Safe Harbor for Victims of Human Trafficking

Melissa     Empower Women, Everyday Abolitionist     0

The Polaris Project works hard to fight human trafficking. One way they do that is by helping people get in touch with government leaders in order to ask for better laws to prevent human trafficking and protect victims. One effective type of law is called a Safe Harbor Law: Safe Harbor laws … define these sexually exploited children as victims of abuse, help them find protection and support, and grant them immunity from prosecution for prostitution while they are under 18 years of age. Safe Harbor laws also can increase funding for specialized services like long-term housing, mental health care,Read more

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Even More Help for Human Trafficking Victims from Polaris Project

Melissa     Books & Resources, Everyday Abolitionist     0

We’ve shared many times about the work of Polaris Project and their Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888!), but now there’s even more power at Polaris Project: 1. You can now text the hotline: text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). This is a particularly powerful tool when advocates are able to get this information to victims of human trafficking, such as through the SOAP Project. 2. The hotline is global! Here’s more from the announcement: Polaris Project announced the launch of the Global Human Trafficking Hotline Network today, a new alliance of anti-trafficking hotlines that will build a broader safety netRead more

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Speak Up

Melissa     Empower Women, Everyday Abolitionist     0

Yesterday just after 5, I boarded a train toward downtown Boston. There were maybe a dozen people in the car. I sat down. A minute or so later, a young woman in her early 20s ran into the car, her face red from crying. A man about her age followed her. She screamed at him to get a way from her, and he said, “No, I’m going home with you!” She tried to sit separate from him, but he wouldn’t leave her side. Everyone in the car was watching or pretending not to watch. Seconds before the train left, heRead more

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Ending Slavery in Our Time

Melissa     Everyday Abolitionist     0

This video shares Polaris Project’s vision and plan for the next ten years. (Find out how Polaris Project fought trafficking in its first ten years.) After your watch the video, go to their Raise Awareness page and see how you can get involved by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, hosting a book club, planning a movie night, and more.   Find out more about human trafficking. Shop ethical fashion made by survivors. Be a part of the solution: Be part of Stop Traffick Fashion.

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Enlist Your Profession in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Melissa     Everyday Abolitionist, Trafficking News & Information     0

New York cab drivers are being enlisted as watch people in the fight against trafficking. Watch the video below or read the article at CNN to find out more. Are their ways your profession can be involved in fighting human trafficking? Do you want to make sure people in your workplace know about the problem and how to look for warning signs? You can be an everyday abolitionist and help others get involved in just two steps. 1. Program the Polaris Project Hotline number into your phone, and call anytime you see something that seems suspicious. Even if you’re notRead more

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State by State: A Look at Legislation Against Human Trafficking

Melissa     Everyday Abolitionist, Trafficking News & Information     0

The State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report has shown how countries around the world are doing in the fight against human trafficking including the United States—but how are each of the fifty states doing? Polaris Project takes a look out how each state (plus DC) has set up legislation to fight human trafficking. And the news is pretty good. 28 states (55%) passed new laws to fight human trafficking in the past year. As of July 31, 2012, 21 states are now rated in Tier 1 (7+ points), up from 11 states in 2011. Washington received 11 points, the mostRead more

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Money: The Driving Force Behind Human Trafficking

Melissa     Everyday Abolitionist, Trafficking News & Information     0

There are many ways to define human trafficking. It’s an international crime. It’s an affront to human dignity. It’s also a huge business. This last view is particularly helpful for two reasons: 1. Money is what traffickers are focused on. 2. We’re all consumers so we can all help. Here’s just how big the business is: The United Nations estimates unlawful sex trafficking generates approximately $5,000,000,000 a year in revenues. The trafficking industry as a whole generates about $32 billion each year. About $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries and $9.7 billion in Asia. Each forced laborer generates anRead more

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Everyday Abolitionist: Kristin Braddock

Melissa     Everyday Abolitionist     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 Kristin Braddock who works with Apne Aap. Read about more Everyday Abolitionists. According to UNICEF, as many as two million children are subjected to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade every year. Sex trafficking has devastating consequences for the victim including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, diseases (including HIV/AIDS), drug addictions, unwanted pregnancies, malnutrition, ostracism, and possible death. Sex trafficking is a global issue that affects every country and victimizesRead more

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Unique Ways to Rescue Victims of Human Trafficking

Melissa     Rescue     0

We’ve talked about some of the most talked of means of rescue, but there are many variations of the rescue story and many key players who can be involved. And you can be a part. Certain professions like nurses and teachers have a unique vantage point to spot exploitation, but every individual can use their perspective and experience to see when something’s wrong and let someone know. If you see something that just doesn’t look right call the Polaris Project hotline at 1-888-3737-888 (put it in your phone!). Here are several stories about how individuals and professions are banding togetherRead more