, flyers on light-posts, and recruiters out looking for workers. Many of these jobs sound sexy and may include promises of a daily salary, free meals and hotels, or an overseas trip. What they won't say is that a certain number of sales are needed for all of those freebies, and that the individual will be charged for every bus ride, meal and night in a hotel, and the "debt bondage" starts piling up quickly. That debt-bondage, and sometimes physical and psychological abuse, are the chains of slavery today.

Some magazine crews can be legitimate, and some are traveling sales crews are trafficking situations. Some may be wage and labor violations where a person is not being paid and there may not be exploitation or physical violence that is part of a trafficking case. Additionally, law enforcement is spread thin and often not educated on the issue, so traffickers are rarely caught; and according to service providers, when youth are able to leave they just want to go home or to familiar surroundings

Here is Mark Horvath, House-less Activist, interviewing Stephanie Bell, Outreach & Community Organizer with Prax (us) on the topic of labor and sexual exploitation of US youth.

Please share the information about labor trafficking with counselors, homeless shelters, teachers, friends and family, so that more people can learn and become aware of this issue and what they can do.

Like it or not we are all effected by this crisis, and combating all forms of human trafficking will take a collaborative and comprehensive effort. This includes providing public awareness campaigns, multi-faceted educational training, prevention services that include early identification and intervention services.

If you see anyone in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. If you have a tip call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at: 1-888-3737-888.

Additional Resources:
Mag Crew
Parent Watch

Top 10 Reasons Not To Support The 'Real Men Don't Buy Girls' Campaign

2011-04-21T23:39:00.000-07:00

There is a top 10 list for creating an ad or PSA campaign that includes general things that are needed for the its success. For example - a broad scope, do your homework, and lean towards being conservative to avoid controversy. Also, celebrity spokespersons may not always work out because they are often remembered versus the message. Then there's always the ethical and moral negatives that can pop up. Finally, don't be too scary, gross, or in the case of the 'Real Men Don't Buy Girls' campaign - creepy, funny and weird.

Here's the top 10 reasons not to support the 'Real Men Don't Buy Girls' campaign and why it will not be effective:

The 'Real Men Don't Buy Girls' campaign name is problematic because it is gender and age specific; therefore the entire campaign is extremely limited in scope and its effectiveness.

The DNA foundation website indicates that one of its primary goals is to change the cultural stereotypes that facilitate this horrific problem. Yet, by using the term “real men” as part of the campaign slogan, the old attitudes and beliefs of what defines a man are being emphasized. This is not only harmful to women and girls, but to men and boys too.

The foundation website indicates its primary goal or mission is 'eliminating child sex slavery and human trafficking', but the ads do not inform the viewer of the definition of either term or ways to learn more about the issues.

The campaign doesn’t address the fact that boys are being abused, raped, exploited and trafficked every day, globally and in the U.S.

Sean Penn may be able to use an iron, but he doesn’t bother saying that he has an issue with his friend Charlie Sheen’s record of abusing women. In March, Sean publicly came to Sheen’s defense, and even offered to take his friend to Haiti.

Penn isn’t the only ad man that allowed Sheen to slide on his abuse of women. Piers Morgan’s recent interview of Sheen was viewed by 1.3 million viewers, and during the interview Morgan had no problem joking around with Sheen. When he asked him if he had ever hit a woman, he seemed okay with Sheen’s answer that no, women should be “hugged and caressed”.

Eva Longoria and Jessica Biel show up at the end of the ads seductively asking, “Are you are a real man?”.

That's the creepy and weird part of the ad.

The campaign is missing important root cause information, such as poverty, gender inequity, conflict, culture and corruption.

The campaign is missing a way to call in tips or ask questions. That can be done at the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-3737-888 and more information can be found at polarisproject.org.

The campaign is missing a call-to-action message.

I could easily keep going with more examples of womanizing, misogynistic ad men, but I'll stop with the two examples of spokespersons who by ignoring the abuse of women, support it.

The above "top 10 list" isn't meant to bash Demi and Ashton or their efforts to raise awareness to end child exploitation. This list is meant to identify the issues that make it ineffective as a prevention and diversion campaign. When the focus is kept entirely on the victim and survivor, this is always possible.

Johanna Blakley: Social media and the end of gender

2011-04-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Can we escape old-style demographics with new social media? Listen to this TED talk to find out.

Rep. Crowley (D-NY) - Speechless

2011-04-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

Portland's Better Living Show : Human trafficking is a "green" issue, too

2011-03-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

The definition of human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Kevin Bales, author and founder of Free the Slaves, clarified the definition further when he spoke at a TED conference last year. He stated, "this is about people who cannot walk away, people who are forced to work without pay, people who are operating 24/7 under a threat of violence, and cannot walk away".

People are being forced to work in agricultural fields, mines and forests to keep up with consumer demand for coffee, clothing and electronic components. Issues, like deforestation and its environmental impact to the planet, are getting more media attention than the people who are being trafficked there to cut down the trees. When businesses address issues, such as pesticides, water use and soil health - they tend to improve the labor standards and the living conditions for their workers, yet the importance of prioritizing people over planet cannot be emphasized enough.

Forced labor and sexual exploitation exist in every country, and it is time to advocate for the people. Please join Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH) at the Portland Better Living Show this weekend, March 25-27th, to learn about practical ways you can help end it.

More about forced labor:

The Dark Side of Chocolate

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Report: The Hidden Struggles of Migrant Worker Women in the Maryland Crab Industry

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF)

International Labor Organization (ILO)

Beyond the Fair Trade Label | Left Forum 2011: Interview with Rodney North

2011-03-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across a great interview with Rodney North, a worker-owner at Equal Exchange, the co-operative that pioneered Fair Trade foods and beverages in the US in the 1980’s, and who today imports millions of pounds of Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar and bananas from 40 small-farmer co-ops around the world.

During the interview he talks about going beyond "bumper-sticker" mentality, and discusses controversial stores like Walmart, and important topics - like affordability. Click here.

Additional information on Equal Exchange and Fair Trade can be found on the Equal Exchange Website.

For information on the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition, and what is being done to make Portland a "Fair Trade" city, click here.

Portland's New Avenues for Youth - Making a Difference

2011-03-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

New Avenues for Youth offers programs and services that empower homeless youth to exit street life. They believe that every young person should have their basic needs, such as food, shelter and education. They go beyond meeting those basic needs and offer programs that allow individuals to grow and become independent adults. Here is a recent video from KATU highlighting the job skills program they offer, and how it is expanding.

Senate Hearing | Reintroduction of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act | March 16, 2011

2011-03-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

2:00 pm

628 Senate Dirksen building

With special introduction by acclaimed actress Mira Sorvino

Briefing agenda:

Mira Sorvino: Welcome and introduction

Senators Ron Wyden and John Cornyn: announcement of the re-introduction of the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act

Libby Spears, filmmaker – Director of the documentary film Playground: brief commentary and viewing of the trailer for Playground

Panel of speakers:

Dr. Sharon Cooper, Forensic Pediatrician, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Sgt. Doug Justus, Portland Police Bureau (ret.), former head of the Portland Police’s vice unit

Natasha, victims’ rights advocate, law enforcement trainer, and sex trafficking survivor

Ernie Allen, President and CEO, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

At 4:00 p.m., there will be a screening of Playground followed by Q/A with Libby Spears and Mira Sorvino.

Proclamation: March 10, 2011 National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

2011-03-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Investing in adolescents to break cycles of poverty and inequity

2011-02-27T17:12:00.000-08:00

Today's youth faces an increasingly uncertain world where climate change, rapid urbanization, the economic recession and rising unemployment pose unprecedented challenges. There are 1.2 billion adolescents across the world, nine out of ten of these young people live in developing countries. Millions are denied their basic rights to quality education, health care, protection and exposed to abuse and exploitation. Recognizing the need to turn this vulnerable age into an age of opportunity, UNICEF has dedicated it flagship publication State of the World's Children 2011 to adolescents. This video highlights the importance of investing in adolescents for breaking the cycles of poverty and inequity.

Download Report and Components:

Full report [PDF]

Executive Summary [PDF]

Statistical tables for 2010 >>
Figures >>
Panels >>
Photographs >>
Video >>

Previous editions of the SOWC >>
Order full report >>

Secretary Clinton at President's Interagency Task Force To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

2011-02-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks at the opening of the annual meeting of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. The meeting was held at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC February 1, 2011. [Go to http://www.state.gov/video for more video and text transcript.]

Portland: Rahab's Sisters Hygiene Drive

2011-02-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

SAVE THE DATE: March 2nd, 2011

Around the globe, sex workers are mobilizing. March 3, 2011 marks the 10^th annual International Sex Worker Rights Day. Generated in 2001, International Sex Workers Rights Day began as a mass rally in Calcutta, India where more than 25,000 sex workers banded together defying gender divisions of the trade to declare a unified message: Sex Workers deserve the same respect and protections as other professions. Ten years later decriminalization, healthcare and benefits, and improved working conditions remain central to the sex worker labor rights movement.

Locally and internationally workers, friends and family will gather to raise awareness through red umbrella marches and community events.The Sex Worker Outreach Coalition (SWOC) of Portland, Oregon invites you to participate in our series of FREE events for International Sex Worker Rights Day.

3/2: Unite for Sex Worker Rights Watch the Canadian film A SAFER SEX TRADE, listen to performances and an open mic show, buy a t-shirt, and make your own Zine. This evening promises fun for all in the name of raising awareness. Please bring hygiene donations (toothpaste, deodorant) for our Rahab's Sisters hygiene drive. (March 2, Red and Black café, 400 SE 12^th, 7-10PM)

Safer Sex Workshop Learn strategies to protect your sexual health and have fun while doing it! This workshop will be led by a sex educator who welcomes all questions. For adults only please. (March 8, Clackamas Service Center, 8800 SE 80th, 2-3PM)

Visions and Voices This project began with Crystal Tenty and Moshoula Capous-Desyllas giving 35mm cameras to 11 diverse women working in different positions within the sex industry to take back & white photographs of their needs and aspirations. View the hope, beauty, and struggles captured in their art by attending the month-long exhibit at In Other Words. (February-March, In Other Words, 14 Killingsworth st, store hours)

Rahab's Sisters Hygiene Drive Rahab's Sister is a drop-in center offering 'radical hospitality with no strings attached' to local sex workers and other women marginalized by the sex industry, drug addiction and/or homelessness. They provide hot meals, hygiene items, and good company to attendees of their Friday night outreach. To support their incredible work we are collecting hygiene donations around town. Travel-size items preferred. (Food Fight at 1217 SE Stark, She Bop at 909 N Beech, It's My Pleasure at 3106 NE 64th, In Other Words, PSU Women's Resource Center)

# # #

What to donate:

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, hand sanitizer, tampons and pads, toilet paper, small packs of tissue, bars of soap, travel-sizes preferred.

ABC's 20/20: Highlights Homeless & Runaway Youth in Oregon & California

2011-01-31T23:46:00.000-08:00

On the January 28, 2011 episode of ABC's 20/20 the news show followed four homeless youth from Oregon and California. Chris Cuomo reports on this year-long investigation into the causes and conditions of youth homelessness. Here, Chris talks about why they did the story and what he's learned about kids on the street.

20/20 1/28: Homeless Youth Full Episode - 20/20 - ABC

It is estimated that nearly two million youth will become homeless this year. Information on how you can help and learn more about homeless youth programs are available here: Resources to Help the Homeless

Oregon's nationally recognized Maslow Project assisted 20/20 producers on this episode for over a year. More information about the Maslow Project can be found here.

The Maslow Project was interviewed on December 13, 2010 on Southern Oregon Live: Russ Batzer and co-host Shannon Young speak with Mary Ferrell, founder and director of the Maslow Project.

An in-depth look at America's runaway youth was produced by 1.800.RUNAWAY, May of 2010. The Report has valuable information and important insights: "Why They Run".

New ILO Report Highlights Poverty, Gender Inequality and the Economy

2011-01-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

The report — Gender dimensions of agricultural and rural employment: Differentiated pathways out of poverty, finds that women are facing increasing inequality.

This interagency report on the gender dimension of agricultural work was produced by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Office (ILO) following two years of work begun in 2009. It is the first comprehensive look at gender and work in rural areas since the start of the global economic crisis.

An overview of the report, provided by India Info Line (IIFL) can be found here, New UN Report Says Rural Women Face Increasing Inequality

Child labor is cited as an issue and a trend in the report, and child labor is considered one of the major areas of human trafficking according to both the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) 2000.

To learn more about the major forms of human trafficking according to the TVPA, click here.

New NBC Show "Harry's Law" Addresses Skyrocketing Incarceration Rates

2011-01-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

I was catching up on my DVR'd shows, and was pleased to learn that NBC's new show, Harry's Law, was much more substantial than it appeared in the previews. In the pilot episode we're introduced to Harry Korn, played by Kathy Bates, and her first client, third-time drug offender, Malcolm Davies. This episode highlights the serious problem of poverty, addiction, and incarceration in our country.

In Harry's closing argument to a jury in defense of her client Malcolm, she argues that incarceration is not the appropriate way to deal with non-violent drug offenders. Here is her appeal :

"Study after study after study, has shown that when you take kids like Malcolm and you stick them in jail, you increase the likelihood that they'll remain addicts, or wind up homeless, or worst of all become more hardened and career criminals. When it comes to drug abuse, treatment is seven times more cost effective than incarceration. Seven times. It's an indisputable fact."

Note: To listen to this quote fast forward to approximately minute 27 in the full episode, click here: Harry's Law

This is just one episode, but it warmed my heart to view and listen to a social justice message in a prime-time show.

In Oregon, the Statesman Journal reported some encouraging news recently; an audit completed by the Secretary of State on Oregon's "earned time" early-release program for state prison inmates saved an estimated $25 million in the 2009 fiscal year. It not only makes fiscal sense to do this, but it provides an opportunity to place inmates into evidence-based, comprehensive programs that benefit each individual, their family, the community and future generations of Oregonians.

More information on what can be done in Oregon can be found at Partnership for Safety and Justice.

Moving Upstream: The Merits of a Public Health Law Approach to Human Trafficking - Abstract

2011-01-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Todres has posted a timely and informative article which explores whether public health methodologies might enhance efforts to combat human trafficking "Moving Upstream: The Merits of a Public Health Law Approach to Human Trafficking" (89 No. 2 pg. 447 (2011) on SSRN. Here’s the abstract.

Human trafficking, a gross violation of human rights and human dignity, has been identified by numerous government leaders as one of the priority issues of our time. Legislative efforts over the past decade have produced a patchwork of criminal laws and some assistance programs for victims. There is no evidence, however, that these efforts have reduced the incidence of trafficking. This lack of meaningful progress prompts questions as to what the best framework is for addressing human trafficking. This Article begins with a discussion of the limitations inherent in the current law-enforcement-centric approach to the problem. It then explores the merits of a public health approach to human trafficking. As evidenced with governmental and community responses to issues such as road safety and smoking, public health strategies have proven successful in reducing harm by focusing on prevention and addressing underlying causes. Ultimately, this Article concludes that, although a public health approach alone is not sufficient, public health methodologies can advance anti-trafficking efforts in ways currently underutilized or not contemplated by a criminal law model, and reveal deep-seated structural challenges impeding the success of current legislative and policy initiatives designed to combat human trafficking.

Montana Fails Exploited and Trafficked Children

2011-01-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

In May of 2010 a shoplifting case gave Missoula investigators the break they needed to identify at least five sexually exploited minors and arrest two traffickers. Details here: Child prostitution ring uncovered in Missoula; two men arrested

Note: There is never a "child prostitute", but an abused, raped, exploited and trafficked child.

Montana's AG, Steve Bullock is one of the 17AG's who rallied to shutdown the 'adult services' section of Craigslist, because he believes trafficked children are "rampant" on the site. Unfortunately, there are no statistics to back up AG Bullock's claim, and Craigslist - one of the only on-line ad services that was cooperating with law enforcement, has shut down its 'adult services' section worldwide, as of December 22nd.

Most concerning, is that these 2 men were not charged with sex trafficking. According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, anyone under the age of 18 is automatically a severe victim of trafficking, because they cannot consent to sexual exploitation.

Anthony Brazington had plead guilty, but now a plea deal is in the works and he is expected to change his plea later this month, prior to sentencing. Details here: Plea deal in the works for Missoula prostitution ring leader

Co-defendant, Richard Carpita, 30, faces penalties on a charge of aggravated promotion of prostitution, involving three people under age 18, and another of promoting prostitution involving a fourth woman. Both are felonies in Montana.Aggravated promotion of prostitution carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in the Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine, while promotion of prostitution carries a 10-year prison term and a $50,000 fine. Carpita's sentencing is set for Feb. 15, 2011.

Big Impact Human Trafficking News from 2010

2011-01-03T23:56:00.000-08:00

Before we launch into 2011, it is important to pause and look back at some key moments of 2010. This is not a complete list, however it is a list that places a high level of importance on prevention, awareness, victim identification and services.

01.04: The White House released a Presidential Proclamation on the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month (Read the full Proclamation, click here.)

05.20: NYC Human Trafficking awareness campaign and website. The campaign features print advertisements in both English and Spanish that draw attention to the realities of human trafficking while urging New Yorkers to report suspected activity and victims to seek help. It is a campaign that can be duplicated in every city.

06.14: The United States was included in the tier rankings for the first time since the State Department began releasing the annual Trafficking In Persons Report.

09.02: Six People Charged in Human Trafficking Conspiracy for Exploiting 400 Thai Farm Workers. This is the largest case of human trafficking in United States history, and more people may be coming forward. (Details, click here.)

09.19: Clinton Global Initiative (Archives, click here Highlights, click here.)

09.22: The UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals. (Summary, click here.)

09.30: California Enacts California Transparency in Supply Chain Act of 2010 (SB 657) which will require businesses to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their supply chain. It will become effective on January 1st, 2012.

10.09: The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened the world's first museum-quality, permanent exhibition on the subjects of modern-day slavery and human trafficking (Freedom Center website, click here.)

10.15: Not For Sale Global Forum. A “think tank” of abolitionists from around the globe gathering to learn, share, connect and take action to end human trafficking.

11.04: UN Establishes Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (Detail, click here.)

ACTION ALERT: Call on House to Pass Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Bill

2010-12-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

It was thrilling to watch the passage of Senator Wyden's SB 2925 through the US Senate. We are one step closer, but need your help. Please read this urgent call to action from Senator Wyden:

The United States Senate has passed legislation that I sponsored with Senator John Cornyn of Texas that will help the victims of sexual trafficking and give law enforcement the tools it needs to prosecute those who prey on women and girls.

Now it’s time for the House of Representatives to go to work and not leave Washington before this job is done.

I’m calling on all of you to contact your Congress member as soon as possible and let them know that they need to stand up for all the children who are being exploited for sex.

Tell them not to leave Washington without passing the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act (S. 2925). Call 202-224-3121 or email your member.

Sex trafficking is slavery pure and simple. Let’s end it now.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden

If you are in the Portland area:

We will be hosing a press conference this Sunday to mark this momentous next step forward.

WHEN: Sunday, December 12th at noon

WHERE: Multnomah Building, Board Room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214

WHO: Speakers include Sen. Wyden & US Rep. Blumenauer

Advent Conspiracy Defines The Spirit of Oregon

2010-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

On November 5th, Portland Mayor Sam Adams, along with Portland and Multnomah County officials announced a 5 point initiative to reduce domestic minor sex trafficking. (Details of the press conference are available here: Officials increase fight against human trafficking)

In response, several Portland area congregations are supporting the initiative through Advent Conspiracy and Season of Giving programs.

In Oregon, US Bank has set up an account so that everyone can participate. Please consider joining the greater Portland area by contributing to this gift to help survivors of trafficking this holiday season.

All information, details and endorsements are available at:
www.portlandchristmasgift.org Click the "How to Give" tab to make a donation.

Human Trafficking Needs Less Sensationalism and More Fact Checking

2010-11-26T18:30:00.000-08:00

The media have a large role to play in educating the public about human trafficking. Because of their influence, they have the ability to create awareness, educate the public and create social change. When the media broadcasts an incident, they have the ability to educate the public about an issue that is often unknown and not discussed. Therefore, it is even more important to report the news responsibly.

On November 23^rd, KGW journalists Wayne Havrelly & Rich Kurz reported that the FBI busted a "national child slavery ring", and that more than two dozen of the kids rescued were from the Northwest. The FBI Innocence Lost Initiative works throughout the

U.S.involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Attorney's Offices. They did not bust a "national child slavery ring", however the most recent sting,

Operation Cross Country V , rescued sixty-nine children, 3 from Portland and 23 from the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma area.

KGW also interviewed a former exploited youth for the article; Former prostitute explains avoiding 'the Life' in Portland. Tiffany states that "Portland is the pimp capitol and Seattle is the ho capital”, but without any statistics to back up her statement there is no way to confirm what US city has the most pimps, prostitutes or trafficked persons.

The title of the article indicates that it will inform readers of ways to avoid “The Life”, but it does little more than indicate that Malls are dangerous places where pimps recruit girls with low self-esteem. This does not inform the reader of ways to avoid being trafficked, but creates fear and doesn't address the many root causes of exploitation and trafficking.

Everyone is at risk for being trafficked, but certain factors can put an adult or child at greater risk. Therefore, it is critical that everyone learn the signs of child abuse, exploitation and trafficking - what to do to prevent it, and how to report tips. Every child's pain is real, even when their story isn’t sensational, newsworthy or in the headlines.

What Does Shutting Down Craigslit "Adult Services" Really Do?

2010-11-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

Craigslist’s “Adult Services” section is now shut down to users in the United States. The effort to shut down the site was lead by Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, while involved in a campaign for that state’s governorship, along with 17 other state attorneys general. Proponents believe it gives traffickers one less venue to operate out of, but others believe it won’t reduce trafficking and could have unintended results affecting law enforcement efforts; and adversely affect the health and safety of sex workers.

Craigslist officials had taken steps to address concerns, starting in May of 2009, when they changed the name of “erotic services” to “adult services”, and began charging $10 for each ad. To take care of additional concerns, they implemented a manual screening process to increase security and transparency. Additionally, Craigslist officials worked intensively with police, prosecutors and leaders at non-profits, to ensure no one was being trafficked on their site. Banning the “Adult Services” section may now make it more difficult for law enforcement to locate victims and track sex traffickers. A senior research fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School, M. Ryan Calo said, “Instead of being in a small stream, it’s going to be in a big ocean.” Vice officers across the nation will now be looking at just as big, if not bigger issue with online exploitation of children on sites such as myredbook.com, backpage.com, and local alternative newspaper ads.

Many adult sex workers are not trafficked – but are mothers, students or persons who might be living in domestic violence or homeless without this income. Backpage.com is now Blumenthal’s next target, but without these services available there is no mechanism for sex workers to screen or filter clients. Sex work is now being forced back onto the streets where violence is well documented. In 2003 a subcommittee of the House of Commons examining prostitution laws concluded that "people who engage in prostitution, particularly street prostitution, are faced with many different types of abuse and violence, ranging from whistles and insults to assault, rape and murder." The horrific serial killings in the Green River Killer case are just one example of the dangers faced when vulnerable persons, women in particular, are forced onto the streets.

Eliminating advertising is not the solution to ending exploitation. If lawmakers are truly concerned with ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), they will focus the same amount of energy and money spent on shutting down Craigslist towards the prevention and elimination of the root causes of trafficking. Only then will survivors be identified, and if kept safe, more will come come forward.

"The Simpsons" Exposes Sweatshop Labor

2010-10-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

The new intro to The Simpsons depicts deplorable sweatshop conditions where Asians are working on mythical animals. Sadly, these conditions exist in every country, and the intro has received a response from the International Labor Rights Forum's Campaign Director, Tim Newman. The ILRF works daily to end chld labor, forced labor and other abusive labor practices. Tim's full response can be read here: Labor is Not a Commodity

Freedom Center Opens World's First Permanent Museum Exhibition on Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

2010-10-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Freedom Center Opens World's First Permanent Museum Exhibition on Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

Because there are now over 3 billion people living on less than $2 a day, there are an abundance of people living in extreme poverty who are vulnerable to human traffickers. They are disposable, resembling, as the author Kevin Bales points out, “cheap plastic ballpoint pens.”

To learn more and take action visit: oregonOATH.org, facebook.com/oregonOATH and @oregonOATH

“Rape in the United States: The Chronic Failure to Report and Investigate Rape Cases”

2010-09-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, has scheduled a hearing . Click the embedded link and click on "webcast". The hearing begins about 20 minutes into the webcast. "Rape in the United States: The Chronic Failure to Report and Investigate Rape Cases"

Speakers testifying at the hearing:

Panel I

The Honorable Susan B. Carbon
Director
Office of Violence Against Women
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, DC

Panel II

Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey
Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia, PA

Sara R. Reedy
Butler, PA

Carol E. Tracy
Women's Law Project
Philadelphia, PA

Julie Weil
Jupiter, FL

Scott Berkowitz
President & Founder,
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network
Washington, DC

Panel III
Lawanda Ravoira
Director
NCCD Center for Girls and Young Women
Jacksonville, FL

Dean G. Kilpatrick, Ph.D.
Distinguished University Professor
Vice-Chair for Education, Department of Psychiatry
Director, National Crime Victims Research
& Treatment Center,
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC

Eleanor Smeal
Feminist Majority Foundation
Arlington, VA

Michelle Madden Dempsey
Associate Professor of Law
Villanova University School of Law
Villanova, PA

As I watched the webcast this afternoon several things caught my attention:

18% of US women report having been raped at some point in their life, and it is under reported.
Burden of rape on women is greater now than it was 15 years ago.
Attitude: If it isn't a stranger or no weapon is involved, law enforcement does not consider it as serious.
"At the moment, 94% of rapists are escaping any kind of punishment." - Scott Borkowitz
Culture of police department towards women must be changed; UCR also omits homosexual rapes. ~ Eleanor Smeal
"One of the most important things we can do is to have common terminology" regarding documentation of sexual violence, including updating 1927 narrow definition of rape.
Public education and awareness campaign is an important element of eradicating rape culture.
Prevent rape before it happens.
Senator Al Franken joined the hearing, and participated in almost the entire session. He spoke about the legal practice of victims being billed for rape kits.
Encouraged that vulnerable populations were mentioned: LGBTQ, indigenous people, immigrants, homeless, people with disabilities, etc.
Program for sexual assault in extreme rural areas will be rolled out in a couple of weeks in Alaska.

While valuable information and statistics were provided it will take everyone's involvement, collaboration and commitment to make a cultural shift to end violence and rape.

Resources:

http://www.justiceforallgirls.org,
http://rainn.org/
http://www.womenslawproject.org/
http://www.thatsnotcool.com/

Take ACTION: To End Violence Against Women

2010-09-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) is the first comprehensive piece of legislation in aimed at ending violence against women and girls around the world. We need your help to pass it this year!

The groundbreaking legislation (HR 4594/S 2982) was introduced on February 4 by a bi-partisan team of Senators and Representatives. I-VAWA would incorporate efforts to end violence against women and girls into United States foreign policy and foreign aid – for the first time ever. It would direct Administration officials to create a comprehensive five-year plan to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the world. It would support the community-based women’s groups that are working at the local level to promote prevention, conduct education programs and help victims of violence.

This legislation would also address:

* International sex trafficking and rape during war;
* Strengthen laws to stop violence against women and enhance efforts to bring perpetrators to justice;
* Help survivors escape and recover from violence;
* Prevent deaths from HIV/AIDS;
* Expand economic opportunities for abused women; and
* Educate boys and men to be leaders and allies in ending violence against women and girls.

Take a moment and send a letter to your representative today. If your Member of Congress is already a co-sponsor, thank them today. (Current list of co-sponsors: House of Representatives, Senate, Sample Thank you letter)

TAKE ACTION!

Sex Trafficking: A Global Overview

2010-08-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

Author: Siddharth Kara | 10 Aug 2010
Published in World Politics Review
Note: The magazine article below required a subscription to view it and that is why I've included the full article in this blog post for everyone to read as follows:

Sex trafficking is an exceedingly grotesque, highly profitable component of contemporary slavery. In fact, no form of slavery is nearly as profitable, and it can be argued that none is as barbarically exploitive. In the course of 10 years of research across 18 countries, I have directly interviewed more than 500 slaves of all kinds, and some of the most heartbreaking tales I heard were those narrated by women and children who suffered years of sexual enslavement at the hands of traffickers and pimps. Though much has improved as a result of anti-trafficking activism, policy, law, and media coverage since I began my research, the crime of human trafficking remains poorly understood. When it comes to sex trafficking, this is particularly due to a tendency toward sensationalism rather than strategic analysis of how the crime functions. Like all forms of slavery, sex trafficking is a business, and understanding the business and economic functioning of the crime can provide insights into more effective ways to eradicate it.

One crucial point that must be established first is that slavery, by which I mean an individual held captive and coerced to perform labor or service with nominal or no compensation, still exists. A trafficked slave is one who is recruited or acquired through deceptive or coercive means, transported some distance (whether near or far), then exploited in slave-like conditions. For sex trafficking, this means exploitation in the commercial sex industry. There are various definitions of "slavery" dating back to the League of Nations Slavery Convention of 1926 and the ILO Forced Labor Convention of 1930. These early definitions focused on the exercise of power based on a right of ownership over another human being. Across the decades, international conventions and jurisprudence relating to slavery shifted away from targeting ownership toward instead targeting the actual nature of the exploitation, particularly as involves coercion (physical or other), nominal or no compensation, and the absence of freedom of movement.

At the same time, definitions of the term "human trafficking" -- such as can be found in the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (the Palermo Protocol of 2000) or the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA, of the same year) -- have historically suffered from a greater focus on the movement connotation of the term "trafficking," rather than on the exploitation involved. The result has been an elevated tactical prioritization on cross-border migration rather than on the purpose of trafficking: forced labor exploitation. This misplaced focus has in turn resulted in limited success in thwarting global human trafficking. It has also derailed countless prosecutions and left numerous survivors of trafficking unable to access protections in the destination country, as they are deemed migration offenders first and trafficking victims second, if at all.

One piece of historic jurisprudence, a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), promises to help. In the landmark January 2010 decision of Rantsev v Cyprus and Russia, the court established that "human trafficking" is a violation of the Article 4 prohibition against forced labor found in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The court stopped short of stating unequivocally that human trafficking is slavery. However, for all practical purposes, a major victory was handed to those who argue it is, in that all 47 signatories of the ECHR now have a positive obligation to put in place effective mechanisms to protect individuals against human trafficking, investigate such offences, and prosecute and penalize the offenders. Human trafficking is about slavery, and the movement by courts to recognize this fact should help shift the global focus away from migration and toward slavery. No matter how a person arrives in a jurisdiction, if they are exploited as a slave, the primary consideration must be addressing their condition as a matter of basic human rights, as well as effectively investigating and penalizing the trafficking offenders.

While recognizing the complexities involved in both defining slavery and quantifying the number of slaves, my own calculations put the number of slaves in the world at between 26.6 million and 31.8 million at the end of 2009. These slaves are divided into three categories: bonded labor/debt bondage, forced labor, and trafficked slaves. Two out of three slaves in the world are bonded laborers, and the vast majority of these live in South Asia. In this mode of exploitation, individuals borrow money or assets and are bound in servitude until the debts are repaid -- which often they never are. Forced laborers are more evenly spread throughout the world. They are similarly coerced to work through the menace of a penalty, though without the initial ruse of a contract predicated on repayment of borrowed assets. The line between bonded labor and forced labor can be easily blurred. The more farcical a debt becomes, the more the bonded laborer is actually a forced laborer. Finally, trafficked slaves are those trafficked into one of these two conditions.

Understanding the business model and economic functioning of each mode of forced labor can reveal more effective abolitionist tactics. We will focus here on a business and economic analysis of how the crime of sex trafficking works.

The business model of sex trafficking contains three steps: acquisition, movement, and exploitation, and often results in one or more instances of re-trafficking. Acquisition of sex slaves primarily occurs in one of five ways: deceit (usually a false offer of employment, migration or marriage), sale by family (whether out of economic desperation or greed), abduction, seduction or romance, and recruitment by former slaves.

Step two is movement. Trafficked sex slaves are moved from countries of origin through transit countries into destination countries. In the case of internal trafficking, the same country acts as origin, transit, and destination. This movement is achieved by means of almost any conveyance imaginable, including bribes paid to border guards, and false passports used to transport individuals almost anywhere in the world.

The up-front costs of acquisition and movement are minimal compared to the immense profits that can be enjoyed in step three -- exploitation. Exploitation of trafficked sex slaves primarily refers to the violent coercion of uncompensated sex services, though in essence, exploitation begins the moment the slave is acquired. Slaves are raped, tortured, starved, humiliated, and drugged during transportation, and the concerted effort to break their spirits continues once they are sold. In Falkland Road in Mumbai, a former sex slave named Mallaika told me that minors were mercilessly abused when they first arrived and were given opium so they would have sex with grown men. If they misbehaved, arms were broken. If they tried to escape, throats were cut, providing a visceral lesson to other slaves of the fate that awaited them should they, too, try to free themselves.

Sex slaves are exploited in six primary types of location. The first is brothels. Bungalow brothels in Mumbai can posses up to 200 or 300 prostitutes, up to one-half of whom might be minors and slaves. Brothels in Thailand typically hold between 20 and 50 slaves, sometimes awaiting selection behind a pane of glass in a room called an "aquarium." Club brothels, or sex clubs, are another common location, and massage parlors are also often used as front organizations for prostitution. Finally, sex trafficking victims are often exploited in private apartments, in hotels and on street corners.

Obviously, the fates of most sex-trafficking victims are quite grim. Even the bare few who manage to escape face lives that offer little hope. Of those I met in survivor shelters, most were infected with HIV, suffered acute drug and alcohol addictions, had been shunned by families, and had little prospects for employment or any form of self-sufficiency upon departure from the shelters. Many others faced detention in prison and deportation due to violations of immigration and prostitution laws. As previously mentioned, the fates of an increasing number of sex slaves involve re-trafficking -- sometimes two, three, or more times. Because most individuals who escape are forced to return to the same conditions of poverty, domestic violence, or lack of economic opportunity that precipitated their initial trafficking, many are recruited, deceived, seduced, or abducted into a second or third round of slavery.

Understanding the business model of sex trafficking can help us devise ways to stop it. Here is the key point to keep in mind: The enormity and pervasiveness of the global sex trafficking industry is driven by the ability to generate immense profits at almost no real risk.

To start with the first part of the equation, immense profit, modern-day slavery is immensely more profitable than old-world slavery, which is the key factor driving the tremendous demand to acquire new slaves through the practice of human trafficking. Whereas old-world slaves could be purchased for an average of $30,000 or more in today's dollars and generate roughly 15 percent to 20 percent in annual return on investment, today's slaves sell for a global weighted average of $350 and can generate anywhere from 300 percent to 500 percent or more in annual return on investment.

Above all, trafficked sex slaves are by far the most profitable slaves in the world. Even though trafficked sex slaves comprise only 4 percent of the world's slaves, they generated approximately 40 percent of the $95.4 billion in profits enjoyed by slave owners worldwide in 2009. When we consider that the weighted average acquisition cost of a trafficked sex slave is $1,900 and the weighted average annual profits generated through the commercial sexual exploitation of that slave is $29,210, it is clear that the return on investment is staggering.

In fact, it's more staggering than you might think. To illustrate the true magnitude of profits generated by the exploitation of slaves, I introduced in my book, "Sex Trafficking," a concept called the "Exploitation Value" of a slave. The metric is not intended to minimize the human cost of these crimes, but rather to offer a concrete measure of why sex trafficking has become such a lucrative criminal enterprise. It computes the total value of a slave to an exploiter, for the average duration of enslavement in each region. The top-line numbers for the United States provide a revealing example: Whereas the weighted average acquisition price of a trafficked sex slave in the U.S. is approximately $5,000, that same slave will generate profits exceeding $135,000 for the exploiter before she escapes, is freed, or perishes.

Let me now turn to the second half of the sex-slave equation -- no real risk. In most countries around the world, the criminal penalties against sex trafficking are light on both prison terms and economic damages. For example, the most relevant criminal provision for sex slavery in India is a $44 fine for owning a brothel. In countries like Italy, Denmark, and Thailand, there are no economic penalties for the crime of sex trafficking. There are always provisions for incarceration, but sentences are relatively short and can often be further reduced by small fines. Even where there are stiff financial penalties in the law, as with the U.S. TVPA, prosecution and conviction of sex-slave exploiters remains uncommon due in large part to confusion over the definition of trafficking, corruption in law enforcement and judicial systems, lack of international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting trafficking crimes, lack of specific and sustained law-enforcement focus on trafficking crimes, and insufficient human rights protections for trafficking survivors and their families, whose testimony is required to convict the offenders.

As a result, the real risk of exploiting sex slaves is almost nil. Perhaps more importantly, the costs of exploiting sex slaves are miniscule when weighed against the immense profits that can be generated. Such an economic assessment of risk is crucial, because at its essence, sex slavery, like all forms of slavery, is also an economic crime: It seeks to maximize profits by minimizing or eliminating the cost of labor. Assuming that criminals are rational economic agents, it's reasonable to expect that they will flock to the opportunity to generate immense profits at almost no cost and risk. This explains the powerful forces of demand to acquire and exploit sex slaves around the world.

What then, does this economic assessment of the sex trafficking industry tell us? Most anti-trafficking activists argue that sex trafficking is about poverty, gender bias and economic globalization, and that to end it, we need to address these problems first. While such supply-side drivers of the sex trafficking industry must be addressed for any number of social-justice reasons, I believe the near-term focus should be deployed against demand. A brief discussion of the supply side of the industry should make the point.

The supply of contemporary slaves is promoted by longstanding factors relating to poverty, military conflict, social instability, lawlessness, and acute bias against minority ethnicities and women. These historic supply-side drivers were sharply exacerbated in the post-Cold War era by the impact of economic globalization, which during the 1990s wreaked havoc on transition economies, increased rural poverty levels, caused the evaporation of crucial social safety nets, and catalyzed mass migration trends that traffickers exploited with shrewd efficiency.

However, the entirety of the blame for the rise of sex trafficking, in particular, cannot be placed on globalization. Rather, globalization exacerbated historic factors that specifically fueled the supply of potential sex slaves around the world -- namely, deep-rooted bias against the female gender. Throughout my travels, nothing shocked me more than the extreme level of socio-economic disenfranchisement faced by millions of women across the globe. These factors contributed directly to women's vulnerability when the surrounding political and economic infrastructures disintegrated.

Beyond such systemic bias, the most alarming discovery of my research was the prevalence of violence against women. Regions where these abuses were most prevalent represented the most active origin areas of trafficked sex slaves. Many women told me that fleeing from these abuses is what delivered them into the hands of sex traffickers. When I asked these women why they thought men treated them so poorly, their answers invariably presupposed the necessity of male abuse of females. A young trafficking victim in Balti, Moldova, looked at me and said, "When a man beats a woman, you call the police. We call it tradition."

These massive supply-side drivers of the global sex trafficking industry will require considerable, long-term efforts to redress. However, we do not have to rely on supply-side measures alone to severely impact, if not virtually abolish, sex trafficking (as well as all other forms of slavery). Remember, for any industry to survive, it requires two forces: supply and demand. Fortunately, the demand-side of this industry is vulnerable to disruption.

The demand side of the sex trafficking industry can be isolated to three market forces: consumer demand for commercial sex, slave owner demand for maximum profit, and consumer demand for lower retail prices (or the price elasticity of demand). I have already discussed slave-owner demand for maximum profit, so I will now turn to the two components of consumer demand: commercial sex and price.

There could be no sex-slave industry without male demand for commercial sex. While the sex-trafficking industry is directly driven by male depravity, greed, and sexual violence, I also believe that most men do not condone these behaviors. There are many initiatives intended to elevate the sensitivity and morality of male commercial sex consumers, but in addition to these efforts, a more efficient attack on demand can be deployed against the economic drivers of sex trafficking.

A crucial revelation during my research was that without fail, in country after country, the retail price of a commercial sex act was decreasing -- in most countries by more than 50 percent across the last decade -- due to the increased use of slaves. Labor is almost always the highest cost component in any business, and slaves virtually eliminate the cost of labor. As a result, total operating costs are substantially reduced, allowing the slave owner to lower retail prices.

This essential economic formula raises the question, What is the true retail cost of commercial sex from a slave? In every country I visited, I calculated the number of hours of work at that country's per capita income that it would take to purchase one hour of sex from a slave. The results of my calculations were startling. They varied from 1.5 hours to 2 hours of labor to purchase one hour of commercial sex from a slave. Obviously, the amount of male consumers willing to accept that exchange is more than enough to create powerful forces of consumer demand, which in turn motivate slave owner demand for more slaves.

This aggregate demand, among slave owners and commercial sex consumers, is the most deadly driver of the contemporary sex-trafficking industry. The logical question to ask is, What would happen to consumer demand if the price instead required six or nine hours of work? What if the price were raised above the threshold of a low-end consumer's monthly disposable income?

An economic concept called the elasticity of demand can shed light on these questions. The price elasticity of a product designates the percent decrease in demand for every 1 percent increase in price. Using data I gathered in several countries, I constructed several demand curves for sex services at establishments that exploited victims of sex trafficking. It should be no surprise that sex services are highly elastic. As prices increase, demand drops considerably, especially when day laborers, tuk-tuk drivers, and victims of labor trafficking (usually in construction and agriculture) are priced out of the market.

From a policy standpoint, this suggests that the most effective measures to eradicate the global sex-trafficking industry are those that reduce aggregate demand for slaves among slave owners and consumers through an attack on the industry's immense profitability. An attack on profitability will reduce aggregate demand, because slave owners will be forced to accept a lower-profit -- hence less desirable -- business, or they will pass the increased costs to the consumer by elevating retail price, which will in turn reduce consumer demand.

Recall our key thesis: The enormity of sex trafficking is driven by its ability to generate immense profits at almost no real risk. The most effective way to attack profitability is to elevate real risk. In "Sex Trafficking," I discuss at length seven tactics that I believe will accomplish this goal. In summary, those tactics are: The creation of an international slavery and trafficking inspection force, operationally similar to the weapons inspectors utilized by the United Nations, charged with searching for establishments in which slaves are being exploited, freeing the victims, and detaining the criminals; The creation of trained and paid community vigilance committees, consisting of members of the community, taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, business owners, and specially trained individuals who frequent sex establishments to seek out slaves, gather data, and report their findings to the inspection force; Targeted, proactive law enforcement raids against establishments for which there is a strong suspicion of slave-like exploitation, with protections in place to minimize adverse effects against the individuals - slaves or otherwise - living in those establishments; Funding to increase salaries for antitrafficking police, prosecutors, and judges in developing nations; Fast-track courts to prosecute trafficking crimes, with international observers and judicial review to minimize corruption; Fully funded witness protection and living income support for slaves and their families for the duration of a trial and up to twelve months afterward; A massive increase in the financial penalties associated with sex-slave crimes, perhaps to the levels of drug trafficking crimes, including asset forfeiture and victim compensation, to help former slaves get their lives back on track.

This increase in penalties, along with increased prosecution and conviction levels achieved through the above tactics, should elevate the real risk and cost of sex trafficking to an economically detrimental level.

Whether these or other tactics are deployed, the process of elevating cost and risk into a near risk-free system of global human sexual exploitation should be a top policy agenda of lawmakers around the world.

It is worth noting that June 17, 2010, marked the 10-year anniversary of the Palermo Protocol, and while this occasion was met with due commemoration at the United Nations, it also served to highlight that efforts to eradicate all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery remain severely inadequate. General sensationalism instead of strategic analysis, confusion over terminology, inadequate protections for survivors, misaligned laws, anemic international cooperation, and a head-scratching paucity of resources to combat the crime continue to allow traffickers to generate immense profits with impunity.

The U.S. government could lead by example, but at present, the U.S. spends approximately $20 per human trafficking victim per year -- and just $2 per slave per year -- to combat these crimes, and around 350 times this amount to fight drug trafficking. Alternatively, consider the trillions allocated globally to stem the recent global economic crisis, money that could have been deployed across the last few decades to erode poverty levels, bring healthcare and clean water to millions, build infrastructure, expand basic literacy and education, and increase the human development status of billions of the poorest in the world. Doing so would have resulted in a far more ethical, just, and sustainable global civilization in which fewer people would be vulnerable to slavery and other forms of exploitation. Above all, each human whose freedom is denied and life exploited for the sake of profit represents our collective failure to advance a good and decent existence for us all.

Siddharth Kara is the author of "Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery," and a fellow at Harvard University's Carr Center Initiative to Stop Human Trafficking. Kara currently advises the United Nations and several governments on antislavery policy and law, and he continues to research slavery around the world.

Photo: Prostitutes talk to potential customers on the street in Pattaya, Thailand (Photo by Kay Chernush for the U.S. State Department).

Oregon: Find a Home for Homeless Youth

2010-07-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

ISSUE:
The Oregon Commission on Children and Families (OCCF) is about to lose their Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Coordinator to budget cuts. Without a coordinator, at least eight regional programs for RHY will be independently competing for scarce federal and state resources and the state network and continuum of care services that have been built over several years may disintegrate.

WHO IS WORKING ON THIS ISSUE?
Concerned Oregonians

WHAT ARE THE OCCF PROGRAMS?
Community Schools, CASA, Cultural Competency, Healthy Start, Juvenile Crime Prevention, Positive Youth Development, Relief Nurseries & Homeless & Runaway Youth

Additional program details, including Homeless & Runaway Yout h

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Call your Representative and Senator or his/her staff. You can use this script or personalize your own message. Find Your Legislator

“Hi, my name is [ ], and I am a constituent of Representative/Senator [ ]. I am calling to urge [him/her] to reinstate the Runaway and Homeless Youth Coordinator position which supports 8 programs supporting over 4,000 youth in Oregon. The Runaway and Homeless Youth coordinator is a key position within the Oregon Commission on Children and Families and a necessary resource for the state, because it acts as a prevention mechanism for human trafficking and youth homelessness by protecting our children and keeping them supported in their own communities. This return on investment is significant to communities and state agencies around Oregon, saving the state of Oregon money and keeping Oregon’s youth safe."

After you make your call, please follow up with a short email to thank your Representative and restate your message.

2. Write to your Senator – please personalize the following message or create your own and send by email or by mail: Find Your Legislator

DATE

NAME
ADDRESS

Re: RHY Program Coordinator Position / Oregon State Budget Cuts

Dear Representative _______________ / Dear Senator _____________

As recently as 2005, the Governor designated the Oregon Commission on Children and Families (OCCF) as the lead agency in coordinating statewide planning for delivery of services to runaway and homeless youth and their families. Currently, the OCCF is about to lose their Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Coordinator to budget cuts. Without a coordinator, at least eight regional programs for RHY will be independently competing for scarce federal and state resources and the state network and continuum of care services that have been built over several years will likely disintegrate.

Oregon has over 18,000 homeless students and many more that are not in school or have dropped out. These are youth who have led lives of instability and abuse while surviving on the streets. They are determined survivors who want to get their lives back on track, but without an RHY Program Coordinator these children and older youth do not have a voice and are vulnerable and at risk for being trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation.

The OCCF is providing the state of Oregon with valuable prevention and intervention services and the Runaway and Homeless Youth coordinator is a key position within the Oregon Commission on Children and Families, because it acts as a prevention mechanism for human trafficking by protecting our children, and as a result saving the state of Oregon money.

Thank you for acting to protect our state’s children and stop human trafficking.

Sincerely,

NAME

3. Pass this information to your neighbors, friends, and family

4. Learn and share:

NY Times October 2009 Runaway Series (Oregon is highlighted):
Recession Drives Surge in Youth Runaways
For Runaways, Sex Buys Surviva l
Q. and A. on Young Runaways

Homeless in Denver, Jeremy & Alicia, by Invisible People

Homeless in Denver, Sergei, by Invisible People

Kansas Human Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth, by Invisible People

Homeless Youth Labor and Sex Trafficking in America, by Invisible People

Event: Runaway and Homeless Youth: Prevalence, Programs, and Policy (The Urban Institute)

In-depth look at America's runaway youth (ABC highlights 1.800.Runaway Report, Why They Run)

Full 1.800.Runaway Report, Why They Run

Additional 1.800.Runaway Podcasts

Homeless Youth Labor and Sex Trafficking

2010-07-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

This is an interview with Stephanie Bell, outreach and community organizer with Praxus, an anti-trafficking organization in the U.S., focusing on homeless youth, ages 18-24, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit PRAXUS and Urban Peak for more information.

Human Trafficking is horrible at all levels. But society seems to not care as much when it's American homeless youth being exploited. This is a very powerful interview that everyone must see. Interviewed by Invisible People. Distributed by Tubemogul

What can the average citizen do?

Contact your representative about homeless funding and housing.
Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Contact your McKinney-Vento school liaison
Get involved in your state foster care and juvenile detention system
Be a volunteer mentor
Learn more about human trafficking
Add the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888) to your cell phone
Follow Invisible People on Twitter: @invisiblepeople, @hardlynormal

The Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum

2010-07-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum consists of a cargo truck outfitted as a replica of the trucks involved in a recent slavery operation (U.S. v. Navarrete, 2008), accompanied by displays on the history and evolution of slavery in Florida agriculture. The museum's central focus is on the phenomenon of modern-day slavery – its roots, the reasons it persists, and its solutions.

Full press release

For more information, contact:
Julia Perkins, CIW, (239) 986-0891
Romeo Ramirez, CIW, (239) 503-0605
Or visit: http://www.ciw-online.org/museum/

The Making of a Girl

2010-07-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Produced with filmmaker Jillian Buckley, The Making of a Girl is an intimate journey of a hypothetical preteen girl as she faces a life of sexual exploitation. Rachel Lloyd, founder of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), takes us through the trauma, pain and trauma of a largely unremarked upon current issue facing American youth- sex trafficking, abuse, and sexual exploitation.

For additional information about GEMS: http://www.gems-girls.org/

Pornography Harms: Capital Hill Briefing (YouTube)

2010-06-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Coalition for War on Illegal Pornography is an effort by The DC Group on Pornography, a group of national organizations which meet quarterly in Washington, DC for the purpose of education, strategic planning and action. The group has met with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on several occasions asking that Federal Laws prohibiting interstate transportation of adult obscene pornography be enforced.

On June 15th a Capitol Hill briefing was held to address the following: (1) The four leading harms of pornography; (2) How existing laws can and should be enforced against illegal material; and (3) What Congress can to to protect and prosecute.

Here are highlights from four of the presenters and leaders in the field of pornography and sex trafficking:

Mr. Patrick Trueman is the former Chief, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice. While there, he supervised the prosecution of child sex crimes, child pornography, and obscenity. He is currently a legal consultant to non-profit organizations on child sexual exploitation, sexual trafficking, pornography, indecency, and related matter.

Patrick Trueman now runs PornHarms.com, and says the government's failure to enforce existing obscenity laws is making things worse.

"I've read virtually everything the U.S. Supreme Court has said about pornography, and the court has never said that it is protected speech. It is not," Trueman says. "Much of the hard-core porn readily available via the Internet, cable TV and adult bookstores would not be produced if federal prosecutors cracked down on producers under existing statutes."

On the rare occasions that big-time porn producers and major distributors are prosecuted, he added, "DOJ wins virtually every case because community standards come into play. When prosecutors bring cases, they help establish community standards. When they refuse to prosecute, they help establish the community standard as 'anything goes.'"

The links between sex trafficking and pornography, presented by Laura Lederer, president of http://globalcenturion.org , is Founder of The Protection Project, http://protectionproject.org , a legal research institute at Johns Hopkins University devoted to combating trafficking in persons, and is a former Senior Advisor on Human Trafficking [to the Under Secretary for Global Affairs] at the U.S. Department of State.

Laura Lederer warns that "we are now midway into a mass social experiment. Porn has become the major form of sex education for boys and increasingly for girls as well."

Lederer also notes that 90 percent of adult porn scenes now depict either physical violence or verbal aggression that meet the definition of assault, however, porn film makers are rarely charged.

Dr. Sharon Cooper http://www.missingkids.com , is a Forensic Pediatrician & instructor & Board member of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. As a pediatrician for more than 3 decades she is the lead author of the most comprehensive text on child sexual exploitation & Internet crimes against children, (Child Sexual Exploitation: A Training Curriculum), & serves on the faculty of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Dr. Gail Dines http://GailDines.com & http://StopPornCulture.org , "Pornland" author: http://3.ly/Ezev . Dr. Dines is Professor of sociology & women's studies at Wheelock College, Boston, an internationally acclaimed speaker & author & a feminist activist. Her work focuses on the hypersexualization of the culture & the ways porn images filter down into mainstream pop culture.

Porn, Business and FREEDOM!

2010-06-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

After Steve Jobs announced the iPad and iphone Offers 'Freedom From Porn', there was much discussion and heated debate. As Steve Jobs is aware - there is nothing to debate.

There are hard-core statistics that back up an outstanding business decision that knocks corporate greed and stands for the safety of children.

Every Second $3 075.64 is spent on Internet Pornography.
At any given second a number exceeding 28 258 Internet visitors are viewing pornography.
Every second 472 Internet Searches are conducted on topics related to pornography.
Every 39 minutes a new pornographic movie is made in the US alone.
12% of all websites on the Internet are pornographic. That is about 24 644 172 websites.
40 Million Americans are regular visitors to pornographic sites.
The are more than 116 000 searches for the term ‘Child Pornography’ each day.
The average age at which a child first sees porn online is 11.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children organization operates the national CyberTipline, which has received 750,000 reports of child porn since it started in 1998.

The national center works with multiple law-enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ICE, the Postal Inspection Service and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

The national center has helped remove more than 8,000 web pages in the US displaying young children being sexually abused, according to John Shehan, executive director of the exploited-children division. According to Shehan, these images are of infants and prepubescent children in horrific situations being sexually abused, raped and photographed.

For additional information, research and reports, visit http://pornharms.com/. This site was was established by Patrick A. Trueman, Attorney At Law and Former Chief of Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Criminal Division at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. The website is made possible by a multi-disciplinary group of professionals and concerned citizens from around the country that have a common interest in making credible research available to the general public and policy makers on the harm from pornography.

Again - kudos to Steve Jobs, Apple and FREEDOM!

June is Cyber Safety Month

2010-06-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

If you feel you have come across child pornography online, please call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline. 1-800-843-5678

If you think you have seen a Missing Child, please call and report all information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 24-hour Call Center.

Any possession, in any media form, of child pornography is illegal. If you know someone in possession of this, report it immediately to your local Police Department or Sheriff’s Office.

If you feel you or someone you know has been a victim in the making of child pornography, call and report information to the FBI’s Innocent Images National Initiative.

Fair Trade Resources

2010-06-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

Interested in learning more about fair trade and how it can make a difference in the lives of men, women and children? Learn how fair trade helps erradicate sweatshops;helps end child labor; helps end the debt burden on developing countries; ensures farmers can earn a living wage; and supports and protects the environment. Check out these great websites and as David Batstone, founder of Not For Sale, recommends, start BUYcotts instead of boycotts the next time you go shopping.

Bambootique: The mission of Bambootique is to offer economic opportunities to artisans worldwide, mainly women, by providing them access to the North American market through a fair trade boutique.
Better World Shopper: The only comprehensive guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers available, this book ranks every product on the shelf from A to F so you can quickly tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” — turning your grocery list into a powerful tool to change the world.
Chain Store Reaction: CSR initiates an open conversation on this site that allows the consumer to voice our demand of SlaveFREE products, and in turn hear what companies are doing on the issue.
Environmental Justice Foundation: Information on child labor, water, pesticides and subsidies, related to cotton.

International Labor Rights Forum: ILRF is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide.

Fair Trade Resource: ftrn.org is an information hub designed to grow the fair trade movement.

Fair Trade Foundation: Reports, Resources, Videos, News and general information on cocoa, coffee, bananas, sugar and tea.
Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International: 24 organizations working to secure a better deal for producers.

Free To Work: This newly-updated site helps consumers identify companies which do not have forced or child labor in their production.

Global Exchange: Global Exchange® is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world.

Made By Survivors: Sells products made by survivors of sex trafficking, and partners with 18 anti-trafficking shelters in 9 countries around the world.

No Sweat Apparel: Provide wholesale, US union-made gear, custom printed or blan, while providing a living wage to their workers.
Responsible Shopper: Provides you with the real story about abuses by well-known companies, gives you actions to promote corporate responsibility, and helps you green your life and world.

Rugmark: GoodWeave works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.
Story of Stuff: The Story of Stuff Project’s mission is to build a strong, diverse, decentralized, cross-sector movement to transform systems of production and consumption to serve ecological sustainability and social wellbeing.
Sustainable Cotton Project: Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) focuses on the production and use of cotton, one of the most widely grown and chemical-intensive crops in the world.

Sweat Free Campaign: SweatFree Communities, a campaign of the International Labor Rights Forum, assists sweatshop workers globally in their struggles to improve working conditions and form strong, independent unions.
Ten Thousand Villages: Your fair trade purchase of handmade jewelry, home decor and gifts helps improve the lives of thousands of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

The dark side of chocolate, Q&A with Carol Off, author of Bitter Chocolate (Carol Off is co-host of CBC Radio's As It Happens and the former host of Counterspin on CBC Newsworld. She is an award-winning documentary maker and author. Her most recent book, Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet, chronicles the international cocoa industry and the machinations behind Big Chocolate.)
The Good Guide: Find better products that are healthy, green and socially responsible.

Think Fair Trade First: A fun educational read and a joy to look at, this book is a rare and engaging Fair Trade resource for kids aged 3-8.
Trade Observatory: A global source of trade policy information from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Human Trafficking and Cyber Tip Links en español

2010-06-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

Is your organization or task force in need of a Spanish language internet safety and human trafficking toolkit? If so, here are some great resources and links that can be shared easily with individuals, schools, businesses, social service, and religious organizations.

NetSmartz en español

El NetSmartz Workshop (Taller NetSmartz) es un proyecto excitante del Centro Nacional para Menores Desaparecidos y Explotados (o NCMEC, sus signos en inglés) que enseña a los niños a estar más seguros cuando usan el Internet. NetSmartz ofrece actividades innovadoras de seguridad en el Internet mediante el uso de las más avanzadas tecnologías 3-D y del Internet.

Cyber Tip Line en español

Millones de adolescentes se conectan todos los días, y la mayoría son seguros. La manera de estar a salvo es entender los peligros y seguir algunas reglas simples para ayudar a mantenerse libre de problemas. Al seguir estas reglas usted minimizará el riesgo y podrá disfrutarlo mejor.

Safety Tips & Advice en español from Connect Safely

Tips Sociales para Jovenes en la Red

Tips Sociales Para Padres en la Red

Video Sharing - Los 10 Tips Mas Seguros

Uso de Celulares - Tips de Seguridad

Café ASPIRA - Su guía hacia la concienciación cibernética

Bienvenido al Café ASPIRA, su conexión en la red con información fidedigna sobre como navegar por internet con seguridad. Este portal esta dedicado a concienciar al público en general, y especialmente a las familias latinas, de la importancia de moverse en internet con los conocimientos necesarios para protegerse de predadores, acosadores y fraudes.

bNetS@vvy en español

The goal of this site is to be a trusted one-stop shop for information, tools and links to high-quality resources that can help young teens stay safe online!

Be Web Aware

Be Web Aware is a Canadian, public education program on Internet safety in both English and French. The initiative was developed and supported by Media Awareness Network (MNet), Bell and Microsoft Canada.

SelfRelianceFoundation : A non-governmental, non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, that works to empower underserved communities to improve their quality of life.

Campaign Against Human Trafficking : Links to Project Safe Childhood Television and Radio PSA’s (Overview of the project)

Facebook Acceso Hispano is a project of the Self Reliance Foundation (SRF), a non-governmental, non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, that works to empower underserved communities to improve their quality of life. Most of SRF’s projects combine the persuasive power of mass media with person-to-person community outreach, to ensure that people have access to the information, services and support networks they need.

Ricky Martin Foundation: Ricky Martin Foundation advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health.

NavegaProtgido: Navega Protegido is an alliance between Ricky Martin Foundation and Microsoft to protect children from cyberspace dangers.

SaberHacer: Videos on many topics, including: ‘Child Physical and Sexual Abuse’ and ‘Protecting Your Child On-Line’

Commercial Sexual Exploitation (Adopted by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on November 11, 2001.) There is a Spanish pdf that may be helpful.

National Human Trafficking Hotline Poster in 6 languages, which was used in the rest areas and truck stops on I5 prior to the Olympics. This can be modified in size and by language: Links to the hotline poster campaign are available at http://seattleagainstslavery.org/campaigns.aspx

Free human trafficking general information brochures: Rescue and Restore

NYC - "Let's Call an End to Human Trafficking"

2010-05-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

On May 20^th, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Carol A. Robles-Roman and Chief Advisor for Policy and Strategic Planning John Feinblatt launched a new public-education campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking and encourage New Yorkers to report potential trafficking situations. The multi-media campaign is called “Let’s Call an End to Human Trafficking".

There are several key components to this citywide campaign that every city can implement:

1) Human trafficking and modern day slavery knows no specific age, gender, race or ethnicity. The campaign posters feature various silhouettes along with short facts about the crime, and a 311 phone number to call for additional information or ways to help. Citizens are also encouraged to visit the multimedia campaign website.

2) A very clear message is given about human trafficking: "Know it. See it. Report it." This simple campaign message educates everyone that human trafficking is a crime that can happen to anyone, both foreign born and U.S. citizens, and can appear in multiple forms and locations. A list of human trafficking traits and questions to help the public identify trafficked persons and have them call 911.

3) This campaign educates, creates awareness and has a call to action. These are the three key components necessary for a successful anti-trafficking campaign.

In the campaign press release, Chief Advisor Feinblatt noted, "When it comes to counter-terrorism, New Yorkers have learned the importance of this simple sentence: ‘If you see something — say something.' But we need to apply that same message to crimes that take place in the shadows like human trafficking."

In the majority of human trafficking cases, victims do not self identify, which is why it is critical that the public be made aware of the signs of human trafficking and how to take action. The more aware the public is, the more victims will be identified and rescued from slavery. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is: 1-888-3737-888

Identify, Rescue & Restore Victims

2010-05-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

A study that was done in 2001 in Chicago at the Cook County Jail provides information that is practical and useful. The information provides insights into the lives of these non-violent offenders who are vulnerable to human trafficking because they often do not have a job, have drug and/or alcohol addiction, and are homeless.

At the time the study was done, 82 percent of all women detained were charged with non-violent offenses. 60 members of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless conducted in-depth, one-on-one surveys with 235 of the 1,117 women detained that day in Cook County Jail.

KEY FINDINGS:
Of all 235 women surveyed:
• 45 percent reported being detained two to five times.
• 82 percent reported being mothers.
• Women in jail are survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence at two and three times the national average.
• 54 percent reported being homeless in the 30 days prior to entering Cook County Jail.
• 13 percent said they were offered assistance finding housing while they were detained in jail.
• 23 percent of unemployed women said they were not employed because they had no place to live.
• Women without housing are twice as likely to be detained more than six times.
• 54 percent said they were not employed in the 30 days prior to entering Cook County Jail.
• 60 percent of unemployed women stated that substance abuse was a barrier to employment.
• 36 percent stated they could not get needed help for an alcohol or substance abuse problem.
• 34 percent were regularly involved in some form of prostitution.
• 29 percent of women said they had an application denied or were cut-off from government

This study also highlights the plight of victims of commercial sex.

82 percent of the women had been physically assaulted.
83 percent had been threatened with a weapon
68 percent had been raped while working as a prostitute

Recommendations from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless would provide alternatives to incarceration, including a comprehensive housing plan, gender-specific treatment and a transition plan. In addition, long term support systems would be put in place to support survivors for their long term success.

These recommended policies and programs provide direct, holistic and appropriate care for women, and similar policies must be put in place for all trafficked persons (men, women and children). Social services ultimately cost less than the unending cycle of arrest and release; and give people the time and place to heal while keeping families together. (NOTE: Some specialized programs require separate facilities by age, gender and culturally competent care.)

The full report is available, click here.

Decriminalize Prostition

2010-05-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

In 1999, Sweden decriminalized prostitution and criminalized the buying of sex. It's been 10 years since they have passed this law and it's been so effective that other countries near them have passed similar legislation, and it is now known as the Nordic Law.

Trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation: Preliminary research on the reduction of the demand By Gisèle Poinier and Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers

In 1999, the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS 1998:408) decriminalized prostitution and criminalized the buying of sex.

Street prostitution has declined by 70-80 percent.
Indoor prostitution has declined 50 percent.
Polling data indicates that 80% of the Swedish public is in favor of Sweden’s criminalization of the purchase of sex

Full Report: http://hrwf.net/uploads/2010%20Trafficking%20Demand.doc

Timeline: 1999

Sweden bans the buying of sex.
Denmark decriminalizes prostitutes.

2002

Denmark’s first action plan against trafficking in women.
Denmark criminalizes human trafficking.
Sweden criminalizes human trafficking.

2003

Norway’s first action plan against human trafficking.
Norway criminalizes human trafficking.
Iceland criminalizes human trafficking.

2004

Finland criminalizes human trafficking.
Sweden revises its law against human trafficking.

2005

Norway’s second action plan against human trafficking.
Sweden tightens its legislation on procuring.
Finland’s first action plan against human trafficking.

2007

Finland bans the buying of sex from trafficking victims.
Iceland decriminalizes prostitutes and criminalizes profiting on the prostitution of others.
Denmark’s second action plan against trafficking in women – now trafficking in humans.

2008

The Swedish Government presents the country’s first action plan against prostitution and human trafficking to the Parliament.
Norway accepts a new law on the banning of buying sex.
Iceland prepares its first action plan against human trafficking.
Finland’s second action plan against human trafficking.

2010

Iceland bans stripping effective July, 2010.

STATISTICS - We Have The Numbers!

2010-05-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

Statistics:

1. At least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labor worldwide.
International Labor Organization, 2008

2. 600,000-800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors.
US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2007

3. Human Trafficking is the 2nd largest and fastest growing illegal trafficking activity in the world.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2008

4. The United Nations estimates the total market value of human trafficking at $32 billion-a-year.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2008

5. Estimated 1 to 10 million children across the world are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)
Willis & Levy. “Child prostitution: global health burden, research needs, and interventions.” Lancet 2002; 359:1417-22.

6. Prostituted children serve 100 to 1500 clients per year, per child.
Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 2007

7. One million children are forced to work in the sex industry every year.
Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 2007

8. Child pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry and among the fastest growing criminal segments on the Internet.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

9. The average age of entry into prostitution in Portland and the United States is 13 years old. Between 100,000 and 300,000 children in America are at risk for sex trafficking each year. Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 2007

10. Estimated 1,682,900 youth had a runaway or throwaway episode during 1999.
The National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART).

11. National study of 13294 American adolescents found that 3.5% or 421, 000 had exchanged sex for drugs or money. Edwards, J., Iritani, B. and Hallfors, D. “Prevalence and correlates of exchanging sex for drugs or money among adolescents in the United States”. Sex Transm Infect 2006;82:354-358.

Corporate Social Accountability Webinar on Forced Labor

2010-05-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

Sexual exploitation and forced labor are the most common forms of human trafficking, however forced labor is the most under reported of the two. 10 years after the Trafficking Victims Protection Act has been in effect, the United States has only issued 1319 T-Visas, although the law allows for up to 5000 a year to be granted. Clearly, not enough time and resources are being applied to help identify and support trafficked persons.

Here is an audio from a recent webinar featuring Ambassadar Luis CdeBaca, Director of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and Jonathan Drimmer, head of the Business and Human Rights practice at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, discussing renewed government emphasis on forced labor: click here

Facilitators: Craigslist and MORE

2010-05-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

This week Craigslist has been in the news almost daily because it's estimated that the company's revenue is expected to soar by 22% this year, with a profit of between $88 million and $99 million. A third of that revenue comes from sex ads, and in particular listings for prostitution, which are illegal in the US and many countries. Not only is it not illegal, it is very specifically protected by the Communications Decency Act.

The message this announcement sent out to America this week was that on-line prostitution is a great money-maker in the United States of America and more people should be doing it. Amazon even sells the how-to books. Jim Buckmaster responded this week by explaining that Craiglist's charitable organization would donate to human trafficking rehabilitation organizations.

Rachel Lloyd, executive director from GEMS, and other direct service providers responded:

Women's advocates don't want Craiglist's charity

Craigslist, and other on-line advertisers are enabling and supporting the trafficking industry. It must stop and business owners are the first in line to make a commitment to ending the horrible scourge of human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Lola Greene Baldwin

2010-04-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

Portland has a rich and unique history, and when I learn something new about it I appreciate the city even more.

In the early 1900's Lola Greene Baldwin wanted to make change without creating waves, and she did that in a big way. She was so effective that she became Portland's, and the nations, first Policewoman. OPB has a complete history, brief video and DVD on their website, click here.

Her namesake, the Lola Greene Baldwin Foundation helps women to escape, survive, or recover from the life of prostitution and its long-term effects.

2010-03-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

House bill: `Sexting' not child porn - Legislature - MiamiHerald.com http://ping.fm/QxZmg

Oregon Senate Passes Hotline Bill (HB 3623)

2010-02-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

After much persistent work by Representative's Brent Barton, Jefferson Smith and their aides James Barta and Mollie Ruskin, the Hotline bill has unanimously passed the Oregon senate. (Oregon Senate passes bill to fight human trafficking)

Through the coordinated efforts of James Barta, Drew Olsen, Commisioner Diane McKeel and many volunteers at the Oregon Center for Christian Values - many Oregonians were educated on this bill. It was through their efforts that community education nights were held, questions answered, and support raised so that we could be made aware of the impact of this bill.

In addition, the OCCV helped join hands amongst organizations in the community on this important issue. Several organizations who directly support survivors of human trafficking were able to sign letters of support for this bill. The bill is now on the Governor's desk awaiting his signature.

Here is the press release from Representative Brent Barton:

Representative Brent Barton

D-Clackamas

900 Court St NE H-386

Salem, OR 97301

News Release Friday, February 19, 2010

Contact: James Barta (503-986-1451)

Bill Raising Human Trafficking Awareness Passes Senate Unanimously

Bill will publicize Human Trafficking Hotline number: 1 888-373-7888

Salem – Priority legislation of Representative Brent Barton was positively received in the Oregon Senate this morning. Senator Diane Rosenbaum carried HB 3623 on the floor where it received unanimous support. Rosenbaum is one of three chief sponsors, joined by Representatives Jefferson Smith and Barton.

“Human trafficking is the forced exploitation of a person for profit,” explained Rosenbaum, Co-Chair of the Oregon Women’s Health and Wellness Alliance. “While many believe this form of modern day slavery only happens overseas this tragic exploitation of women and children is a growing problem here in Oregon. This bill takes the first step by raising awareness.”

HB3623 allows the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to include human trafficking informational stickers, supplied by a non-profit, along with license renewal letters. These letters are sent yearly to more than 11,000 establishments, and including the informational sticker will not incur any additional cost to the state. Businesses will receive information stressing the importance of displaying the sticker to their patrons and can choose where to display it.

“A drug dealer sells his drugs once, but a young woman can be forced to bring back money over and over again. By publicizing the national hotline number: 1 888-373-7888, victims and witnesses will have a resource to report crimes and find help,” said Barton.

“As with domestic violence before, much of the challenge of human trafficking is that it occurs in the shadows of society,” said Smith. “We hope HB 3623 will help bring this crime to the full light of public attention.”

The Polaris Project (www.polarisproject.org) began the hotline number in December 2007 and has already received more than 14,000 calls, leading to several arrests and victims finding help. Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel and the Director of the Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force, Keith Bickford, first proposed and promoted this legislative concept. HB 3623 has also received important support from groups such as the Oregon Center for Christian Values and the Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance.

HB 3623 will now go to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.

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My Dangerous Loverboy

2010-02-04T16:34:00.000-08:00

Loverboy, aka: pimp

Definition of a Pimp:
Pimps and human traffickers use manipulation, debt, drugs, beatings, rape, fear and intimidation to control victims, whom they prostitute in return for compensation.

GEMS - Girls Education and Mentoring Services in New York shared an article with me that ran in the Guardian last summer. It's about Maria Mosterd, a young girl from Zwolle, Netherlands, who was lured by a loverboy: Full Story Maria was told she was beautiful and loved, then isolated and prostituted for four long years. Why didn't she walk away? She watched beatings and was threatened. She wasn't in "love", but was addicted to her 'loverboy'.

There is a new campaign from the UK called, (ck the website here->) My Dangerous Loverboy that will go a long way in raising awareness of human trafficking, not only in the UK, but every city in the world.

Video:

You Can Make Difference!

2010-01-31T18:47:00.000-08:00

Often, human trafficking victims are found and rescued because individuals notice something unusual, and call the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report it.

Right now, Oregon has a chance to take a step towards ending human trafficking and modern-day slavery within our borders and pass a law to identify trafficking victims.

House Bill 3623 , legislation introduced by Representative Brent Barton, will increase public awareness of human trafficking and provide increased visibility to help victims of human trafficking by requesting establishments that serve alcohol post the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline, 1-888-3737-888.

Available services include crisis intervention, urgent and non-urgent referrals, tip reporting, and comprehensive anti-trafficking resources and technical assistance for the anti-trafficking field and those who wish to get involved. The hotline is available 24/7 , is confidential, and interpreters are available.

Please email a brief note to your Senator and Representative! To find your legislator, please visit: Write Your Legislator

Most importantly, if you or if you have friends who live in the districts listed below, please invite them to write to the House Human Services Chairs prior to Wednesday, February 3rd. The bill needs to pass out of the House Human Services Committee before it goes to the full House floor for a vote.

House Human Services Committee
Carolyn Tomei, Chair, Milwaukie
Deborah Boone, Vice-Chair, Cannon Beach
Andy Olson, Vice-Chair, Albany
Michael Dembrow, NE Portland
Margaret Doherty, Tigard
Lew Frederick, N & NE Portland
Tim Freeman, Roseburg
John E Huffman, The Dalles
Ron Maurer, Grants Pass
Suzanne VanOrman, Mt Hood area

Senate Human Services Committee
Bill Morrisette, Chair, Springfield
Chris Telfer, Vice-Chair, Bend
Laurie Monnes Anderson, Gresham
Joanne Verger, Coos Bay
Jackie Winters, Salem

Girls Need a Safe Place

2010-01-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

“This Is to Mother You” by Sinead O’Connor, has been re-recorded by O'Connor, Martha B. and Mary J Blige to to raise awareness and funds for GEMS programs during the summer of 2009.

GEM, (Girls Educational and Mentoring Service) released the following video along with the song for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, 01.11.10, which is incredibly inspiring. Please watch and share it with your family, friends, high school and college classmates. Then make an action plan with things you can do to end trafficking in your state.

Currently, there are only 44 beds in the entire United States for survivors of sexual exploitation. With no money and no place to go, children often remain in unsafe situations, with their pimps, isolated and trapped. By providing safe shelter, like the GEM's facility, girls are offered medical and educational services. It all starts with education and awareness.

It's easy to become an every day abolitionist. Here are several ideas your you and your friends, classmates, business associates, church groups, and anti-trafficking org's to do during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month:

Visit: GEMS website

Share: Girls Are Not For Sale - We Are Millions (YouTube)

Host a Viewing: GEMS documentary: 'Very Young Girls'

Oregon Trafficking Hotline HB 3623

2010-01-22T22:26:00.001-08:00

Oregon State Representatives, Brent Barton and Jefferson Smith, are spearheading a bill in the Oregon legislature this month that requests all Oregon bars, liquor stores and restaurants that serve alcohol post a sticker raising awareness about human trafficking. The sticker will include the National Human Trafficking Hotline Phone Number: 1-888-3737-888

On January 14, the bill was presented in Salem; Portland Mercury article: State Pushes Sex Trafficking Sticker for Bars.

HB 3623 would allow a nonprofit organization to provide the Oregon Liquor Control Commission with stickers or other materials that list the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888) and/or have information about human trafficking – free of any charge to the state.

The Polaris Project (http://www.polarisproject.org/), a Washington DC nonprofit dedicated to combat human trafficking, has committed to providing said materials. The OLCC in their annual mailing to all licensees will then include a sticker and a cover letter designed to educate establishment owners of the issue and encourage them to post the materials in a conspicuous place.

Calls made to the hotline will reach trained operators: tips will be routed to local police and law enforcement, and victims will be directed to human services partners already in the community.

To learn more about the bill and how you can participate, please attend an educational event sponsored by the OCCV, Wednesday, January 27, 7:30-9:00: OCCV: Advocate to Save Sexually Exploited Youth's Lives in Oregon

Human Trafficking Presentation

2010-01-22T17:30:00.001-08:00

Human Trafficking Presentation

View more presentations from Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Modern Day Slavery

2010-01-18T08:56:00.001-08:00

What greater honor can we give to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., than to learn, share and act to end modern day slavery and human trafficking.

Creative Ways to End Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking:

Advocate:

Monitor legislation at state, national and international level.
Investigate pending immigration legislation and impact on trafficking.
Host a letter writing party.
Use Legislative Advocacy Tool via www.ipjc.org and www.ijm.org to write legislators.
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Schools(K-12) and Universities:

Age-appropriate curriculum on sex trafficking, human trafficking and human rights.
Incorporate into Social Studies, English and Health.
Request libraries have books, videos, and films available related to slavery and trafficking.
Educate school counselors, nurses, teachers about identifying victims of trafficking.
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Community:

Post the toll-free National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888) in bus terminals, bus stops, rail stations, rest areas, day laborer job centers and truck stops.
Have a fair trade chocolate party.
Start a book club to learn about human trafficking.
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Religious Organizations:

Host a weekly / monthly prayer service.
Organize a network of churches/synagogues.
Initiate a Social Justice group.
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Businesses:

Post human trafficking events on company bulletin board.
Offer lunch-and-learn: Human Trafficking 101 training.
Post the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888) on website with link:
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Media:

Post the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888) on website.
Use proper terminology when covering human trafficking.
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Personal:

Write articles and letters to the editor for local newspapers.
Invest in survivors of human trafficking.
Volunteer with a local anti-trafficking organization.
Join a local Human Trafficking Task Force.

Fair Trade Practices:

Learn about goods produced with child labor and slave labor.
Promote and use Fair Trade products at home, school and work.
Practice responsible shopping: Child labor and "sweat-shop free".

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

5 Things Better Than a Sweater

2009-12-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

Just a few days before Christmas, and still haven't purchased that special gift for that special someone? Here are a few ideas to try on.

1) Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

Synopsis:
A call to arms against our era's most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women in the developing world.

Sign up your book club with Mercy Corp's, One Table to enter their contest — and to receive exclusive discussion questions from Nick and Sheryl, handmade bookmarks from India, and updates on Half the Sky news and events.

Purchase at: Powell's Books

2) Children's Relief Nursery

The best solution for child abuse and neglect is to prevent it. CRN is breaking the cycle before it’s too late. Their early childhood program builds healthy families so kids can reach kindergarten prepared to succeed.

SAVE THE DATE! Iron Bartender CompetitionThursday, January 21, 2010 6:30-9:00 PM Jupiter Hotel Buy tickets now! Click here for sponsorship information.

3) Bradley Angle House

Provides Emergency Shelter and options for healing to women and children escaping domestic violence. Their 24-hour crisis line is a resource for everyone.

$250 Provides community support group services with childcare for six women for one month

Support Bradley Angle by giving through the Willamette Week Give!Guide

Contribute to Bradley Angle families through the Oregonian Wish Book

4) Ten Thousand Villages

Located in the Heart of the Pearl District on the corner of NW 10th and Everett.

Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed - most of whom are women. Your fair trade purchase of handmade jewelry, home decor and gifts helps improve the lives of thousands of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

5) NorthWest Conference Against Trafficking Humans

Look Beneath The Surface Northwest Conference Against TraffickingSaturday, January 9, 2010 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Resource Expo open 8am-9am

Red Lion Hotel at Jantzen Beach, 909 North Hayden Island Dr., Portland, OR 97217

Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery. The second largest criminal enterprise in the world after arms dealing, victims of human trafficking work in domestic servitude, agriculture and all too often - the sex industry.

Tickets: $50ea Proceeds above lunch/conference costs will go towards a Portland shelter for survivors of sex trafficking.

St. Nicholas and Slavery

2009-12-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

Fresco showing the father of the Three Maidens thanking St. Nicholas, from Decani Monastery

The legend of St. Nicholas begins with a single act of charity. Around 350 AD, there lived a Greek Orthodox bishop in what's now Turkey by the name of Nicholas. Nicholas heard that a poverty-stricken townsman had become so desperate he was prepared to sell his three beautiful daughters into prostitution. So late one night, Nicholas slipped over to the man's house and tossed a bag of gold through a high window. This act saved the girls from a life of slavery and prostitution.

St. Nicholas went on to help many people in need for many years. He would come secretly at night and help in a quiet way. To remember him, people bake his image into gingerbread cake forms every December.

The story of St. Nicholas has morphed into a chubby, commercialized Santa Claus who is plastered onto many different products. We have an opportunity throughout this holiday season to remember the act of charity St. Nicholas is truly known for, and donate to an organization that works to end modern day slavery and human trafficking.

Rescue Victims - Prosecute Pimps

2009-11-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

Every single day there are victims of human trafficking located in Portland, Oregon and throughout the United States. This is a hidden problem, but when law enforcement applies resources victims are located. The problem then becomes a mad scramble for a very few beds that may be available at domestic violence shelters. Although these services are a helpful, personnel are often not trained to support victims of human trafficking.

Oregon, like many states, does not have a single rehabilitation home for survivors of human trafficking. Senator Ron Wyden is proposing a bill that would allocate funds for education and social services - including housing, clothing and education for survivors of trafficking. I know that abolitionists in Oregon will be watching how this bill unfolds, and the victims will be waiting.

Listen to Jeri Williams, survivor/overcover, who spoke at Ron Wyden's press conference: http://bit.ly/1RKRtd

1-888-3737-888 - Mandatory Posting of Hotline #

2009-10-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

What can you do? The first step is to call your representative and let them know that Oregonians want the National Hotline legislation to be a priority in the February 2010 session. This bill would require the posting of the National Human Trafficking hotline wherever alcohol is sold, and additional transit locations.

Victims of human trafficking very rarely self-identify because of fear and lack of resources.
A large percentage of human trafficking victims work in locations where alcohol is served.
The sign must be displayed in a clear and visible manner to the public and employees.
The sign must be displayed in both English and Spanish.
The majority of human trafficking victims are women and children who are forced to perform sexual labor.

The national hotline number is 1-888-3737-888. The call is toll free and the hotline is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The line is monitored by trained specialists from Polaris Project who are able to assist victims in several languages. Services offered by the hotline are crisis calls, tips, referrals, training and general information. Over 2300 potential victims have been described during calls received from 12/07 through 12/08.

Oregon should also consider imposing an entrance fee for admission to certain sexually oriented businesses. The fees collected would be used to support a variety of programs providing services to sexual assault victims and human trafficking victims and survivors - including prevention, protection, prosecution and rehabilitation programs and projects. These are a just a couple of ways to protect vulnerable people in our communities from the threats posed by human trafficking and modern day slavery.

More information about the hotline can be found at the Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Center (NHTRC) website: http://nhtrc.polarisproject.org/

Clinton Global Initiative

2009-09-24T12:16:00.001-07:00

Since 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative has merged the efforts of government, private companies, and non-governmental organizations with the intent of expanding public service to produce a worldwide effect। One of this year's themes is the empowerment of women and girls. Eradicating human trafficking and modern day slavery is an issue of particular focus. Watch all or partial sessions via webcast here.

Highlights:

Polaris Project Recognized During 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

Clinton Announces Verite & ASSET's Commitment to Address Human Trafficking and Forced Labor

UPS Pledges $9M To Help Relief Organizations, Combating Human Trafficking Addressed At CGI

Global Progress Cards Report on child sex trafficking unveiled at CGl by ECPAT and The Body Shop

Ruchira Gupta of India receives Clinton Global Citizen Award

Today is Peace Day, September 21st, 2009!

2009-09-21T17:20:00.001-07:00

What will you do to create peace today? Jeremy Gilley has many ideas, and has created a documentary to show that when guns stop firing and bombs stop falling for only one day, young people can play, be educated and get necessary vaccines. Please make your commitment to peace and save a life today!

cfpdx

What is Human Trafficking?

Human Trafficking versus Smuggling:

Signs that a Person Might be Trafficked

Eugene homeless youth photo exhibit: 'It personalizes it. It humanizes it'

A new exhibit at the downtown Eugene Public Library focuses on homeless youth in Lane County. Full story, here.

One of the service providers mentioned in the video is Looking Glass, Youth and Family Services. More information about this non-profit and the important services they provide for youth in Eugene and Lane County and be found here.

Child Sexual Abuse: "Listen to Kids" Interview with Jennifer Talbot

What is Prevention?

10 Year Anniversary of the Harkin-Engel Protocol

A Public Health Approach for Advancing Sexual Health in the United States: Rationale and Options for Implementation, Final Meeting Report

Inside Story Interview: New ILO Child Labor Report: Children in hazardous jobs

New Study Shows Media Underreport Child Sexual Abuse, Miss Key Aspects of Issue

Labor Trafficking of US Youth

Top 10 Reasons Not To Support The 'Real Men Don't Buy Girls' Campaign

Johanna Blakley: Social media and the end of gender

Rep. Crowley (D-NY) - Speechless

Portland's Better Living Show : Human trafficking is a "green" issue, too

Beyond the Fair Trade Label | Left Forum 2011: Interview with Rodney North

Portland's New Avenues for Youth - Making a Difference

Senate Hearing | Reintroduction of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act | March 16, 2011

Proclamation: March 10, 2011 National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Investing in adolescents to break cycles of poverty and inequity

Secretary Clinton at President's Interagency Task Force To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

Portland: Rahab's Sisters Hygiene Drive

ABC's 20/20: Highlights Homeless & Runaway Youth in Oregon & California

The Maslow Project was interviewed on December 13, 2010 on Southern Oregon Live: Russ Batzer and co-host Shannon Young speak with Mary Ferrell, founder and director of the Maslow Project.

An in-depth look at America's runaway youth was produced by 1.800.RUNAWAY, May of 2010. The Report has valuable information and important insights: "Why They Run".

New ILO Report Highlights Poverty, Gender Inequality and the Economy

New NBC Show "Harry's Law" Addresses Skyrocketing Incarceration Rates

Moving Upstream: The Merits of a Public Health Law Approach to Human Trafficking - Abstract

Montana Fails Exploited and Trafficked Children

Big Impact Human Trafficking News from 2010

11.04: UN Establishes Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (Detail, click here.)

***ACTION ALERT: Call on House to Pass Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Bill***

Advent Conspiracy Defines The Spirit of Oregon

Human Trafficking Needs Less Sensationalism and More Fact Checking

What Does Shutting Down Craigslit "Adult Services" Really Do?

"The Simpsons" Exposes Sweatshop Labor

Freedom Center Opens World's First Permanent Museum Exhibition on Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

“Rape in the United States: The Chronic Failure to Report and Investigate Rape Cases”

Take ACTION: To End Violence Against Women

Sex Trafficking: A Global Overview

Oregon: Find a Home for Homeless Youth

Homeless Youth Labor and Sex Trafficking

The Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum

The Making of a Girl

Pornography Harms: Capital Hill Briefing (YouTube)

Porn, Business and FREEDOM!

June is Cyber Safety Month

Fair Trade Resources

Human Trafficking and Cyber Tip Links en español

NYC - "Let's Call an End to Human Trafficking"

Identify, Rescue & Restore Victims

Decriminalize Prostition

2002

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STATISTICS - We Have The Numbers!

Corporate Social Accountability Webinar on Forced Labor

Facilitators: Craigslist and MORE

Lola Greene Baldwin

Oregon Senate Passes Hotline Bill (HB 3623)

My Dangerous Loverboy

You Can Make Difference!

Girls Need a Safe Place

Oregon Trafficking Hotline HB 3623

Human Trafficking Presentation

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Modern Day Slavery

5 Things Better Than a Sweater

St. Nicholas and Slavery

Rescue Victims - Prosecute Pimps

1-888-3737-888 - Mandatory Posting of Hotline #

Clinton Global Initiative

Today is Peace Day, September 21st, 2009!

ACTION ALERT: Call on House to Pass Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Bill