delirium 4,237 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 cr: https://www.themuse.com/advice/human-trafficking-the-myths-and-the-realities https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-fight-for-freedom-7-organizations-combatting-human-trafficking https://www.themuse.com/advice/take-action-7-ways-to-join-the-fight-against-human-trafficking I believe that it's important for people to remain aware of this issue since it can and does affect any individual, any age, from any country (which means it could happen to anyone reading this); it's already a multi-billion dollar business, only drugs and arms dealing are more lucrative, and if the world doesn't unite aggressively and continue to fight it, the selling of fellow humans and modern slavery will only get worse. We are in an age where people use their social media everyday, where we hashtag trendy topics and cancel people for differences of opinions but how many of us who claim to support social justice believe that we can exert change by raising awareness? It's much easier than people believe. Warning before watching this video - describes horrific abuse/rape It looks like a lot of reading but the focal points are bolded/underlined or colored red and you can understand the topic by simply reading those phrases. Human Trafficking: The Myths and the Realities In order to make real change, though, we need to understand the issue—which is even larger and more complex than most people realize. Through my experience researching human trafficking and migration in Asia, Africa, and North America, I’ve come to understand the origins, networks, and culture behind it. Most recently, I’ve worked with the Children’s Organization of Southeast Asia in Chiang Mai, Thailand, an organization that provides intervention, education, and empowerment opportunities in trafficking communities. At first, I found the magnitude of the issue difficult to grasp: Trafficking occurs in nearly every country, and its networks are vast and formidable to investigate. According to the United Nations, there are between 27 and 30 million modern-day slaves in the world. And the U.S. State Department cites that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across borders every year. But these numbers are often under-reported and victims are usually hidden in the shadows, meaning that real, concrete statistics are often elusive. It also means that there’s a lot of incorrect information out there. Everyone talks about human trafficking as a problem we need to tackle and eradicate, but to do so, we first need to separate the facts from fiction. Here are some of the most common trafficking myths, and the truth about what’s really happening. Myth: Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling Are Not the Same Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, human trafficking is not human smuggling. Trafficking is the recruiting, transporting, harboring, or receiving of a person through force in order to exploit him or her for prostitution, forced labor, or slavery. Human smuggling, on the other hand, is the transport of an individual from one destination to another, usually with his or her consent—for example, across a border. It’s an important distinction—and one that must be clear in order for law enforcement and policymakers to properly address each issue. Myth: Most Traffickers Are What the Movies Show You A couple of years ago, while sitting at dinner in a trafficking village, I realized that traffickers are not always powerful gangsters the way mainstream movies like Takentend to portray them. Trafficking occurs in a wide range of socioeconomic classes, and the people involved could be anyone—there’s no one type of trafficker. In some villages I visited, the traffickers were politicians and local law enforcement. In other parts of the world, they’re businessmen or restaurateurs. While organized crime plays a large role in global human trafficking, communities, local governments, and even families are often involved in the process, too. Many times, it’s strictly about economics—those who sell their children are not “evil†or “bad†people, they simply feel that they have no other choice. Myth:Human Trafficking Only Refers to Forced Prostitution I met a nine-year-old girl from a local Hill Tribe in Thailand who wasn’t going to school. Instead, she was building one—her family was so poor that she was forced into laying bricks for many hours a day. She is free from this life now, but there are thousands of children throughout the world still forced in to this type of labor. Human trafficking does not always equal prostitution—it can include indentured servitude, other exploitation in the workforce (in factories or on farms), and even the organ trade. Myth: Only Women Are Trafficked Men and young boys are also trafficked, and they often get much less attention then trafficked women do. In part, that’s because it’s very difficult to get young boys out of trafficking, especially sex work, because the activity generates the kind of quick money that cannot be made anywhere else. Men and boys often remain invisible in the trafficking dialogue, or it is assumed they are only trafficked for labor. The short film by photographer Ohm Phanphiroj reveals the struggles of young men trapped in the sex industry in Bangkok. Myth: Everyone Trafficked is Kidnapped or Deceived When women in places like Ukraine respond to ads for entertainment or waitressing jobs, they risk falling in with sham placement agencies that may confiscate their documents and force them into sex work. Or, an uncle in Vietnam may tell his niece she’s going away to work at a restaurant, when in fact, she will be shipped to a brothel. But other times, trafficking victims clearly understand the situations they’re entering and know they will be exploited. They choose to go anyway because they believe they will ultimately profit. Some make the choice to be trafficked because of the lack of jobs within their communities. In other cases, poor families will send their own daughters into sex work or labor for the lucrative one-time pay-off, as well as the potential for more in the future—once a trafficked person pays off her “debt†(the travel and document fees traffickers tell their victims that they owe), she can begin to earn profit. In fact, many villages use the world trafficking interchangeably with “working.†When some sex workers or factory workers return to the village after “working†in the city, they build large houses and appear “rich†after working, even though their type of work and hardship isn't discussed. As a result, others in the community strive for similar material gain and continue the trafficking cycle. But know that when children are involved in sex work or labor, they have not made that choice for themselves. That is always human trafficking. Myth: Trafficking Only Happens in Other Countries, Not in the United States While trafficking is often thought of as something that happens across international borders, it also happens in America—every single day. According to Polaris Project, there are 100,000 to 300,000 children prostituted in America and many more at risk. (You can learn how to identify a trafficking victim at the State Department website.) While it’s daunting—and at times depressing—to attempt to understand human trafficking on a global and local level, it’s also empowering. Once you know the realities of human trafficking, you’re better prepared to raise awareness and start taking action. Below are the organizations that you can support and/or join when fighting against trafficking. Theses organizations are making tangible differences. One voice helps more than we can ever truly understand. The Fight for Freedom: 7 Organizations Combatting Human Trafficking In the dialogue on human trafficking, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the statistics, the issues, and the politics. The problem is complex and pervasive, and there are more modern-day slaves in our world than at any other point in history. But, there are also more people working to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery than ever before. Few of these organizations are large or well-known—rather, they work from the grassroots level, promoting awareness and advocating for change in the communities they’re needed most. These groups confront traffickers, criminal gangs, and broken systems in order to make a difference. They use their resources to take a stand and serve as a voice for those who are exploited and held against their will. Each organization has a different strategy, but all of them, little by little, are making major strides in ending human trafficking. Read on to learn about seven organizations that are fighting to ensure freedom for all. Trafficking Policy and Advocacy: Polaris Project One of the most influential groups working on the issue in the United States, the Polaris Project takes a comprehensive approach to ending modern-day slavery. The organization advocates for stronger federal and state laws, operates the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, provides services and support for trafficking victims, and works with survivors to develop long-term strategies to ending human trafficking. Second-Generation Trafficking: Prajwala In India, children who grow up in brothels with their parents often meet the same fate. In order to counteract this dangerous legacy, social activist Dr. Sunitha Krishnan co-founded Prajwala (which means "eternal flameâ€). Based in Hyderbad, India, the organization rescues women from brothels and then provides them with education, mental health care, and job programs. (Check out Dr. Krishnan’s powerful talk at the 2009 TedIndia Conference.) Statelessness and Child Trafficking: COSA Most Hill tribes in Thailand are “stateless,†or not governed by the laws of the country—which makes their women and girls particularly vulnerable to trafficking. After recognizing this, photojournalist Mickey Choothesa and social worker Anna Choothesa created the Children’s Organization of Southeast Asia to provide education, intervention, and support in Hill tribe communities. COSA works directly within trafficking communities to provide trafficked girls with healthcare, social services, and housing in the Baan Yuu Suk Shelter—as well as to bring awareness and education to the traffickers themselves. Trafficking of Men and Young Boys: Urban Light A number of organizations help girls in the sex industry, but very few work to aid young men. After a service trip during which she observed the industry in Thailand firsthand, Alezandra Russel realized that boys are often excluded from the human trafficking conversation. So she created Urban Light, an organization that works to help young men break free from child prostitution and sexual exploitation. By providing food, shelter, healthcare, and support services, the group helps restore and rebuild the lives of male victims. International Sporting Events: Student World Assembly’s Red Card Project When a large sporting event, such as the World Cup, takes place, fears often arise that trafficking will increase to meet demand from the influx of tourists. Student World Assembly’s Red Card Project mobilizes students from around the world to stage powerful and striking condemnations of human trafficking at these events, bringing large-scale and needed public awareness to the practice. Child Labor: GoodWeave The handmade rug industry has one of the highest child labor rates in the world. When GoodWeave began its work in 1994, there were nearly one million children—many kidnapped or trafficked—working on the looms in South Asia, often for up to 18 hours a day. Through its efforts, the organization has not only helped bring child labor in the rug industry down 75%, it has built affiliations with retail outlets all over the U.S. to ensure that all carpets sold are free from child labor. The Issue of Choice: The Empower Foundation Not all who work in the sex industry do so against their will—some do so by choice. While the resources of most organizations aim to assist those exploited and hidden in the shadows, The Empower Foundation grew from a movement of sex workers and entertainers who fight for fair and sustainable standards and equal rights in the professions they have chosen. The group runs the Can Do Bar, which offers just, safe, and fair conditions for its workers. Standing up against human trafficking takes courage, but anyone can get involved by working for an anti-trafficking group or taking a stand on an individual level. If trafficking concerns you, there is no time to wait. The business is growing with the help of the powerful. It can't be stressed enough that the average individual and their support/lobbying/awareness can make the difference in stopping the torment of others. Ready to find out just how easy it is to spread information and help countless individuals? Please keep reading. Take Action: 7 Ways to Join the Fight Against Human Trafficking Once you’ve learned more about the myths and realities of human trafficking and the courageous organizations working to end it, you may be inspired to take action. And while it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem, you as an individual have more power than you might think. Read on for seven ways that you can make an impact in the fight against modern-day slavery. 1. Start a Club or Community Group It’s hard to remain quiet knowing that human trafficking is going on, so speak up—each voice that spreads the word about the problem is important. Share the story with your friends, colleagues, and fellow concerned citizens, and work together as a group to promote awareness and take action. The students and professors of Mercer University did exactly that when they launched S.T.O.P., an organization that works to end sex trafficking through awareness, action, and dialogue. Recently, S.T.O.P. coordinated the Call to End 21st Century Slavery conference, which hosted over 900 students and citizens from across the country. To get started on your own group, host a meeting to spark interest, then decide on your group’s specific goals. Will you promote awareness, take action, or both? Once you’ve decided, you can plan events and outreach to further spread your message. Find ideas below for what your group can do. 2. Lobby Local Policymakers In Macon, Georgia, massage parlors often operated without license—and often hosted the commercial sex trade. So S.T.O.P lobbied Macon’s mayor, city council, secretary of state, and state senator to pass SB 364, making it a law for all massage parlors to operate under legitimate licensing. You are a powerful voice in your community and your state. So if you want to see something done about human trafficking in your area, reach out to your local politicians. Schedule a meeting with them to emphasize why trafficking should be on their priority list and suggest ways they can help end this problem in your community—as well as across the nation and around the world. 3. Hold an Event to Raise Awareness College students Justine D’Souza and Justine Yu realized the need for students to address trafficking in a social environment, so, as officers of the Rutgers University Campus Coalition Against Trafficking, they launched the annual Stop the Traffick Jam concert, which brings bands and speakers together to promote awareness and raise money for an international anti-trafficking organization. The group also hosts an annual coffee house to talk to other students about trafficking. And you can do the same! Host an event—as simple as a potluck or as elaborate as a formal conference—to spread the word about trafficking and help others gain a better understanding of what’s really going on. 4. Launch a Research Project Understanding trafficking isn’t about barging into brothels or passing judgment. It takes research, cultural understanding, and even personal experience to get a good grasp on the issues. Recent college grads Alexandra Wolf and Mona Sulieman wanted to do just that, so the two are journeying across the U.S. to learn more about the issue and dispel the myth that it’s only an issue of the developing world. (You can follow their experience looking into the domestic challenge and response to trafficking on their blog, Traffic in Our Streets.) But you don’t have to travel far to do something similar. If you have a paper, thesis, or presentation coming up, consider investigating human trafficking in relation to your sector or field of interest. No matter what you do, there’s likely a way that you can contribute your expertise to the dialogue on trafficking. 5. Snag a Job at an Anti-Trafficking Organization In a professional setting, fighting human trafficking can be intense, frustrating, and emotional, but it’s also extremely rewarding, and if you’re really passionate about the movement, it’s a great way to make a big impact. After working as a crisis counselor and advocate for victims of sexual assault, Laura Phillip wanted to use her experience on an international stage, so she moved to Thailand to become the director of COSA. Now, she manages the daily activities of the young women at Ban Yuu Suuk shelter, a haven for at-risk and formerly trafficked girls, coordinates volunteers, and develops programs in trafficked communities. If you’re interested in working for an anti-trafficking organization, start by learning as much as you can about the subject. Expand your network on social media, and follow the different organizations that interest you online. Then, volunteer in a variety of rolesto gain experience and get a sense for the specific positions you’d like and goals you want to achieve. 6. Pursue a Fellowship If working in the anti-trafficking field interests you, but you aren’t ready to commit to anything long-term, apply for a short fellowship instead. There are many programs—anywhere from a few months to a year or longer—that will give you firsthand exposure in the fight to end human trafficking. The Not For Sale Campaign and Polaris Project both offer fellowships that allow you to play an integral role in their work. 7. Avoid Products and Companies that Facilitate Human Trafficking According to research by the Polaris Project, human trafficking often operates alongside legitimate businesses. From chocolate companies to electronics producers, a number of corporations use human trafficking and forced labor as a means to making the most profit on their product. You can find out which companies still use slave labor in the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Do your research to make sure your investments are socially responsibleand benefit companies that don’t take advantage of modern day slaves. Whether you work within an anti-trafficking organization, discuss the issue with friends, or just rethink the purchases you make daily, the biggest aid in the fight against human trafficking is you—and your power as an individual agent of change. You've made it to the end! Thank you so much for reading. more info: http://www.liveyourdream.org/our-dream/ending-violence-against-women/sex-trafficking.html https://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Ayy Big Gay 8,172 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Good thread, good read (I accidently negged you, sorry ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Naeyon 51 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 People really don't talk enough about this. But we should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo 1,775 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 i can't believe at this age and century things like this happen all the time and it's on such big scale.. it's devastating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss.Miss 8,896 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Thank you for the thread. Human trafficking and modern day slavery are really massive issues that no one seems to really talk about which is surprising considering all the other campaigns on social issues going on at the moment. It's not just some isolated cases, it's everywhere and you're right everyone needs to be aware and take actions. Report if you suspect someone is being trafficked. There's an app that helps report modern day slavery at car washes if you're in the UK https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/modern-slavery-safe-car-wash-app-drivers-report-uk-catholic-church-england-a8381086.html Warning before watching this video - describes horrific abuse/rape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitaminplus 1,971 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 i can't believe at this age and century things like this happen all the time and it's on such big scale.. it's devastating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delirium 4,237 Posted July 18, 2018 Author Share Posted July 18, 2018 Thank you for the thread. Human trafficking and modern day slavery are really massive issues that no one seems to really talk about which is surprising considering all the other campaigns on social issues going on at the moment. It's not just some isolated cases, it's everywhere and you're right everyone needs to be aware and take actions. Report if you suspect someone is being trafficked. There's an app that helps report modern day slavery at car washes if you're in the UK https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/modern-slavery-safe-car-wash-app-drivers-report-uk-catholic-church-england-a8381086.html Warning before watching this video - describes horrific abuse/rape Thank you for posting that video, I'm going to place it in the OP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss.Miss 8,896 Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Thank you for posting that video, I'm going to place it in the OP Yeah. That's fine go ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentasGlittery EyeMakeup 36,570 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 That short movie got me bawling my eyes out at almost 3am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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