MAKE THE DIFFERENCE -A Benefit Concert for Trafficking Victims

Young people are getting together to hold a benefit concert for human trafficking victims in Nashville on Dec. 12th, 2009. This is a fundraising and awareness raising event to reach out to the young generation in the U.S. to spread the word about the gravity of human trafficking, which is rampant around the world. The vitality of this concert lies on that a music concert of an alternative band will attract individuals that other media streams were not able to reach in the past.

1. Tell me about this upcoming event in Nashville

The name of the event is Make The Difference. It is a benefit concert raising awareness and funds for the International Justice Mission.

2. How would you describe goal and mission of the event?

My vision with this is not to simply raise money and tell people about IJM; I hope people leave with an understanding of the horrible acts of injustice going on in the world today, and how easy it is for individuals to do something about it. [ Emphasis added.]

People simply don't realize that other human beings, who have every right to LIVE a life of opportunity- are being stripped of that right. If they were aware, I believe people would react. If a person walks down the street here in States and witnesses a kid being abused violently, he or she would do something to stop it. Because it is WRONG. It's the same with oppression in other countries and the underground sex market in the U.S. Something needs to be done. Thankfully, there are organizations working so hard to rescue people trapped in these situations. If people KNOW what is going on around them their human common sense kicks in and says "ACT." The "act" is as simple as writing a check and spreading the word…maybe even volunteering to help out.

3. What are some main activities in the event?

The artists performing are Derek Webb, Matthew Mayfield, and Cool Hand Luke. It will be an acoustic evening of incredible music; these artists write songs with meaning that are inspired by their own experiences; music from the heart, not fluff.For now, I'm running this event on my own. And it's only a one-time deal, but that may change. I have friends helping me with promotion, and I am VERY grateful for their willingness to lend a hand.

4. How did you first learn about trafficking?

I'm not certain how I first learned about trafficking; My freshman year of college, four years ago, I saw the Invisible Children documentary which completely blew me away. That was probably where it started. Somehow I ran across the International Justice Mission online a while later and learned the realities of human trafficking, and how the people of IJM work so selflessly to rescue people. I'm not an IJM spokesman or representative one bit, but that organization was heavy on my heart when I decided to plan this concert. No rhyme or reason.

5. What is your direct involvement? Do you utilize volunteers and, if so, how do you recruit volunteers and who are they?

For a while I've thought about using concerts to generate revenue for organizations and individuals who need support to do the hard job they selflessly signed-up for. Over the summer, I was thinking about it a lot; so I took the plunge. The way I see it, I have a general understanding of the horrid realities happening to fellow human-beings and [I know I am] therefore morally responsible to inform others and hopefully inspire them to react. So I guess it is sort of a responsibility to spread the words. Also, I'm pumped to be working with these artists; they are super generous for helping out.

6. What would you say to people who do not understand the gravity of human trafficking?

If a person is alive on this earth, he or she has the right to live a life of peace and opportunity. The unfortunate reality is that corrupt, evil people and governments willfully reject that right and force innocent, undeserving people into slavery, prostitution, and other violent oppression. We cannot simply write-off something that atrocious. If someone thinks human trafficking isn't of their concern, they might as well be running the underground slave and sex markets with the rest of the selfish, greedy villains. It is a sad and uncomfortable topic, but it MUST be brought into the light. A thing like this should unify people to act, regardless of background or belief.

7. How can people support the event?

People can support this event by coming to the show Saturday December 12 at Rocketown in Nashville at 7pm. The ticket price is $15 at the door or at Ticketweb.com. All of the proceeds will benefit IJM.

People can also spread the word about the event, and do some research on their own time and discover ways they can do their part to Make the Difference. More information is at www.makethediff.com

CATW: Wanted Ad

Women and girls. Seeking individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. All ages...

Learn more about CATW

Child Labor in Blueberry Fields

Earlier this week, ABC broke a story worked on by a group of Carnegie Fellows about child labor in blueberry fields in Michigan; in addition, the fellows investigated child labor in agriculture in New Jersey and North Carolina. According to the story, "A five-year-old girl, named Suli, was seen lugging two heavy buckets of blueberries picked by her parents and brothers, aged seven and eight. An 11-year-old boy in the Adkin fields told the Carnegie fellows he had been picking blueberries since the age of eight."

In addition to violating child labor lays, these young children are exposed to harmful labor conditions, particularly given the wide-spread use of pesticides and chemicals. According to the ABC story, "The nurse with a migrant health clinic program, Josie Ellis, told the fellows she is concerned for the health of the young children given the widespread use of pesticides in the fields." Health consequences includes respiratory problems, rashes, and neurological problems.

Like slavery, people may be aware that child labor is still a problem, but most do not think of it occurring in the United States. The ABC story quotes Zama Coursen-Neff of Human Rights Watch as saying: "Americans think of child labor as a problem elsewhere, but in fact we have that problem in our own backyard." Human Rights Watch is also conducting an investigation into child labor in the U.S.

Major US companies, including Kroger and Wal-Mart, used to purchase blueberries from Adkins, the grower whose fields have been worked by children, according to the Carnegie Fellows investigation. "Walmart and the Kroger supermarket chain have severed ties with one of the country's major blueberry growers after an ABC News investigation found children, including one as young as five-years-old, working in its fields."

In an interview with Democracy Now, Brian Ross, the chief investigative correspondent at ABC News, stated "we discovered a pervasive pattern, really across the country, of a situation that has continued for decades and has gone unenforced. There are laws against children this young working in agricultural fields. But for the most part, until very recently, those laws were largely ignored by federal authorities at the Department of Labor."

This raises questions about the responsibility of both the US Government and corporations such as Wal-Mart, given that these violations of child labor laws are occurring systematically and have been for years. Though Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor, released a statement in September stating that "Child labor and forced labor are inexcusable abuses of human rights," such abuses continue to occur in the U.S. The ABC story reports that "While advocates for children welcomed the enforcement efforts, many say the fines levied by the Department of Labor, are so slight they're little more than a slap on the wrist."

Ending child labor will take a commitment to enforcing child labor laws, as well as a commitment to economic and social justice for low-income families and migrant workers, since these practices will continue as long as families cannot survive economically under current labor practices.

Picture taken from ABC News Investigates

California Increases Penalty for Sex Traffickers

On October 11, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law AB17, a bill which increases the penalty for human traffickers. According to the Legislative Counsel's Digest, the new changes include:

1) Adding "abduction or procurement by fraudulent inducement for prostitution," i.e. sex trafficking, to the definition of "criminal profiteering activity." Existing California law provides for the forfeiture of property and proceeds acquired through a pattern of criminal profiteering activity, so the new law will also now provide for the possibility of forfeiture of property and proceeds acquired through sex trafficking.

2) In cases involving "human trafficking of minors for purposes of prostitution or lewd conduct," or "abduction or procurement by fraudulent inducement for prostitution," money and proceeds from property forfeited will be placed in a fund to be available for appropriation to fund child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse victim counseling centers and prevention programs; 50% of such funds are to be granted to "community-based organizations that serve minor victims of human trafficking."

3) An increase in the maximum amount of additional authorized fine from $5000 to $20,000 for any person convicted of procurement of a child under 16, or abduction for the purpose of prostitution of a person under 18. 50% of such fines collected will also go to community-based organizations that serve minor victims of human trafficking.

Case Manager Position Open with Ayuda in DC

From Idealist:

Case Manager
Ayuda

Education: Bachelor (BA, BS, etc.)
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Job Category: Direct social services
Last day to apply: November 24, 2009
Type: Full time Language(s): English, Spanish
Area of Focus: Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Description:
Ayuda is the DC area’s leading source of multilingual legal and social service assistance for low-income immigrants in the areas of immigration, human trafficking, domestic violence and family law. Ayuda is expanding social services to its Sterling, VA office and is seeking a Case Manager to join the Social Services Department. This position will provide comprehensive case management to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking and conduct community outreach and trainings. The position will be based in Sterling, VA.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Conduct client intakes and safety planning, assess client needs, and develop individualized social service plans
• Provide comprehensive case management and crisis intervention to include culturally and linguistically appropriate referrals for housing, medical and mental health care, English classes, employment, etc.
• Coordinate and accompany clients to appointments as needed
• Collaborate with Ayuda’s Legal department to provide holistic services to clients
• Maintain client case files
• Conduct outreach and trainings to providers and community members and collaborate with project partners
• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required, BSW or MSW preferred. Experience in case management and/or providing direct services to domestic violence clients and/or survivors of trauma is required. Demonstrated sensitivity to and knowledge of issues involved in working with diverse populations. Strong commitment to serving, empowering, and advocating on behalf of Ayuda’s low-income immigrant client base. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work independently and part of a diverse multidisciplinary team. Required Bilingual in English and Spanish. Competitive salary and excellent benefits.

How to Apply:

Submit a resume with cover letter to: Renee Huffman, Ayuda, 1707 Kalorama Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20009 Or email to renee@ayuda.com

Human Trafficking and the EU

On October 19th, European Union marked the EU Anti-Trafficking Day. As the European Union inches closer to adopting a treaty that could, among other things, increase the EU's anti-trafficking work, it makes sense to consider the reality of trafficking in the EU as well as the EU's role in addressing trafficking as a supranational entity.

According to an article in the AFP, "the United Nations said on Sunday [October 18th] there could be around 270,000 victims of human trafficking in the European Union and urged greater efforts to combat the illegal trade." The article goes on to report that "Authorities in Europe were aware of only a tiny proportion of the victims, said the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), estimating there were 30 times more people affected than were known about."Human trafficking is also extremely underprosectued in Europe, according to the United Nations. Bernama.com cites a "report by the Press Trust of India (PTI) [on a] study that finds that fewer people are convicted for human trafficking in Europe than for less-frequent crimes like kidnapping."

While such incredible disparities between the number of victims and the number of victims identified are a universal norm around the world, action at the EU level is vital for effectively combating slavery in Europe. Near the end of October, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Eva Biaudet, and the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Ambassador Janez Lenarcic issued a statement underscoring the importance of the EU in addressing trafficking. A press release from the OSCE quotes Biaudet as saying "Fighting trafficking means having zero tolerance towards exploitation, particularly exploitation of women and children. . .If we fail to combat the increased tolerance of exploitation, the effects of the global crisis will be felt in our socio-economic development for decades to come."

The statement highlights different EU-level policies and programs that have a role in combating slavery. The report also addresses the role of the economic crisis in increasing the number of people vulnerable to trafficking, pointing to the EU's role in economic development and immigration policy, both of which impact people's vulnerability to trafficking situation. They applaud the EC Proposal for a Council Framework Decision on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, and protecting victims for its efforts to establish an EU-level policy that focuses on victims' needs, while addressing prevention and prosecution.

The EU also hosted the Towards EU Global Action against Trafficking in Human Beings Conference in late October. Its goals were:

• "to strengthen the EU policy ands action against trafficking in a the external dimension where action previously has not been taken comprehensively,
• to contribute to development of the EU’s increasingly important partnerships with third countries and in that context a particular challenge, i.e. trafficking,
• to consult with all concerned stakeholders in view of the Action Oriented Paper,
• to collect and collate best practices and concrete proposals for action against trafficking in partnership between the ERU and third countries."

In her welcome statement to the conference, Beatrice Ask, Minister for Justice, stated "But the work done so far is not enough. We need to broaden our approach. The main purpose of this conference is to strengthen the co-operation between government administrations, international institutions and NGOs in countries of origin, transit and destination. There is a mutual dependence between us in order to effectively fight and prevent trafficking in human beings. We have to work together, and we need to step up our efforts."

Minister Ask's words are applicable to all of us involved in working to end modern-day slavery.

Namaste-My Five Weeks in Kolkata, India

I got to spend five weeks in India this past summer. I was working in shelters for trafficking survivors and children of sex workers.

I'm really excited about all the opportunities that are going to come from this adventure and to share it with you.

While in Kolkata, I wrote a few excerpts for this blog. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment or email me! I cannot wait to start a dialogue!

"For the next few weeks I will be working at the Destiny Reflection Center in Kolkata, India. The Destiny is a center where girls rescued from the sex trafficking industry come to work and earn a sustainable living.

I've only been to the center once, being that I've only been in the city for a couple of days. I met a few of the girls and saw what they are working on. Monday is my first official day of volunteer work.

During my first few days of visiting here, I am just in awe and wonder of how magical a place like India, and more specifically Kolkata can be. There have been many obstacles to overcome while here. Not knowing how to communciate, going the past six days without my luggage, being taken advantage of by cab drivers and shop owners because I am an American. However, that does not stop the immense joy that I feel while I am here.

There is so much to learn and know about Kolkata, India. This pulsing metropolis is in the eastern part of the country. It is overwhelmingly diverse in people and in ways of life. I'm staying in an apartment right now in a modest neighborhood along the main road of Kolkata. Just a few blocks down the road is a mall that trumps any mall I've ever been to, and you can feel the air conditioning from the street. Yet, 50 feet in front of this mall is a slum full of houses made of sticks, mud, and grocery/rice bags.

Indian people take such pride in their culture, people, and country, yet do not lend a hand to their brothers and sisters in the slums. Walking past a slum yesteray, I heard a car horn beep behind me, and it was a Mereceds Benz. Really? Behind the mall I spoke of, there are three highrise apartment complexes being built. They are complete with tennis courts, swimming pools and state-of-the art fitness centers.

Maybe it's my strong Western sense of community, but I just can't seem to rationalize why a booming economy doesn't help build up its people. No wonder terrible phenomena like Human Trafficking still exists.

I was riding in a cab the other day (quite the adventure) and while stop a young girl reached her hand in the open window and smacked my arm. She was a gorgeous child, maybe seven or eight eyears old. One of the most stunningly beautiful children I have ever laid eyes on; the sad thing was I couldn't look at her. I had to ignore her because she is working for someone, trying to get money she'll never see. I wanted to pull her into the cab with my firend and me, and just take care of her. I don't know how people can walk the streets of this city and ignore what's going on all around them. How a child can walk the streets and beg for moeny instead of playing and pretending; or how a young girl can sleep with numerous men who will never remember her name or love her the ways she is supposed to be loved. My heart cannot help but be open and broken to the situation my eyes are laying witness to. This just has to stop."

"Wandering through the streets of Kolkata give me a whole new udnerstanding of teh world in which Indians live. Slums lay next to luxury tower apartments. People beg for moeny outside of shopping malls. There are thousands of girls that get lured from their homes and taken into the sex industry. Living in filthy and infectious stalls and forced to service man after man.

Working at the Destiny Center has given me a chance to put faces with the name "Trafficking." These girls are barely 16, 17 years of age and have already seen more of a life than their parents. Most of the time they are offered a better life in a bity city. There are promises of good jbos and higher salaries, but these promises never go through.

My heart breaks to know that something like this happens right under the noses of people who live in this country. Everyone knows about it. Does anybody care? Have they become so callused to this way of making money and exploiting people, that it becomes almost justified?

In the USA, trafficking occurs, too. We make up about 10% of the sex trafficking; most of the people trafficked into our country are for labor. They become landscapers, house slaves, domestic caregivers, farmhands and the like. Most Americans don't know that this happens. We say they are "illegal aliens" and that they are "stealing our jobs." Keep in mind that not every foreigner in our country is there by free will.

I'm most outraged at my own country for not noticing trafficking and going something about it. We have so much power and authority, so many means to make trafficking stop, and we all it to continue. Maybe that's why people like me, Faceless International, The Empancipation Network, Free the Slaves, Stop The Traffik, Made By Survivors, and others exist. We are teh ones called to educate and seen an end to such a horrible and unjustifiable way of treating people. Help rescue the ones who are in it and help restore the quality of life they all deserve.

Human beings have the ability to dream, exlore, create, and change the world in which they live in. We are given a complex mind and imagination that no one can compare to; why discourage people to not use that to its fullest power and authority?"

"I, again, got to go through the Red Light District of Kolkata a few days ago. For those of you new to the blog, I'm an Art Therapist, and I went to Khidderpore to work with the children of sex workers.

The first time going through the RLD, I wasn't approached at all. This time I was bombarded. One sex worker spotted me and came running towards the taxi I was in. She was offering me her baby girl, who was maybe seven months old. A beautiful baby girl, don't think it didn't cross my mind to take her home with me.

Being around the children of Khidderpore shelter was like being around any other group of children. They are very joyous, want to be loved and talked to. They drew pictures for me and laughed when I treid to understand Bengali. Watching them walk back to the brothels for the night broke my heart.

If you could look into their eyes, like I got the chance to, you'd feel like you had to do something too. We're doing a great injustice to humanity when we know the facts and don't do anything to stop this."