SUPPPORT: The SOLD Project for Christmas

One of my friends from Fuller Seminary, Rachel Goble-Carey is the executive director of The SOLD Project. I've posted about them before because they're doing such great work to fight child trafficking in Thailand. Support their work and help fund programs that educate women and prevent trafficking!

Check out their website at: The SOLD Project.

WATCH: GEMS The Making of a Girl

I was searching for this video and glad to see that Girls Education and Mentoring Services, GEMS, has added it to their media tab on their website.

A few years ago I participated in a train-the-trainer session led by Rachel Lloyd, executive director of GEMS, on commercial sexual exploitation of children, CSEC. It was a wonderful and informative training and I look forward to being able to lead more trainings in the future.

One of the videos we utilized during the training can be viewed on at this link along with other media from GEMS: The Making of A Girl. It does a wonderful job showing the complexity of factors that lead to CSEC.

SUPPORT: Hand and Cloth

I just ordered some beautiful stockings from Hand and Cloth. I saw their booth a couple of days ago at the Point Loma Nazarene Roots of Giving fair. I just wanted to highlight the great work this organization is doing to help women that are at risk for prostitution and trafficking.

Here is an excerpt from their website under our work, "Hand and Cloth is a social enterprising ministry in India and Bangladesh that provides a living wage, school scholarships, and a loving community to women at risk of prostitution and trafficking. Each woman is paid per-piece to stitch kantha dorokha, a traditional two-sided blanket made from recycled sari material. Hand and Cloth provides school fees and tutors for the women and also offers regular Bible studies. The women live together in a community outside of the red light district, where they sew together, share meals together, study together and pray together."

Visit their site: Hand and Cloth

The beautiful work these women are creating makes lovely gifts for giving this Christmas season and throughout the year! What an awesome agency to support!!

CELEBRATE: CNN 2010 Hero Anuradha Koirala

Anuradha Koirala is "rescuing girls from sex trafficking" in Nepal. Her work through Maiti Nepal is inspiring and challenges us all to end the horrific crime of human trafficking. She was selected as the CNN Hero of the Year for 2010. She is truly a healer and change agent working within her culture to prevent and restore victims of human trafficking.

Visit the CNN Heroe's Website to view her video vinette.

To visit their agency website click here: Maiti Nepal

Additionally you can view a preview of the documentary TIN GIRLS focusing on their work.

ACTION: CALL IN TODAY!! Help child sex trafficked victims!!

TODAY!! November 17 is the National Day of Action to urge Congress to pass the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and Victims Support Act (H.R. 5575)! As many of you know I'm been an eager supporter of this legislation.

It’s being organized by the National Coalition to End Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, of which Polaris Project is a part. If this legislation passes, it would provide victims of human trafficking with access to much needed services and shelters. H.R. 5575 would also provide grants to state and local governments who work with social service agencies to train law enforcement and increase investigations.

In order to make sure this crucial legislation passes please commit to take action TODAY! Urge your representatives to take action and help bring an end to human trafficking.

Together, we can send a loud and clear message: human trafficking happens here in the United States and it’s time for Congress to do something about it. Click here for instructions on how to participate in the National (Call-in) Day of Action.

CAMPAIGN: Groups Launch National Media Campaign

Human & Women’s Rights Groups Demand Backpage.com End Sex Trafficking of Children Through Its Website

Groups Launch National Ad Campaign

WASHINGTON—Leading human and women’s rights organizations today launched a new national advertising campaign demanding that Backpage.com close its “Adult” section until it can guarantee no child is sold for sex through its website. The new ads will be placed by the Rebecca Project for Human Rights; A Future. Not A Past., Georgia; Women’s Foundation of Minnesota; Arizona Foundation for Women; Arizona Center for African American Resources; and Women's Funding Alliance of Washington State.

Learn more about The Rebecca Project.

November 17th: National Call-In Day of Action for HR5575

Next Wednesday, November 17 is the National Day of Action to urge Congress to pass the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and Victims Support Act (H.R. 5575)! As many of you know I'm been an eager supporter of this legislation.

It’s being organized by the National Coalition to End Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, of which Polaris Project is a part. If this legislation passes, it would provide victims of human trafficking with access to much needed services and shelters. H.R. 5575 would also provide grants to state and local governments who work with social service agencies to train law enforcement and increase investigations.

In order to make sure this crucial legislation passes please commit to take action NEXT Wednesday! Urge your representatives to take action and help bring an end to human trafficking.

Together, we can send a loud and clear message: human trafficking happens here in the United States and it’s time for Congress to do something about it. Click here for instructions on how to participate in the National (Call-in) Day of Action.

READ: SD Union Tribune & Teen Trafficking

"Teenage Prostitution Targeted in East County"

Click here to read the article.
The great news is that this made the news! However, while the article mentions exploitation and gets the force element of this crime, they still use the word teen prostitutes. Can we please eliminate that from our collective vocabulary. Each time we refer to these minors let's use language that focuses on the fact that they did not choose this, they are exploited, trafficked, prostituted not prostituting.

However, overall the article highlights the important players in San Diego County and takes a look at the growing issue. It is very hopeful to see such an active law enforcement presence.

READ: TIP Report 2010

I wanted to make another link available to the Trafficking In Persons Report from 2010. This year the report includes the United States within the country narratives. I hope this will be a helpful resource for learning more about what our country and those around the world are facing related to human trafficking alongside their efforts to create change.

Click here: TIP Report 2010

List to the NPR story: A First: US Included in Human Trafficking Report

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: The Garden of Hope

This faith based organization is working to transform the lives of those that have been victims of human trafficking. Their mission is "The Garden of Hope is a community that protects vulnerable and at-risk children and women from abuse and explotation in Southeast Asia and equips and enables them to develop maturity and responsibility, bearing fruit for the glory of God." They have a beautiful website with more information on the different projects that they are involved in as well as ways to participate.

Check out their website at: The Garden of Hope
*Image taken from their website.

PRORAM SPOTLIGHT: San Diego Youth and Community Services S.T.A.R.S. Expressive Arts with CSEC Victims

Learn More!

EVENT: Not For Sale AIR1 Freedom Tour Temecula, CA November 11, 2010

Not For Sale is going across the US with the AIR1 FREEDOM TOUR!

Join The Wrecking, Satellites & Sirens, Vota, and special guest Big Kettledrum for a night of amazing music and opportunities for action in the movement to end slavery.

We’re traveling West from Kansas City to California. Meet the bands, hear from NFS Artist-in-Residence Brant Christopher, and learn how you can partner to re-Abolish slavery in your lifetime.

Wednesday 11/10 – Temecula, CA – Sunridge Community Church
Doors 6:00 – Start 6:30
42299 Winchester Road
Temecula, CA 92590

www.sunridgechurch.org
Contact Person: Paula Tremayne | 951 296 1770 x224 | ptremayne@sunridgechurch.org

For additional locations visit: Event Tour Dates or Air! Freedom Tour

Forum: University of San Diego Youth Forum on Human Trafficking November 4, 2010

Youth Forum on Human Trafficking

Thursday, November 4, 2010
Institute for Peace & Justice Theatre at University of San Diego
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Cost: free

Did you know an estimated $31.6 billion is made from modern-day slavery, making it one of the most profitable businesses in the world? Join university and high school students as they talk about the global crime of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation in San Diego.

Panelists:
Malaki Hendrix, Human Trafficking Survivor
James Hunter, Detective, Innocence Lost Task Force, San Diego Police Dept.
Susan Munsey, Director, Generate Hope
Nikyta Palmisani, Expressive Arts Therapy Coordinator, San Diego Youth Services

WATCH: Holy Ghetto, Inside Israel's Sex Trade

"Tracing the narratives of marginalized women within Tel Aviv’s red light district, Holy Ghetto explores the devastating legacy of Israel’s long unregulated sex trafficking industry on a generation of silenced, stateless women.

The character-driven film will intimately explore personal narratives that are emblematic of a nation’s battle towards recovery: three sex-workers trying to liberate themselves from a cycle of prostitution, drugs, poverty and abuse, and an American whose independently-operated shelter struggles to help them. Holy Ghetto will document their stories with authenticity, providing a detailed picture of the landscape from which its victims must recover." -Taken from their website

To learn more about upcoming events for this film visit their site: Holy Ghetto

VOTE: Support Fair Fund Pepsi Refresh Project

Visit the Pepsi refresh project's site to see what the non-profit Fair Fund has proposed. By voting for this idea you can support their goals to:
- Educate 1,000 at-risk teens to stay safe from trafficking
- Support teens in danger
- Provide access to shelter, medical services, and more for teens
- Build a community that can better assist exploited teens

Learn more about Fair Fund here: Fair Fund Website

Where to vote? Click here. You are able to vote until November 30th!

EVENT: Free the Slaves Freedom Awards in Los Angeles November 7th 2010

Tickets are on sale now for the Free the Slaves Freedom Awards in Los Angeles. This night with highlight the champions of anti-slavery work. For information details visit: Free the Slaves Event Info.

ACTION: Help Pass Legislation to Support Domestic Minor Victims of Trafficking (H.R. 5575)

During my previous work in anti-human trafficking, we continually ran into one large obstacle. There was inadequate funding and services for local victims of domestic trafficking. It didn't make sense. We could allocate resources for those coming from abroad, which is hopeful, but those from our own community we had trouble placing in shelters, finding appropriate mental health care and additional services.

The "Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010" works to decriminalize minors that are victims and creating funding for services to those children that are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. This piece of legislation is currently in the judiciary committee and needs all our help to push it through!

Please read the linked pdf on taking legislative action and write your congress representative!

For updates on the legislation and a full pdf you can visit: GovTrack