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Apr
11
2013
Empower Women: It’s Fair, Smart, and Transformative
Melissa Empower Women 0
Harvard President Drew Faust delivers her lecture, “Educate Women; Change the World,” at Ewha Womans University in South Korea. Here’s an excerpt; the full text contains many stories of courageous women. Faust’s life, work, and words show that she truly knows what it means to empower women. It is with considerable humility that I raise this subject here, in the Republic of Korea, at Ewha Womans University, standing at the center of perhaps the most rapid and successful embrace of universal education, including female education, that the world has ever seen. The drive for education that animates your country, as
Apr
09
2013
Human Trafficking and Your Summer Travel
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Trafficking News & Information 0
It’s the time of year to book flight and hotels for summer travel—hooray! But as you plan, take into account what Kimberly Ritter, an event planner turned anti-human trafficking advocate, learned: trafficking is rampant in the U.S. travel industry, especially hotels. “It happens everywhere,” Ritter says, and “that includes five-star hotels.” It all started with Ritter’s largest client, the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. In her work as a senior account manager at Nix Conference & Meeting Management in St. Louis, Ritter books meeting venues for this group of Roman Catholic nuns. The sisters devote themselves to
Apr
04
2013
Screening of Girl Rising
Melissa Books & Resources, Empower Women, Events 0
The documentary Girl Rising is about the power of education in the lives of girls around the world. The film examines life stories that show how literacy and education empower women. STF is hosting a screening in Cincinnati through Gathr on Monday, May 13—buy tickets here by April 26. (If you’re not in Cincinnati, find a screening in your area on Gathr.) Here’s more about the film from the website: From Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins and the award-winning producers of The Documentary Group and Vulcan Productions, strategic partner, Intel Corporation, and distribution partners CNN Films and Gathr,
Apr
02
2013
Everyday Abolitionist & Ethical Fashionista: Jessica DiCroce
Melissa Ethical Fashion 0
Everyday Abolitionist is a recurring feature on the blog where we’ll hear about someone using their skills, talents, and opportunities to fight trafficking and exploitation. This time Jessica DiCroce of Barnabas Clothing shares how she got involved in using ethical fashion to bring help and compassion to people with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Read about more Everyday Abolitionists. Barnabas Clothing Co. is more than a brand or apparel company, it is a way to think about your life and who it impacts. Here at Barnabas Clothing Co. we want to encourage you to live A Life Worth Imitating, by being bold
Mar
29
2013
The Big Change in Trafficking in Sweden
Melissa Empower Women, Rescue, Trafficking News & Information 0
Human rights activist and columnist for The Independent, Joan Smith took a ride with an undercover officer in Sweden to see how Sweden’s laws—criminalizing buying sex rather than selling it—have changed the face of human trafficking there. She shares encouraging news in “Why the Game’s Up for Sweden’s Sex Trade.” I am sitting in the back of an unmarked police car on the small island of Skeppsholmen, to the east of Stockholm’s picturesque old town. Above us is the city’s modern art museum but it’s a dark February night and we’re not here to appreciate culture. “They park up there,”
Mar
19
2013
The Cure for Late-Winter Apathy
Melissa Partner Organization News, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information 0
I’ve been struggling with some late-winter apathy. I’m tired and unmotivated (hence, in part, the silence on the blog). Fighting human trafficking sometimes seems just too impossible and exhausting (I mean, how can I make a real difference in the world if I can’t always keep this blog updated?). But IJM and its president Gary Haugen provide two important reminders: 1. At the Justice Conference last month, Gary talked about the long, tedious road to justice. Perseverance is not always glamorous, but it’s powerful. (This video is absolutely worth watching; it was one of my favorite talks at the conference.)
Mar
07
2013
Human Trafficking on Social Media
Melissa Empower Women, Survivor Stories 0
This article from CNN about how pimps are using social media to target victims for human trafficking highlights several key themes in the fight against human trafficking. • Technology aids traffickers. • Many typical American teens are vulnerable. • The romantic lies that traffickers use to lure girls are powerful. Here’s part of the article: Upper middle-class and college-bound, Nina had her plans derailed in her senior year of high school after her mother was sentenced to two years in prison for financial crimes. Lonely and looking online for male attention, she started messaging back and forth [on Facebook] with
Mar
05
2013
Everyday Abolitionist and Ethical Fashionista: Emily Gross
Melissa Ethical Fashion, Everyday Abolitionist 0
Everyday Abolitionist is a recurring feature on the blog where we’ll hear about someone using their skills, talents, and opportunities to fight trafficking. This time we’re sharing at story from Hagar about Emily Gross who sews kids’ clothes to help fight human trafficking—the height of ethical fashion! Read about more Everyday Abolitionists. Most afternoons, Emily Gross, of Kennesaw, Georgia, combats human trafficking with her sewing machine. Two years ago, she started taking online orders for children’s clothing. While her own children nap from 2:00 to 4:00pm, Emily sews. Each month, she donates 100% of the profits from her cottage industry,
Feb
26
2013
While You’re Waiting
Melissa Uncategorized 0
We’re regrouping from a great time in Philadelphia for the Justice Conference. While we work toward summing up some of what we learned so we can post it here on the blog, check out #justice2013 on Twitter and see what others are saying.
Feb
22
2013
The Impact of Human Trafficking at a Glance
Melissa Ethical Fashion 0
Today we’re heading to the Justice Conference in Philadelphia. We’ll have some updates for you on Facebook and Twitter throughout the weekend, and more on the blog in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out SumAll’s creative take on conveying the problem of human trafficking and ethical fashion. Find out more about human trafficking. Shop ethical fashion made by survivors. Be a part of the solution: Be part of Stop Traffick Fashion.