Monday, March 4, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
TVPRA Passes!
This has been a long time coming.
It's insane how long it took a bipartisan reauthorization to pass, but today it did--in the House of Representatives. THANK YOU!!
As a brief recap: the Trafficking Victims Protecting Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) has been stalling for 2 years. It expired in 2011 and MANY organizations and individuals have been working tirelessly together to get it reauthorized ever since.
For more information check out International Justice Mission's Freedom Commons write-up or this news release from Polaris Project:
And you can take a minute to thank your congressional reps who supported the reauthorization here.
It's insane how long it took a bipartisan reauthorization to pass, but today it did--in the House of Representatives. THANK YOU!!
As a brief recap: the Trafficking Victims Protecting Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) has been stalling for 2 years. It expired in 2011 and MANY organizations and individuals have been working tirelessly together to get it reauthorized ever since.
For more information check out International Justice Mission's Freedom Commons write-up or this news release from Polaris Project:
“In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was a landmark bill that greatly increased America’s ability to protect victims and assist survivors, and it was reauthorized three times with bipartisan support. Today's bill sets important funding benchmarks, encourages distribution of the Polaris Project-operated National Human Trafficking Hotline number by federal agencies, establishes grant programs for state agencies to assist child victims of sex trafficking, strengthens the ability to prosecute those who fraudulently hire individuals in foreign labor contracts, and more."Now it's your turn, Mr. President. Sign that thing into law!
And you can take a minute to thank your congressional reps who supported the reauthorization here.
Friday, February 1, 2013
END IT: Shine a Light on Slavery
This is exactly what is needed and I couldn't be more excited about it. (!!!)
Check out the END IT movement. Seven fantastic anti-slavery and pro-justice organizations are joining forces to "shine a light on slavery." Collaboration is SO important, and this news gives me incredible hope. The participating organizations include:
- Made in a Free World
- Free the Slaves
- Polaris Project
- A21
- International Justice Mission (IJM)
- Love146
- Not For Sale
They already have lots of cool stuff on the website, including some upcoming events--such as February 27th's "Disappear for a Day on Social Media." There's also a free activist toolkit and a pledge to sign where you can keep in contact with END IT and what you can be doing to play a role.
Below is the ad that ran in today's USA Today:
And I love this sentiment perhaps best of all:
"You don't have to give your money to END IT.
Just give your voice."
Because if you're reading this right now, the freedom of voice is something you have.
So please use it--starting today.
#ENDITMOVEMENT
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Zero Trafficked Children
UNICEF is doing some really cool things right now. Angie Harmon (my dad's long-time celebrity crush) has become one of their newest ambassadors. She's helping to raise awareness that children are being trafficked and abused, both in labor and sexual slavery--and it is happening in the United States.
What I find really cool, though, is the resources teachUNICEF is providing for middle school and high school educators. This is something I am seeing more and more anti-trafficking organizations and advocates doing: educating our teens and pre-teens. I know Love146 has been speaking at some local Connecticut high schools this past year, and I think it's one of our collective best chances for future prevention.
Check out the resources at http://teachunicef.org/explore/topic/child-trafficking, including lesson plans for grades 6-8 and 9-12. I'd be interested to hear if any teachers have used this or similar resources, and how the experience went.
And of course, my dear friend Diana Scimone has the Born2Fly curriculum, which is a 6-week strategic community awareness campaign. You can register for that curriculum and use it for free to help "reach kids before the traffickers do."
Hopefully, between these resources and people who are putting them into practice, we will all be more aware and able to prevent our communities' children from falling victim to this exploitation.
What I find really cool, though, is the resources teachUNICEF is providing for middle school and high school educators. This is something I am seeing more and more anti-trafficking organizations and advocates doing: educating our teens and pre-teens. I know Love146 has been speaking at some local Connecticut high schools this past year, and I think it's one of our collective best chances for future prevention.
Check out the resources at http://teachunicef.org/explore/topic/child-trafficking, including lesson plans for grades 6-8 and 9-12. I'd be interested to hear if any teachers have used this or similar resources, and how the experience went.
And of course, my dear friend Diana Scimone has the Born2Fly curriculum, which is a 6-week strategic community awareness campaign. You can register for that curriculum and use it for free to help "reach kids before the traffickers do."
Hopefully, between these resources and people who are putting them into practice, we will all be more aware and able to prevent our communities' children from falling victim to this exploitation.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Everyday Heroes
My husband lives, loves, breathes, reads, watches sports. He gets animated when he talks about it. He loves to predict what will happen in games that haven't been played yet. And whenever he's laughing to himself at his computer I instantly know he's reading some Bill Simmons on Grantland.
Now here's a baseball player we can both get excited about.
R.A. Dickey.
He's a Cy Young winner. He's famous for his knuckleball. And he's spending time in India to fight child sex trafficking.
Check out the article at CBS News: NL Cy Young Winner R. A. Dickey in India to Help End Child Sex Trafficking
Glad to see some everyday heroes bridging the gap between a life celebrated in sports and doing the things that I believe matter most in the long run.
Now here's a baseball player we can both get excited about.
R.A. Dickey.
He's a Cy Young winner. He's famous for his knuckleball. And he's spending time in India to fight child sex trafficking.
Check out the article at CBS News: NL Cy Young Winner R. A. Dickey in India to Help End Child Sex Trafficking
Glad to see some everyday heroes bridging the gap between a life celebrated in sports and doing the things that I believe matter most in the long run.
Friday, January 13, 2012
What I've Been Through is Not Who I Am
Fascinating, heartbreaking, eye-opening video from ECPAT-USA.
Child sexual exploitation and trafficking is a complex problem that needs a lot of smart minds, focused thinking, and a comprehensive response from our government, law enforcement, legal system, and everyday people like you and me. This video gives us some things to consider.
And in response to my earlier post, Fragmented Mirrors, I give kudos to ECPAT, Polaris Project, GEMS, WITNESS, and Shared Hope International for joining forces and collaborating on this video.
Child sexual exploitation and trafficking is a complex problem that needs a lot of smart minds, focused thinking, and a comprehensive response from our government, law enforcement, legal system, and everyday people like you and me. This video gives us some things to consider.
And in response to my earlier post, Fragmented Mirrors, I give kudos to ECPAT, Polaris Project, GEMS, WITNESS, and Shared Hope International for joining forces and collaborating on this video.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
1/11/12 Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
In honor of those who are currently enslaved throughout this country and around the world, consider doing any one of the following things today:
I'll leave you with a great sentiment from one my favorite abolitionists, Rob Morris (@RobLove146):
In honor of those who are currently enslaved throughout this country and around the world, consider doing any one of the following things today:
- Donate $2 to provide emergency supplies to a survivor (via Philanthroper for Polaris Project)
- Apply for the 2012 International Justice Mission Freedom Tour--a cycling tour from Cincinnati to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in DC
- Read "Girls Like Us" by GEMS founder Rachel Lloyd
- Buy and carry the Stop Sex Trafficking for Life Celebrity bag from the Body Shop
- Buy and wear a Sevenly shirt that benefits Somaly Mam this week
- Find and join a local Love146 Task Force
- Download the Free2Work app on your phone to become a more conscious consumer
- Set up a Google Alert for "child trafficking + [[your city]] [[your state]]" to be aware of what's going on nearby and how you can help
- Wear the same dress for six months straight
- Put the National Human Trafficking Hotline number in your phone contact list: 1-888-3737-888
- Read this MTV article for 5 more easy ways to take action on Human Trafficking Awareness Day
- Oh yeah--and spread the word! If you like any of these ideas, share this blog post on your social networks
I'll leave you with a great sentiment from one my favorite abolitionists, Rob Morris (@RobLove146):
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