Mar
16
2010
Beginning Anew
Melissa Partner Organization News, STF News, Survivor Stories 0
My first day at Freeset I got to go with Kerry, one of the founders of Freeset, and one of the women who’s on the leadership committee of Freeset women to interview some women who were interested in working at Freeset. We went to the brothel homes of three women who’d walked in the front door of Freeset asking for employment. The goal was to find out about them to make sure they were eligible for employment at Freeset and anticipate what challenges they’d face leaving the sex trade. Freeset only employees women who are over 18 and are inRead more
Mar
16
2010
Hagar & Global Giving – Give today!
Emily Partner Organization News 0
Our benefit concert on Friday night is in support of Hagar International. If you can’t attend in person, please consider giving today via Global Giving. Today only, your gift of up to $1,000 will be increased by 30%! If you’re looking for ways to make your money go further in today’s economy then this sounds like a perfect opportunity! Help Hagar provide quality services to girls rescued from situations of sex trafficking and other forms of sexual abuse and exploitation in Cambodia. Please take advantage of this one day opportunity to increase your impact. Together, we can provide a placeRead more
Mar
14
2010
Sonagachi
Melissa Partner Organization News, STF News, Survivor Stories 0
Sonagachi is the largest red light district in Kolkata. It’s home to thousands of prostitutes and their families. It’s frequented by thousands of men every day. All day and all night, there are women lining the streets, waiting. All day and all night, there are men walking, leering, touching, paying. All day and all night, there are children smiling, laughing, playing in the streets.
Mar
13
2010
Countdown to Freeset T-Shirts at Stop Traffick Fashion
Melissa Partner Organization News, Product Information, STF News 1
In just under a week, Stop Traffick Fashion will launch a line of t-shirts made by women in Kolkata, India. Freeset bags have been a staple of our inventory from the very beginning, so we’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Freeset into t-shirts. Freeset is a business in Kolkata, located in Sonagachi, the largest sex district in the city. For nearly ten years, Freeset has been employing women who’ve been trapped in the sex trade—giving them a choice, often for the first time in their lives.
Mar
12
2010
Join the Journey of Freedom
Emily Partner Organization News, Press, Product Information, STF News, Survivor Stories 0
Our T-shirt Launch & Benefit Concert is just one week away! We are getting very excited about the event and hope that you can make it out to see our new T-shirts, hear great music, see great art and have some fabulous coffee. In the upcoming week Melissa will be sharing with you first hand accounts of her visit to Freeset in Kolkata, India. The women of Freeset make our new T-shirts and also some of our bags. This will be a great way for you to find out more about the women who work at Freeset and their journeyRead more
Mar
09
2010
Ohioans: Email your state senator on March 11th!
Emily Books & Resources, Trafficking News & Information 0
March 11th will mark exactly 2 months since Ohio observed Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It will mark 1 month since Ohio Attorney General Cordray’s Trafficking in Person Study Commission published the Report on the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio, the first study of its kind. March 11th is the day we will keep the issue of human trafficking fresh in the minds of our politicians, by sending them an email blast to ensure they know we’re still paying attention! On March 2nd, 26 of 33 senators stepped up alongside Sen. Fedor to sponsor S.B. 235. S.B. 235 will allowRead more
Mar
09
2010
International Women’s Day
Emily Books & Resources, Trafficking News & Information 0
Today is International Women’s Day! There are many great ways to empower women around the world and shopping at Stop Traffick Fashion is one of them. Our products are made by survivors of human trafficking and enable them to earn a sustainable income in order to support themselves and their families. In addition to the financial benefit, the accompanying work and sense of accomplishment give the women a new sense of dignity and confidence! We also came across this great note from World Vision about how a former sponsored girl in their program is now tutoring children in the slumsRead more
Mar
03
2010
Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Ohio Senate!
Emily Trafficking News & Information 0
PRESS RELEASE From Senator Teresa Fedor 11th Senate District FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ursula Barrera March 2, 2010 (614) 466-5204 Bipartisan Bill Will Make Human Trafficking a Felony Offense Senators Fedor and Grendell Partner to Fight Problem ColumbuS – Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and Senator Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland) jointly introduced Senate Bill 235 today creating a second-degree felony for human trafficking in the State of Ohio. Ohio is one of only seven states lacking felony-level language for human trafficking in-line with federal standards. A bi-partisan group of twenty-six senators have co-sponsored the legislation. “Ohio needs legislation that will attackRead more
Mar
02
2010
Human Trafficking in the Media
Emily Books & Resources, Trafficking News & Information 0
Demi Moore has won the Pepsi Refresh Challenge! Thanks to all of her fan votes, Demi won a $250,000 grant for GEMS (Girls Education and Mentoring Services). GEMS is an organization based in New York designed to empower young women in America who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. GEMS will use the money to train 10 survivors as outreach workers to serve in their communities. Congratulations to Demi and GEMS! You can also check out Demi & Ashton’s new anti-trafficking organization The DNA Foundation. Also, if you are free this Thursday night you should plan to find your localRead more
Mar
01
2010
More on Trafficking in the US (and Ohio)
Emily Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information, Uncategorized 1
We’ve been writing a lot about trafficking in the US and in Ohio lately. If you want to read another perspective, read this interview with the author of the new book The Slave Across the Street, Theresa Flores. Theresa is an activist and is also a Director for Gracehaven House in Ohio, one of the few shelters for survivors in America.