The Countertraffickers: Rescuing the victims of the global sex trade, by William Finnegan, The New Yorker

A well-written and researched article about human trafficking from Moldova. While it discusses the situation directly as it pertains to that nation, there are a variety of themes that run through the different forms of human trafficking that are presented. It is a long, but comprehensive article about human trafficking that would be helpful for someone new to the issue and looking to learn more.

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Portrait of Exploitation: The Real Face of Prostitution by Laura Coltier

This article (click on the title link), published in PRISM magazine portrays the disturbing realities of prostitution in the United States. While there certainly are women who choose to be prostitutes and choose to remain prostitutes, this article suggests that many women do not choose to be or remain prostitutes, and that it literally destroys them. This article is not for the faint of heart, but will potentially challenge some of your assumptions of prostitution in the US.

You may not read an article like this becuase you think either there is nothing for you to do or it's too disturbing, and you already know of enough terrible things in the world. If you are a Christian and believe prayer is important, then you will be able to pray with more knowledge of this situation. You could respond by writing to your representative or senator and let them know this concerns you. You could donate to one of the many organizations that is working to end human trafficking. You could talk about this issue with others and raise awareness so others will act as well. You could organize an event to raise awareness. If you have any other ideas, please post them here so others can be encouraged and inspired to act in whatever way they're able.

Peace.

What do you know about 21st century slavery?

Did you know that last year approximately 700,000-1,000,000 people were trafficked throughout the world? That doesn't include the number of people already held as slaves against their will. It's estimated that 25,000-50,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year. Believe it or not, there may even be slaves living in your neighborhood. Do you know why or where trafficking happens? This essay, "Trafficking, Slaves on the Move," found on the iAbolish web-site, is extremely informational and fairly short. Please read it!

Slavery in the 21st Century

An interview on PBS, On Point, with Gloria Steinem, who wrote the forward to "Enslaved: True Stories of Modern Day Slavery." She's involved with the organization
iAbolish, headquartered in Boston, MA. Slavery is very much alive, and I believe it is almost as profitable as the drug trade (will check and cite source!).

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In this interview she mentions the movie "Trade," coming out in the US on September 21, 2007. PLEASE SEE THIS MOVIE AND TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT!!! Written by Jose Rivera, who wrote the screenplay for "Motorycle Diaries."

From the BBC News-"Undercover in SE Asia's Brothels"

Another must-read about modern slavery/forced prostution/human trade, this time from the BBC

Enslaved in the USA-an article by Donna Hughes

Dr. Donna Hughes, professor of women's studies at the University of Rhode Island and researcher on international and domestic sex trafficking (read: forced prostitution/slavery), writes another interesting article about trafficking in the US, something most of us know very little. The statistics are astounding. Check out the article here.

200th Anniversary of Abolition of Slave Trade: Slavery is Not Dead

Anti-Slavery advocates throughout the US are signing this petition asking Congress to sign into law te Eradication of Slavery in Sudan Act. While this will not free all 27 million slaves throughout the world, it will help those in slavery in Sudan.

“Sudan is the only place where chattel slavery is not just surviving but experiencing a great revival. This renascence of the slave trade began in the mid-1980s... (John Eibner, “My Career Redeeming Slaves” from the Middle East Quarterly, December 1999).

Go to the American Anti-Slavery Group and sign this petition:

2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade; and yet, an estimated 12,000 southern Sudanese remain enslaved in northern Sudan, victims of a 23-year civil war that pre-dates the current conflict in Darfur.

Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey is preparing to re-introduce the Eradication of Slavery in Sudan Act. I am writing to ask you to help ensure that this bill becomes law by signing on as a co-sponsor and voting for it when it reaches the floor. Honor this bicentennial year by taking meaningful action on modern-day slavery.

If passed, the Eradication of Slavery in Sudan Act will create a commission charged with the following:

(1) identifying the location of slaves in Sudan and ensuring their freedom;

(2) ensure safe passage of freed slaves and family reunification;

(3) documenting existing cases of slavery and working to prevent new cases from occurring;

(4) ensuring that former slaves have access to basic education and skill training, as well as medical, social, and psychological support needed for their effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society; and

(5) ensuring that those individuals responsible for slavery are brought to justice.Passing resolutions honoring the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade are meaningless if they are not accompanied by concrete action. Please help to ensure that basic human right, freedom, can be a reality for everyone at last.

Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]

Resources:
2007 Trafficking in Persons Report
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
The International Justice Mission

Once a slave in the US, still fighting for her freedom | csmonitor.com

María Suárez survived life as a sex slave for five years in Los Angeles. There are thousands more like her. This is an important issue, reality occuring in thousands of people's lives each day, which few people know very much about.



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