Showing posts with label human trafficking. Show all posts

Thursday

Happy 206th, President Lincoln: Slavery Abolition Facts

In honor of Abraham Lincoln's 206th birthday, here are some abolition facts for you:

Iceland abolished slavery in A.D. 1117.

Pope Paul III forbid the enslavement of indigenous peoples in the America's in 1537. Forced displacement and systematic oppression was still okay. Oh ... and of course Africans could still be enslaved.

Portugal banned the buying and selling of Chinese slaves in 1595. Black slaves still super cool with them.

Russia abolished slavery in 1723.

Sierra Leone was founded by the British as a colony for freed slaves in 1787. Domestic slavery, perpetuated by the wealthy, wasn't outlawed there until 1928.

Haiti declared independence from France in 1804, perhaps the only truly successful slave revolt in modern history.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed in Britain in 1807. The United States banned the trade the following year though President Thomas Jefferson called Congress to make the slave trade illegal in 1806. A slew of nations abolished slavery or slave trading in the decades that followed.

The last slaves were freed in Mexico in 1829, but when the Republic of Texas was established in 1836, it legalized slavery there.

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, one of the most important executive orders in United States history. It was followed by passage of the 13th amendment two years later.

Oklahoma, then Indian Territory, didn't abolish slavery until 1866.

In the 80 years following the British abolition of the slave trade, Brazil imported an additional 1 million African slaves and became the world's leading producer of coffee. Slavery was finally abolished in Brazil in 1888.

The British, who had abolished the slave trade in 1807, continued using Indians as indentured servants on a large scale until 1917. Many long-established Indian populations around the world began during this period of forced displacement.

Slavery continued legally in Ethiopia until 1942 when it was officially abolished by Emperor Haile Selassie.

Slavery was still legal in the nations of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, and Oman until the 1960s.

The most recent nations to make slavery a crime were Niger (2003) and Mauritania (2007).

Slavery is now officially illegal in all nations. However, estimates suggest that more than 35 million people remain enslaved around the world.

Resources:

The Global Slavery Index - http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/

The UN International Labor Organizatin - http://www.ilo.org

Friday

Ten Things Men and Boys Can Do to Stop Human Trafficking

Photo by Eric Parker

Here's a great post from over at the Ms. Blog Magazine by Jewel Woods. I'm not familiar with Woods or the site, but I really like this list and encourage you to give it some thought. I do know that the post is not written from a Biblical perspective, so there is opportunity here for Christ-followers to read, reflect, and recreate a list with a Christ-centered worldview.

When I was recently at the American Society of Missiology symposium on human trafficking, this was an issue that was raised front and center. If we want to get serious about the problem of human trafficking, we must get serious about dealing with the demand. While the government can legislate and NGOs can bring aid, rescue and aftercare, only the Church can deal meaningfully with the moral issue of man's demand for sex slaves.

I hope you will take the time to check out the full article at Ms. Blog Magazine, where Woods provides a lot of solid insight and explanation. For now, let me just give you here top ten:

1. Challenge the glamorization of pimps in our culture.
2. Confront the belief that prostitution is a "victimless crime".
3. Stop patronizing strip clubs.
4. Don't consume pornography.
5. Tackle male chauvinism and sexism online.
6. End sex tourism.
7. Talk to men and boys about men's issues in male spaces.
8. Support anti-human trafficking policies.
9. Support creation of John Schools.
10. Raise sons and mentor boys to challenge oppression.

A great list, to be sure. I would love someone out there to rethink this list and provide a Christocentric one. Let me know if you have thoughts!

Wednesday

The Displacement of Syrians is Leading to a Massive Sex Trafficking Crisis

Lord, have mercy!

The Syrian refugee crisis is a global emergency. May the United States, Canada, and many other nations step in immediately and provide humanitarian aid, security support, and resettlement.

The following videos will disturb you. Here's what we've been saying. The refugee crisis resulting from the violence in Syria has created an overwhelming refugee crisis. The camps are overcrowded and growing every day. Most of the refugees are women and children (like 75-80%). They are vulnerable and now evil men are taking advantage of the situation. Unless drastic action is taken immediately, we may be on the verge of one of the worst trafficking situations in history.

After watching, let me encourage you to share this post with others. Also, if you are a church leader (or if you know a church leader) read and share my post on how churches should prepare for the coming Syrian "tidal wave". Then, read and add your endorsement to my "Open Letter to Displaced Syrians". Or you can check out all my posts on the Syrian crisis here.

Syria's Sex Slaves

The Price of Refuge

Thursday

Resource on Human Trafficking Prevention: The FBI

I've just spent a bit of time exploring the FBI's Human Trafficking page. It is a great resource to educate and begin to become engaged in helping to stop modern-day slavery. If you've never visited the site, I think you should do so.

Among other things, the FBI offers the following tips for identifying trafficking victims:

That’s where you come in. Please keep your eyes out for the following indicators that suggest the possibility of human trafficking:

Individuals who have no contact with friends or family and no access to identification documents, bank accounts, or cash;
Workplaces where psychological manipulation and control are used;
Homes or apartments with inhumane living conditions;
People whose communications and movements are always monitored or who have moved or rotated through multiple locations in a short amount of time;
Places where locks and fences are positioned to confine occupants; and
Workers who have excessively long and unusual hours, are unpaid or paid very little, are unable take breaks or days off and have unusual work restrictions, and/or have unexplained work injuries or signs of untreated illness or disease.

Bear in mind: human trafficking victims can be found in many job locations and industries—including factories, restaurants, elder care facilities, hotels, housekeeping, child-rearing, agriculture, construction and landscaping, food processing, meat-packing, cleaning services…as well as the commercial sex industry.

Sex Trafficking in Nepal

I found the faces of these sisters and their story to be heartbreaking. What is your church doing to end Human Trafficking?

Hope In Motion - Episode 4 "Nepal Safehaven" - Clip from CaveLight Films on Vimeo.

Friday

Stop human trafficking at Super Bowl XLVI!

A little info to keep in mind during your Super Bowl Party . . .

Sex-Trafficking at the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the most-watched program on TV every year. But many people don’t know about its dark underside: the Super Bowl, like other large sporting events, is a magnet for sex trafficking and child prostitution. It is possibly the largest sex trafficking event in the US. As more than 100,000 football fans descend on Indianapolis, sex traffickers and pimps will also arrive in droves to take advantage of the demand. The event is actually near the Detroit-Toledo corridor, which has one of the highest incidences of trafficking in the country.

Sister Pat Bergen: Stop human trafficking at Super Bowl XLVI - chicagotribune.com: "The crowd is starting to swell in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI, many looking for amusement until game time. And, the commercial sex industry is ready to oblige. You can be sure they've imported a generous supply of victim-prostitutes to be at the pleasure of countless game-goers in town. Local and federal officials acknowledge that organized prostitution accompanies major sports events like the Olympics, the World Cup and the Super Bowl. That's where the big money is."

Sex trafficking and the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl attracts tens of thousands of fans to the host city, and millions of television viewers, making it the most watched broadcast each year. But it also attracts a sector of violent, organized criminal activity that operates in plain sight without notice: human sex trafficking. Human trafficking is defined by the United Nations as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat, use of force or other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation.” Sex trafficking is particularly heinous: Young women are abducted and sold into an underworld network where they are forced to engage in sexual activity for no pay, and from which it is extremely difficult to escape.

Thursday

Nepal’s economy dependent on exploitation | MediaGlobal News

God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. (Psa 68:6 ESV)

Here's an article that highlights well an angle of human trafficking that you may not be aware of. I'm not sure that I agree with the tone of the headline which seems to blame Nepal for the large number of women who are exploited. The fault, it seems, lies more with the receiving nations that don't do enough to prevent the abuse of domestic workers. Anyway, this is something the Church should be more greatly aware of. It is shocking to me to know that 9 out of 10 women who leave Nepal for foreign work "are victims of exploitation or sexual violence".

Nepal’s economy dependent on exploitation | MediaGlobal News: "Since the 1990s, in light of increased globalization, more and more women are joining the ranks of Nepalese migrant workers. Of the approximately 83,000 Nepalese women that leave the country every year to work for foreign employers, fully 90 percent are victims of exploitation or sexual violence, says a study by the Foreign Nepali Workers Rescue Center (FNWRC).

Monday

Photos of Bhutanese - Nepali Church Learning, Discussing, & Praying About Global Challenges

Yesterday, the members of TriEak Parmeshwar Mandali -- a Nepali-speaking Bhutanese church in the Chicago area -- spent time learning, talking, and praying about three great global challenges. Human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and unreached people groups were the topics of focus for this young church made up entirely of refugees. The primary question before them was this: "What would God have us do?"

The discussion was tremendously fruitful and I look forward to seeing what develops from here. Some of the ideas that came forward including planning dedicated times of prayer and fasting, getting more education about these issues as a group, hosting fundraising and awareness events, and sending mission teams and even full-time missionaries from our church. Little attention was paid to the fact that the ones having the conversation were mere refugees and thus typically considered unable to even attempt such things. The belief was firm that with God's help, we could accomplish anything.

Now, I want to simply share some of the photos from our time. These are some of the coolest photos:

Ganesh leading a conversation about Human Trafficking

Dikura explaining the concept of Unreached People Groups to members of UPGs

"Round-Robin" Style Conversations on Global Issues

Krishna explaining how HIV/AIDS & poverty are connected

UPGs praying for UPGs

Our Commitment: To Do Something Before Oct. 31, 2011

Sunday

LORD WILLING: WE'LL DO SOMETHING!

Today at TriEak Parmeshwar Mandali, our Bhutanese-Nepali church -- a refugee church -- we are going to have a discussion about three huge global challenges. We will discuss HIV/AIDS, Human Trafficking, and Unreached People Groups / Diaspora. We will talk, pray, and ask God what He would have us do. That's right, the congregation is entirely refugee, poor, new followers of Christ. Considered by most to be mere objects of charity. No, we are in Christ. Christ has something for us. We will rise up and do something.

Last night, I appointed three of the churches leaders to be conversation leaders today. Each will lead the conversations and prayers about each of the key challenges. The rest of the congregation will be divided into three groups that will spend about 15-20 minutes on each topic. At the end, the leaders will report back on what they have heard from God and His Church. Below, is the conversation outline that will be given by the leaders. It is Palm Sunday. Hosanna to the King! Save us! A good time to ask the Lord how He wants to use us as an instrument and vessel of His salvation to those who are crying out around the world.

Basic Facts and Information about Human Trafficking

What are the Facts?

1. It is estimated that there are approximately 27 million slaves around the world.[1]

2. Around half of trafficking victims in the world are under the age of 18.[2]

3. The average cost of a slave around the world is $90.[3]

4. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation.[4]

5. Trafficking victims normally don't get help because they think that they or their families will be hurt by their traffickers, or that they will be deported.[5]

6. In Nepal, every year 10-15 thousand women are trafficked to India alone.[6]

How can we pray?

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

(Isaiah 61:1)

· Pray that God will end human trafficking in the world.

· Pray that God will use governments and churches around the world to stop human trafficking.

· Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?

What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?

Basic Facts and Information about HIV/AIDS

What are the Facts?

1. More than 30 million people in the world today have HIV/AIDS.[7]

2. HIV/AIDS is among the leading causes of death worldwide and the number one cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa.[8]

3. HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in all regions of the world, but the large majority of people living with the disease (approximately 95%) reside in low-and middle-income countries.[9]

4. More than 2/3rds of people in the world with HIV/AIDS are in Africa.[10]

5. More than 2 million children in the world have HIV/AIDS. More than 200,000 die every year.[11]

6. 15 million children across the world have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.[12]

7. Asia is believed to have nearly 5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, with India accounting for 2.4 million cases.[13]

8. HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in Nepal because of poor education. Most Nepalis (80%) who have AIDS don’t know that they do.[14]

How can we pray?

And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

(Matthew 10:7-8)

· Pray that God will use governments, churches, scientists, doctors, and others to end HIV/AIDS by discovering a cure.

· Pray that medicines will be available to the poor in the world who have HIV/AIDS.

· Pray that good education will be provided around the world that will help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

· Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?

What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?

Basic Facts and Information about Unreached Peoples & Diaspora

What are the Facts?

1. A “people group” is a group of people that share certain things like language, ethnicity/race/caste, or other cultural traditions. For evangelistic purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the gospel can spread without facing obstacles of understanding or acceptance. There are about 16,000 people groups in the world.[15]

2. An “Unreached People Group” is any people group in which less than 2% of the population follows Jesus. There are more than 6,000 of these in the world.[16] In Nepal, there are many unreached people groups. Some include: Magar, Maithili, Darjee, and many others. Bhutan also has many unreached people groups including the Dzongkhas, Sherpas, and Lhotshampas.[17]

3. There are only about 100,000 missionaries in the world. Only 3% of them are working among unreached people groups. There is a great need to send more missionaries.[18]

4. An “unengaged unreached people group” is an unreached people group that has no missionaries or churches. Most of these people have no opportunity to hear the message of Jesus in a way they can understand. No one is trying to reach them![19]

5. Today, more than 214 million people live outside their home country. These are diaspora or “scattered” people. Many are from unreached people groups.[20]

6. Nepalis live in countries all over the world. 600,000 live in India. 215,000 live in Saudia Arabia. 125,000 live in Malaysia. 73,000 live in Hong Kong. 2,000 live in South Africa. More than 50,000 live in the USA. Most of these people do not know Jesus and have no one to tell them.[21]