Part of It

Okay, I promised some good news today, so here's some that makes me hopeful: UNICEF, in partnership with ECPAT Switzerland, has established the world’s first centralized system for reporting on sex tourists.

According to a press release that was distributed on January 2, "The Swiss Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) has introduced a website containing a new form that will be used to collect information about suspected perpetrators. Swiss tourists are also being encouraged by tour operators to speak up if they see anything suspicious when they travel abroad."

Swiss tourists or residents who see something or have a sense that trafficking may be taking place can now leave a tip at one address, and know that it will be looked in to. A centralized reporting system is one thing that has been lacking in the fight against trafficking so far, and may pave the way to make a huge difference in awareness, tracking, and policing.

More good news--we had a great extended planning meeting for the Love146 Boston taskforce yesterday. Lots of headway was made and lots of cookies were eaten. There's also a growing chance that I might be coming face-to-face with the issue, on the other side of the globe, sooner than I ever thought possible.

Very excited. I couldn't even sleep last night. Good things are coming. And in the wise old words of the now-defunct Piebald: "Hey--you're part of it."
Photo by Steve Rhodes