I have researched , studied and written about this issue almost daily and really wanted to get involved somehow.

I registered with love146 (who I have mentioned in previous posts) to do my part. Those who knew me really well know that i enjoy spending my free time in the park walking & jogging. I figured if I could do this for pleasure, it shouldn’t be an issue doing it for someone else’s benefit.

As of May 1st every mile I run will be in support of love146. I have set a goal to raise $400. It is obtainable in comparison to some of the other donors, problem is I cannot do this alone.

I understand everyone, including myself, is in a rough financial situation. Please remember ANY little thing counts. If you can give, great. If not, it’s okay.

ABOVE ALL — Please try your hardest to spread the word for me. We need to make people more aware of this situation.  The more people we inform the more chance of those new – informed individuals getting up and taking part. Call me crazy but I believe with the right amount of efforts all around the world…something can be done. 

Donations will be truly appreciated.  All you need to do is visit the site and search my first and last name.

DONATE HERE

If you are more comfortable starting your own pledge…

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & START COLLECTING DONATIONS

I hope everyone finds it in their heart to do their part in any way possible.  The fight does not need to include your money , spreading the word and recruiting others is just as good.

Thank you,

Janet Quiroa

Yup. I searched GOOGLE for items available for purchase with proceeds going to human trafficking victims)

There is a never ending list…

YOU SHOULD TRY IT WHEN YOU HAVE TIME

I am currently awaiting arrival for this one..

The Body Shop has a lotion available

You can buy it here.

Shoptraffick Fashion includes items made by victims of human trafficking. You can even help by hosting your own parties to sale these accessories.

Visit the website  http://www.stoptraffickfashion.com/

There are lots of affordable ways to get involved.  If you are interested, search, search, search! Opportunities are all over the place.

GET EDUCATED

Be aware.  Read. Research. Learn.  You can never know too much about anything.  Take it seriously, soak up information. Know all about it.  The more you know, the more you can help.  

SPREAD THE WORD

The more people you can share information with, the more we can get onboard to help.  Ask your teachers at school if you can speak to your classes about the importance of ending human trafficking.   Post information in school newspapers, on bulletin boards, on your Myspace, Facebook & twitter.  It is 2010, utilize your abilities to send text messages and emails.  

THINK GLOBALLY – ACT LOCALLY

Do whatver you can in your community to help.  Any concerns you may have, take them to your state governors, senators and representatives.   

JOIN SUPPORTING CAMPAIGNS

The more people you can share information with, the more we can get onboard to help.  Ask your teachers at school if you can speak to your classes about the importance of ending human trafficking.   Post information in school newspapers, on bulletin boards, on your Myspace, Facebook & twitter.  It is 2010, utilize your abilities to send text messages and emails. 

FUNDRAISE

Support the human trafficking orginization of your choice.  Any small funds can help these orginizations.  Remember raising money in elementary, middle and high school?  Carwashes, bakesales, and BBQ cooking are all great ideas of what you and your community can participate in to raise money.  

love146 story: This year, there has been one donation in particular that has stayed with me in my heart and thoughts. A family sent in a check for $3.00 – they heard of our work through watching “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” and hearing Stephen Baldwin share about the work of Love146 on the show. This particular family was in severe economic distress, with both parents being out of work. They wrote to us that once a week, they would search the house for change so they could go get a special treat. That week, the kids asked if instead of spending the money on treats, they could send the money to Love146 to help children. 

BE CAUTIOUS OF WHAT YOU SUPPORT

AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE..IF THERE IS NO DEMAND FOR IT..THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS.. 

SIGN THE PETITION

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-look-listen/signatures.html
 

REPORT A VICTIM

Always be on the look out for something fishy going on.   If you feel someone is being forced to work as a victim. SPEAK UP! Call the police or report the victim to the human trafficking hotline 

  1-888-3737-888

http://www.humantrafficking.org/

http://www.humantraffickingsearch.net/

MOVIES

http://humantrafficking.change.org/blog/view/10_human_trafficking_films_to_watch

10 TRAFFICKING FILMS TO WATCH as listed by END HUMAN TRAFFICKING

MUSIC

Remember the MTV EXIT campaign?  & the killers are one of many bands taking part in raising awareness

Take AKON for example…  http://www.dosomething.org/istheresomethingicando

ART

ADVERTISEMENTS

I have been noticing more and more billboards of this while driving around Houston.  I was surprised to run into this at PASADENA TOWN SQUARE MALL. 

U.S. Government Domestic Anti-Trafficking Efforts

include the 3 p’s : PROSECUTION, PROTECTION & PREVENTION

read here..http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/123133.htm

which will be new additions to the TVPA: Trafficking Victims Protection Act created in 2000

Dear Reader:

Since President Clinton issued the first U.S. Government policy against human trafficking in 1998, we have seen unprecedented forward movement around the world in the fight to end human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery. A majority of the world’s countries now have criminal legislation prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons, and global awareness has been immeasurably raised.

Yet much remains to be done, particularly in identifying and addressing the root causes of trafficking, including policies and practices that contribute to the trafficking of vulnerable populations. From girls denied schooling or coerced into under-aged marriages, to ethnic minorities without citizenship or birth registration, to migrant workers forced to work against their will by employers who abuse legal processes – the effectiveness of long-term prevention efforts will require us to look carefully at causal factors and commit to relevant reforms.

The ninth annual Trafficking in Persons Report http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/ sheds light on the faces of modern-day slavery and on new facets of this global problem. The human trafficking phenomenon affects virtually every country, including the United States. In acknowledging America’s own struggle with modern-day slavery and slavery-related practices, we offer partnership. We call on every government to join us in working to build consensus and leverage resources to eliminate all forms of human trafficking. This year, there is new urgency in this call. As the ongoing financial crisis takes an increasing toll on many of the world’s migrants – who often risk everything for the slim hope of a better future for their families – too often they are ensnared by traffickers who exploit their desperation. We recognize their immense suffering, and we commit to aiding their rescue and recovery.

As we move forward to meet the challenges of today, I am committed to sharing the lessons learned from our past efforts, and I offer our collective expertise to collaborate with you in bringing relief to victims, justice to perpetrators, and hope to future generations currently in peril.

Bringing an end to the global trade in people is a priority for the United States in keeping with American values that place a premium on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. I am confident that together we can make a difference, all over the world, in the lives of people deprived of their freedom.

Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

has put together an a-z directory to find organizations fighting human trafficking.

With the issue being so big and being something we think people aren’t aware of…There are actually a lot of organizations combating human trafficking. 

FREE THE SLAVES. NET have also mentioned a few…

Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking (ASSET) // CAST – Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking// Humanity United//International Justice Mission//Not for Sale Campaign//Polaris Project //Ricky Martin Foundation//Solidarity Center//Vital Voices

The United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime has released a global initiative to fight human trafficking (view here)

The brochure talks about different people working towards the fight. 

Taken from the brochure..they are..

–UNODC as the fuardian of the UN Protocol against trafficking in persons

–UNICEF, promoting the protection of children from violence, abuse, and exploitation

–ILO, promotion protection against forced labour and preventing child labour

–IOM, promoting the protections of migrant workers

–OHCHR, as the custodian of the anti slavery legal instruments

–OSCE, fighting human trafficking in its region

with those listed the UN went on to say (pg 6 of global initiative)..

At the grass roots level where the problem is most acute, non – governmental organizations and other civil society groups protect victims and raise awareness among vulnerable groups.  These groups are the eyes and ears of global community, the front line of the anti-trafficking movement.  A number of private individuals-either through foundations, through the media or on their own initiative – are champions of the anti-trafficking cause.  Their work, either to raise global awareness or to tackle local problems, is an inspiration to us all.

Academy Award winning actress Emma Thompson has been working on an exhibit to tell the story of a traffic victim’s experience.   She highlights a 19 year old girl , Elena, who she met while working with the Helen Bamber foundation who organizes to help abuse victims.  Elena shared  her horrible story in which having a receptionist job promised to her turned into being stripped of her passport and forced into sex trade.

Thompson worked with artists who recreated a girl’s experience as a trafficking victim using seven shipping containers.  She hopes that the exhibit will help make everyone more aware of this growing  issue.

Please click on take following links and take a look..

THE JOURNEY (MAKING)

THE JOURNEY (UNFOLDED)

Emma Thompson makes a PSA for Sex trafficking…this one was a bit hard for me to watch.  Just a Warning…

TRAFFICKING IS TORTURE

This is the story of Diana,  a victim of sexual exploitation.  She shares her story in a video posted by love146.  lOVE146 works towards raising awareness to help fight the global issue of sex trafficking.

Love146 Overview:

LOVE146 VISION

The abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Nothing less.

LOVE146 MISSION

Abolition and Restoration! We combat child sex slavery & exploitation with the unexpected and restore survivors with excellence.

WHY, WHAT & WHO

Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation through Prevention and Aftercare solutions, and contributing to a growing abolition movement.

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THEM HERE.

DEMAND

If there was no demand for this type of crime, there wouldn’t be much of a need to supply it would there?  As long as we are going to have people paying for human trafficking services, the business will continue to grow.  Often times wealthy men visit poor countries and buy victims directly.  If not bought directly, once in the destination country, traffickers find people wealthy enough to purchase victims.

POVERTY

Though there are many different factors that contribute to human trafficking, poverty is still one of the common.  Those that live in poverty are more vulnerable to these traffickers who offer what seems to the poor, paradise. Imagine living in poverty and having someone tell you they can give you everything you ever wanted for a small fee?  Good working conditions, better living environments, open job opportunities…it would be easy to leave your home country for the AMERICAN DREAM.. There criminals lure people with broken promises and painted pictures.

LACK OF EDUCATION

 The less educated you are the less you know.  Someone who is not aware about human trafficking or anything of it’s nature may not be able to tell what they are getting themselves into or what needs to be done to get out.  Not only in this nature but in that of no education experience.  With little education it could be impossible to find work.  If having trouble locating employment a person may become more open to a job opportunity being promised to them in another country. In this case, desperation of employment could be a person’s worst enemy.

LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

If a source country has no employment opportunities then cost of living and supporting a family can be a constant struggle.  If a person is guaranteed or “promised”  a job  in a destination country then they are more willing to accept all that a trafficker is offering.  They are often promised a honest work life and migrate to given the opposite.

SEEKING ENTRY

There are times where these victims just get themselves into an unexpected situation. It is not rare that illegals pay smugglers a fee to be entered into their destination country.  Little do they know, they are being entered into a world of human trafficking and sexual exploitation rather than being set free upon arrival.

 TRADING

Believe it or not, trafficking can include exploitation of a persons’ poverty situation.  It is not uncommon for family’s to sell their children in exchange for income or opportunity to pay off debts.  At times parent’s may even be tricked to believe that their children are going to be given a better life.

GENDER DISCRIMINATION WITH THE FAMILY AND/OR COMMUNITY

Females are not equally accepted in all areas in the world.  If a girl is born into a community and looked down on for her gender, a small bit of acceptance may be enough for luring.  If a girl is made to feel lower class they will be more vulnerable, weak and powerless.

LACK OF LEGISLATION

Lack of legislation and government involvement means there is little threat to the leaders of human trafficking businesses.  For example – missing children may not be investigated enough in certain countries or legal punishment may not be top priority.  Criminals take advantage of lack of legislation, to them it’s just an open opportunity to continue business.

IMMIGRATION POLICIES

If immigration policies were more strict, it would be harder for traffickers to bring victims into their destination countries.  Destination countries are areas of the world where people are wealthy enough to pay for a HUMAN being.  If a trafficker is unable to SALE he is unable to make money.  Putting more immigration laws  in place could possible reduce numbers, even if  by a small amount.

The sex industry is marketed all over the world in different types of ways.  Whether done legally or illegally there are sex business open all around us which means areas of recruitment for traffic victims &  employers looking for employees to work for them…

Sources include:: Urban Ministry.org / unfpa.org / w/.state.gov / oag.state.tx.us

WHAT ABOUT HOUSTON?

Alex Wukman of the Cleveland Advocate says:

“Houston has been identified as one of the main hubs and destinations for human traffickers and the I-10 highway, which runs between El Paso and Houston, has been found to be the main human trafficking route in the United States,” states “Growing Up in Houston 2008-2010,” a biannual report put out by Children at Risk”

Also, take a look at the sex advertisements surrounding the houston area- houston press, billboards, locations in neighborhoods.   With marketing of that sort ALL around a major city it leaves you with the assumption that business is booming. Just like any other business, it starts from Supply and Demand.

…What needs to be done to protect our city??