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.

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:

• 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):

Fragmented Mirrors

I saw this quote on Twitter today:

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton

The quote was in the back of my mind when I read this article (two pieces of anti-trafficking coverage in a row for Forbes, btw): How to End Sex Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. It's an article interviewing Siddharth Kara, a well-known author and fellow at the Carr Center. It's an educated and informed look at the evolution of awareness about human trafficking and the subsequent public response. Kara observes:

[A] primary challenge has to do with the inability of activists in the field to catalyze a more unified grassroots movement to combat the issue.  The antislavery movement remains highly fragmented, and as a result, its ability to mobilize social opinion and lawmakers on the issue has been hampered.

It frustrates me when people want to spend time criticizing and belittling other organizations' efforts instead of recognizing their common desire--to end trafficking and modern-day slavery--and using that as an impetus to work together. It's true that some people, no matter how good intentioned, are doing more harm than good. It's true that sometimes stories are sensationalized and blown out of proportion. However, I think that as a whole, abolitionists need to put politics and personal vendettas aside in favor of greater partnerships. Let's keep in mind who the real adversary is here.

I know--easier said than done. Maybe a united resolution for 2012?

Because, let's face it: mirrors that have become "highly fragmented" simply aren't going to reflect the candle the way that they should.

Photo by Artnow314

Tech Advances and Human Trafficking Month

Photo by tvol

As you might have seen, President Obama has designated January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month.

This is just one of the ways the government has been putting an increased focus on human trafficking prevention. The Department of Homeland Security has launched a website specifically on the topic of human trafficking (see it here), which includes providing a daily e-mail news update on human trafficking/smuggling; offering multi-lingual online resources for vulnerable populations; and creating and disseminating free training tools for law enforcement to use in identifying situations of trafficking.

All of these developments (and, let's be honest, my recent return to Twitter) got me thinking: technology is truly a double-edged sword when it comes to child sex trafficking. The Internet has made it easier than ever to sell children as commodities, widely distribute pornography, and has successfully forced prostitution off the streets and deeper behind closed doors.  However, there are a number of ways technology is aiding the fight against child trafficking, as well. For instance, in addition to the advances described above, this Forbes article ("Technology, Business, and Anti-Human Trafficking Innovation") talks about campaigns by digital ad agencies and tech powerhouses like Google and Microsoft to address trafficking issues. Microsoft has issued a $150,000 request for proposals to create technology that helps identify johns who are attempting to purchase victims.

In addition, Google has helped redesign the CyberTipline (run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) in order to make it more user-friendly, easier to navigate, and easier to report child sexual exploitation.

It's encouraging to see the U.S. government and giant U.S.-based tech companies taking notice of human trafficking, doing more to publicize its occurrence, and using technology in a practical way to make inroads against it.

What about you--is there anything you've seen this January that has made you feel encouraged in the fight against child sex trafficking?