Apr
16
2013
H&M: On the Road to Ethical Fashion
Melissa Ethical Fashion 1
On the ethical fashion front, here’s a dose of good-news/bad-news from H&M: Bravo: “Along with its 2012 sustainability report, the Swedish retailer, which has 2,800 stores worldwide, released a list of 33 Cambodian factories from which it sources, along with the vendors who initiated the business relationships. By divulging the information, H&M said in a statement, it became ‘one of the first and largest fashion companies in the world to make its supplier/factory list public.’ ‘H&M wants to contribute to a more transparent and ultimately more sustainable fashion industry,’ the statement says.” Not-So-Bravo: “The list of factories includes at leastRead more
Sep
20
2012
The Challenge of Time and Justice
Melissa Empower Women, Ethical Fashion, Trafficking News & Information 0
From 1975 to 1979 Cambodia suffered under the hand of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Even now more than thirty years later, the country bears the scars of the abuse and many of the wounds are yet unhealed. The Khmer Rouge is part of the reason Cambodia is such a hotbed of human trafficking today. When justice moves slowly it makes it hard for the country to healing, and often healing isn’t as complete as it could’ve been. Last week the court specially appointed to deal with cases from the Khmer Rouge declared the regimes “first lady” unfit forRead more
Apr
17
2012
Survivor Stories from Hagar
Melissa Partner Organization News, Rescue 0
If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of human trafficking rescue stories. In the face of oppression and despair, tales of hope are a fix I just can’t satisfy. Though stories often run together, I want more. More freedom. More rescue. More unthinkable courage and healing. If that sounds like you, too, here’s a new video from Hagar. Below that is a survivor story from their site. Hien’s Story Sometimes it’s the small things that make all the difference. Hien* came to Hagar broken and neglected. Years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse from her family made her feelRead more
Mar
09
2012
Empower Women Through Microloans
Melissa Empower Women 0
One powerful way to empower a woman to provide for and protect her family is through a microloan. Microloans are small loans that allow people to start a shop, buy livestock, or other projects. Many microloans are funded by several people—random people agree to donate $25 or $100 until the full amount is raised. These loans help women start the flow of steady income. When a woman has a source of income, she can provide for her kids. She can send her kids to school and take them to the doctor. When kids grow up with an education and aRead more
Feb
16
2012
Justice and Rescue: The International Justice Mission
Melissa Partner Organization News, Rescue 0
The International Justice Mission is a powerful force against human trafficking. They participate in the most well-know kind of rescue: the brothel raid. IJM’s rescues typically target children, the most vulnerable and helpless victims of human trafficking. They do the painstaking work of collaborating with local law enforcement and court systems to pursue freedom and justice. Their work frees women and children and slowly but surely pushes legal systems worldwide to take an active role in fighting human trafficking. IJM also works to equip everyday people to be a voice for freedom in government and legal systems. Sign this petitionRead more
Dec
06
2011
Give the Gift of Light
Emily Books & Resources, Everyday Abolitionist, Partner Organization News, Survivor Stories 0
Of course, Stop Traffick Fashion has lots of great gifts that bring true joy to Christmas. But we also know that our products don’t fit all of your needs and sometimes you need a gift for that person who has everything. In that situation I always recommend making a donation to an excellent organization in their name, and Hagar International would be an excellent choice! Christmas is defined by light. Trees sparkle, candles glow, and stars glisten as a reminder of God’s light of the world. But in Cambodia, Afghanistan and Vietnam, there are thousands of women and children whoRead more
Nov
23
2011
The Latest from Nicholas Kristof
Emily Books & Resources, Everyday Abolitionist, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information 0
We at STF are big fans of Nicholas Kristof and his op-ed pieces in the NY Times. Last week he posted two excellent articles about trafficking in Cambodia. The first was about a brothel raid that he participated in with an anti-trafficking hero, Somaly Mam. At the end of that article he wrote: Ultimately, the way to end this scourge is to make it less profitable and more risky for the traffickers. Above all, that means targeting not the girls but putting traffickers and pimps in jail, whether in Cambodia or in New York. Slowly, that is happening. I canRead more
Oct
20
2011
New Products: Hello, Jewel Tones
Emily Product Information, STF News 2
We’ve just added lots of great new products to the shop featuring rich jewel tones – perfect for fall! The products include both jewelry and tote bags from two new partner organizations: Freedom Stones and byTavi. The new jewelry is from Thailand and made by artisans from Freedom Stones. Freedom Stones is committed to eliminating and preventing human trafficking through livelihoods projects that transform and develop vulnerable communities. The new tote bags are from byTavi in Cambodia. byTavi is a vocational training program that prevents trafficking, offers hope, a future and an income that will provide for the needs of eachRead more
Sep
19
2011
Give Hope to Cambodia Through Hagar International
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Partner Organization News, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information, Uncategorized 1
Read previous posts about Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, and what everyday abolitionist can do to help heal Cambodia. Our partner organization Hagar International works extensively with exploited women and children in Cambodia. Here’s how their website summarizes the conditions of Cambodia and the work they do there: Today, most Cambodians live in extreme poverty, with more than 77 percent of the population earning less than $2 a day. Women and children disproportionately bear the burden of intermittent employment and limited access to health and education services. Sexual and domestic violence are also realities within Cambodian society. Extreme poverty, low levelsRead more
Sep
19
2011
Everyday Abolitionist: Maria Van Hoorn
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Partner Organization News 0
Everyday Abolitionist is a recurring feature on the blog where we’ll hear firsthand from someone using their skills, talents, and opportunities to fight trafficking. This time around we have Maria Van Hoorn who works with Hagar USA. RESTORE, our benefit event for Hagar, is this Saturday! If you want to support this benefit for Hagar and can’t come to the show, you can donate to Hagar online and put RESTORE in the comments on the donation page. How did you first find out about human trafficking? I was enrolled in a Peace and Justice course in college and we focusedRead more