As y'all know, I frequently blog about human trafficking.  As the mother of two daughters, this is always in the back of my mind, and it has made me an overprotective mom. Human trafficking is happening right here in the United States of America...I know it's hard to believe, but it's true.

Recently, while on twitter, I read where Natalie Grant is participating in Disney's Princess Half Marathon, and she will be running:

• For the millions enslaved around the world, including our own backyard.
• For those without a voice. 
• For those who aren’t free to…YET! 

FREE. TO. RUN.

Running for FREEDOM. with Natalie Grant.

FEBRUARY 26, 2012

Natalie Grant and Abolition International are on a mission to abolish sex slavery and human exploitation. Will you help?

I don't usually use my blog to solicit money, but this is a very good cause.  If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, they are at risk of being trafficked.  

Did you know:

• The #1 destination for an American seeking sex with a child is the United States.
• Men who have sex with children are business men; they are bank presidents; they are politicians; they are deacons in a church.
• 12 is the average age for entry into pornography and prostitution, but some of these victims are as young as 5 years old.
• Minor trafficking victims are sold 10 to 15 times per night, 6 nights per week, and in the United States any minor involved in sexual exploitation is considered a trafficking victim even if they never cross international borders.

By sponsoring Natalie Grant just $1.00 per mile ($13.00), you will help her reach her goal of raising $15,000.00 to help put an end to human trafficking. So please, join me in helping Natalie reach her goal by clicking the picture (below), which will take you to her site where you can donate to help stop human trafficking, which is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world today, grossing over 36 million dollars a year.

Do You Know About the "Other Sport" at the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl Sunday! Football fans everywhere live for this one day.  For weeks before the big day, parties are planned; shopping takes place; some churches actually cancel evening services for this big game.  But did you know, more than just football takes place on Super Bowl Sunday?

"Last year in Florida, on Super Bowl Sunday, officers arrested a pimp at a swank hotel near the event. According to court papers, the man brought a 16-year-old girl to the Super Bowl to be prostituted. He met the girl, a runaway, in early January, and three weeks later, he flew her, under an assumed name, to the location of the Super Bowl." (Shared Hope International)

Now I don't want to put a damper on anyone's fun, but this is news that needs to be spread!

If you ask the average American what they know about human trafficking, most people will say IT is an international problem.  IT happens in other countries. But IT doesn't happen here. But did you know, the #1 destination for an American seeking sex with a child is the United States. The average age for entry into prostitution and pornography is 12.  These minor trafficking victims are sold 10 to 15 times per night, 6 nights per week.  Any minor involved in sexual exploitation is considered a trafficking victim even if they never cross international borders.  The life expectancy of a child prostituted at the age of 13 is just 7 years.

"Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, whose state is this year's Super Bowl host, has prepared a task force to identify and respond to traffickers who plan to sell children - a problem already too familiar to Texas. The Dallas Police Department formed a High Risk Victims' Unit just to deal with children exploited through sex trafficking." (Shared Hope International)

Join the Campaign and help stop Child Trafficking at the Super Bowl!  Join Natalie Grant and Tenth Avenue North  PSA for Traffick 911.

So join me and thousands of others by going to http://traffick911.com/ and sign the "I'm Not Buying It" petition to help stop human trafficking.

You know, we can sit around and blame the traffickers and we can blame the pimps, but it's the sex predators who have to be stopped...as long as there is a demand for young women and children, there will always be someone willing to fill that demand.

Visit http://www.thehomefoundation.net/ or http://www.sharedhope.org to learn more about what you can do to help put an end to human trafficking.

HUMAN TRAFFICKERS: ARE THEY RECRUITING AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL?

This is a follow-up to my blog post below: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AMERICA.

Since I'm studying to be a special education teacher, I visit the US Department of Education website quite often. Earlier this week, I came across this disturbing article: HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES: A FACT SHEET FOR SCHOOLS.

Apparently, it is a common practice for pimps to recruit trafficking victims from middle schools and high schools. (Any victim under the age of 18 used in a commercial sex act is considered a trafficking victim even if they are not taken across the state line.) Because this practice has become so common, the US Department of Education has created this fact sheet so teachers and other school officials can recognize the signs of a child engaged in commercial sex acts.

Pimps do not target just one group of students. These students can be male or female, any race, and may be as young as 12 years old. "These pimps have been reported targeting their minor victims through telephone chat-lines, clubs, on the street, through friends, and at malls, as well as using girls to recruit other girls at schools and after-school programs.‪" (U.S. Dept of Education)

*HOW TO IDENTIFY A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

• The student has unexplained absences from school for long periods of time.
• The student chronically runs away from home.
• The student makes references to frequent travel to other cities.
• The student exhibits bruises or other physical trauma, acts withdrawn, depressed or fearful.
• He/she lacks control over his/her schedule or identification documents.
• The student comes to school hungry and malnourished or inappropriately dressed based on weather conditions.
• The student shows signs of drug addiction.
• The student demonstrates a sudden change in attire, behavior or material possessions (suddenly has expensive items).
• The student makes references to sexual situations that are beyond their age specific norms.
• The student has a "boyfriend" who is noticeably older (10+ years).
• The student makes references to terminology of the commercial sex industry that are beyond age specific norms, engages in promiscuous behavior, and may be labeled "fast" or "easy" by peers.

*It is important to note that this list is not comprehensive of all signs of human trafficking, nor are all students who exhibit these signs most certainly trafficking victims. The list is meant to be a guide to help determine if further action is appropriate. (U.S. Department of Education website)I don't know how everyone else feels, but this is getting too close for comfort. To think these pimps could be watching our children while they are at school is such a scary thought. Schools and parents need to team together to help keep an eye on our children. Remember, it is said "it takes a village to raise a child". One of the best ways to help combat human trafficking is to raise awareness and learn more about how to identify victims. Information on human trafficking can be found on the following Web sites:

• 
  
  U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
  http://www.state.gov/g/tip
• 
  
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html
• 
  
  http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/trafficking.html
• 
  
  Federal Bureau of Investigation, Investigative Programs, Crimes Against Children http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/crimesmain.htm
• 
  
  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children http://www.ncmec.org/
• 
  
  Polaris Project http:// http://www.polarisproject.org/

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AMERICA!

I know I wrote a post on this topic last year, MODERN-DAY SLAVERY, but human trafficking is a growing problem in the US, with no end in sight. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion. Its victims are dehumanized and treated like property. They are usually under 18 years of age. Traffickers often target children and young women. They routinely trick victims with promises of employment, educational opportunities, marriage, and a better life.

FACTS:

• Human trafficking is the third largest criminal industry after drugs and firearms.
• Traffickers often work as a part of a larger criminal organization, but some traffickers are individuals or families. 
• Each year, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders (some international and non-governmental organizations place the number far higher), and the trade is growing. (U.S. Department of State. 2004. Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State.)
• Each year, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher.
• An estimated 200,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry.
• *Sex traffickers use a variety of methods to “condition” their victims including starvation, confinement, beatings, physical abuse, rape, gang rape, threats of violence to the victims and the victims’ families, forced drug use, and the threat of shaming their victims by revealing their activities to their family and their families’ friends.
• 70% of all victims of trafficking are trafficked for sexual purposes.
• 80% of all victims are women.
• 50% of all victims are youth and children.
• 9.5 billion dollars have been made off the bodies of young girls and women in sex trafficking.
• 20,000 individuals are trafficked INTO the United States each year.
• In the United States, any minor child involved in commercial sexual exploitation is considered a victim of human trafficking.

IN THE NEWS:

• St. Louis Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison on Federal Sex Trafficking Charge 
• Key Member of Atlanta Human Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Charges 
• Five Sentenced for Forcing Guatemalan Girls and Women to Work as Prostitutes in Los Angeles
• Houston Man Sentenced for Human Trafficking and Alien Smuggling Charges
• Ohio Governor's Former Faith-Based Director Arrested for Online Prostitution Review Business 
• Former NBA Player Accused of Sex Trafficking 14-Year-Old
• Apple Admits Child Labor & Sweatshops Used to Build iPhones

This is just a sample of news reports on human trafficking happening in here the U.S.


Below is a documentary produced by George Clooney, intitled "Playground Documentary". It is very graphic, but it discusses the growing problem of the child sex trade going on right here in the US.

**"While women and children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking for the sex trade, human trafficking is not limited to sexual exploitation. It also includes persons who are trafficked into 'forced' marriages or into bonded labor markets, such as sweat shops, agricultural plantations, or domestic service.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Become informed. Google "human trafficking" and learn all that you can.
• Educate others about human trafficking. Talk to your friends and family to bring more awareness. to this immoral practice.
• Write an article for your local newspaper.
• Write about human trafficking on your blog.
• Include information about human trafficking in local newsletters or bulletins.
• Give financially.

*"The Home Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking both domestically and abroad. Through advocacy, education and relief efforts, The Home Foundation is committed to end the suffering of women and children sold into sexual slavery.The Home Foundation was founded in 2005 by singer/songwriter Natalie Grant. After Natalie was awakened to the real-life, ongoing tragedy of Human Trafficking, she threw herself into a deeper research on the issue. What she found disturbed her so greatly, that Natalie knew she must do something to fight for these helpless victims – precious souls without a voice.

After learning that over 10 million children world-wide have been sold into sexual slavery, and inspired by her trip to the red-light district of Mumbai, India, Natalie Grant founded The HOME Foundation with one goal in mind: to help those who may not otherwise be helped."

"The HOMES Project is an extension of the Home Foundation that specifically focuses on building and sustaining restoration homes. Researchers estimate that 100,000-300,000 people are presently being held in trafficking situations here in the US. Tragically, there are less than 50 beds in shelters dedicated to these girls and many of them are not in Christian homes. Rescued victims have specific needs and wounds that only specialized restoration facilities can offer."

Please MAKE A DONATION to help The Home Foundation put an end to human trafficking: https://www.thehomefoundation.net/make-a-donation


ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Tell Craigslist to Make REAL Change in the Adult Services Section of Craigslist! Craigslist is known to promote prostitution that sometimes involve children and human trafficking victims. Please go to the link below, sign the petition, and tell Craigslist to make a real change in the adult services section and refuse to promote the exploitation of women and children.

http://humantrafficking.change.org/actions/view/tell_craigslist_to_make_real_change_in_the_adult_services_section_of_craigslist




* http://www.thehomefoundation.net/
** http://www.humantrafficking.org

MODERN DAY SLAVERY

What would you say if I told you slavery is the second largest criminal industry in the world today? No, I'm not talking about slavery as it existed in the past. I'm talking about human trafficking. In the U.S., 200,000 to 350,000 children are at risk of being trafficked into the sex industry each year. This threatens all our children...yours and mine. Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry, grossing over $30 million dollars a year.

Women and children are at the greatest risk of being trafficked for the purpose of prostitution, strip clubs, pornography, and live sex shows, but no one is immune...no matter the race, gender or class.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

• FORCE - By abduction/kidnapping that involves rapes, beatings, and confinement. "Boyfriends" have been known to sell their girlfriends into prostitution.
• FRAUD - Lured by false job offers or marriage proposals. Parents often sell their children believing their child will have a better life only to have them sold into prostitution. Strip clubs and other adult businesses are often fronts for trafficking and prostitution.
• COERCION - Involves threats of physical harm, physical restraint, and debt-bondage.

FACTS:

• The average age of victims is 11 to 14.
• Approximately 80% of victims are female. Males are usually sold to work in sweat shops, farms or other forms of service.
• 70% of all victims are trafficked for sexual purposes.
• Approximately 20,000 victims are trafficked INTO the U.S. each year.
• There are approximately 800,000 trafficking victims worldwide.

ACCORDING TO SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL:

• 12 years old is the average age for entry into pornography and prostitution in the U.S.
• In the U.S., the sale of child pornography is a $3 billion dollar industry annually.
• Pimps earn up to $632,000 per year by selling four young women or children.
• Domestic minor sex trafficking victims are sold 10 to 15 times per night, 6 days a week, totaling between 9,360 and 14.040 sex acts in a year. (This is just ONE child.)
• Buyers purchase between 645,840 and 968,760 sex acts from children annually.

RECENT HEADLINES:

• 6 people face charges in connection to largest sex trafficking case in Houston, TX.
• 45-year-old woman in Nashville, TN prostituted girls out of motel room for $40.00.
• Ring of traffickers in South California sentenced to prison for trafficking 10 girls.
• Trafficker in Atlanta, GA admits to trafficking girls.

And the list of headlines go on and on.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You have to agree this is a horrific life that innocent children are forced into every single day. These are OUR children. It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it's time this village puts a stop to human trafficking, and you can help:

• Become informed. Visit the websites below and learn all that you can about human trafficking.
• Educate others about human trafficking. Talk to your friends and family to bring more awareness. Write an article for your local newspaper. Write about human trafficking on your blog. Include information about human trafficking in local newsletters or bulletins.
• Give financially.

LINKS TO TRAFFICKING WEBSITES:
http://www.thehomefoundation.net/
http://www.sharedhope.org/
http://www.humantrafficking.org/
http://slavationarmyusa.org/trafficking