Archives: Sex Trafficking
Of Chips, Salsa, and Slavery
Dawn McBane
This weekend, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will face off in the Super Bowl. With that comes parties, food, of course, the commercials. I used to think football was one of our harmless American pastimes. Of course, there are plenty of things we can all find fault with – the gazillion dollars we spend on “useless” information and entertainment, the way we sacrifice our time for sports, etc. Read More »
Archives: Sex Trafficking
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Dawn McBane
This weekend is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and Carrie Earll and I had the opportunity to chat with Lisa on the Boundless show about what it means to live out a sanctity ethic.
Here’s the interview. You should check it out.
Archives: Sex Trafficking
How Do You live Out a Sanctity Ethic?
Dawn McBane
This month marks my eighth anniversary of working at Focus on the Family. It’s easy to remember because I came to work during one of the busiest seasons for those of us in the bioethics area since January is Sanctity of Human Life month. Read More »
Archives: Sex Trafficking
A Night in Vegas
Carrie Kintz
Nights in Vegas are like a dream. The lights of the hotels seem to shine brighter than the stars. It was in the midst of these million dollar twinkling lights that the shadows caught my eye. The silhouette of a young woman, dancing provocatively, displayed for the street to see. A few blocks later, it was the brightly lit box at street level. A young woman, looking to be in her early twenties was dancing, wearing next to nothing. Passers by stopped to watch, guys made crude jokes and we all moved on. Read More »
Archives: Sex Trafficking
Week 1: Retrospect
Thomas Voss
Well, we are finally through our first week of the new television season. And let me just say, I don’t remember a time when there was so much socially driven material on display. Across the board, there were unprecedented storylines regarding social issues, political banter and the oh too often introduction to a different type of “human sexuality.”
So as I was sitting down to decide what one instance or show to write on, I decided that I wouldn’t. Instead, I am offering a small review of what I saw, in hopes it will introduce you to the things on display and open the arena for thought and dialogue. So here we go. Read More »
Archives: Sex Trafficking
For Starters
Carrie Kintz
True confession: I have a love/hate relationship with writing about myself. (We’re all about honesty and transparency here at RV, so I’m about to blow you away. Or drive you away…)
I love it because I get to write about the things I’m passionate about. Hopefully some of those things resonate with you so we can talk about any issue and get to know each other in the process. On the other hand, I hate it because I feel like I usually come off sounding like a poorly written dating site ad. Here’s hoping I avoid that. Read More »
Archives: Sex Trafficking
April, 2010: Sex Trafficking
Rising Voice Staff
We’re excited to launch our monthly topic series by talking about sex trafficking. It’s a heavy topic, but we hope that as you learn with us about the issue, you’ll be empowered to take action.
Did You Know?
Sexual exploitation harms millions of women and children around the world each year.
Some experts believe that at any given moment, approximately 100,000 to 300,000 American youth are at risk for being sexually exploited.
According to UNICEF, more than 1 million children around the world enter the sex trade every year.
Of all trafficking victims, 80 percent are female and 50 percent are children.
International sex trafficking occurs across national borders, requiring global cooperation to investigate, prosecute, convict and sentence sex traffickers and rescue traffic victims. The international nature of sex trafficking makes it extremely difficult to know how many people are actually being trafficked.
Human trafficking is not only happens overseas, but also in your neighborhoods, communities and at local truck stops; normally under the radar as prostitution.
Sex trafficking turns people into commodities – sexual objects to be bought, sold, used and discarded. No human being should be treated this way.
The selling and trading of human life for the purpose of sex, labor or any other purpose is an attack on human dignity and thus, all humanity.
Sex trafficking wouldn’t exist if there was no demand. Prostitution, which often involves human trafficking, is fueled by the proliferation of pornography.
Human trafficking is directly fueled by and connected to the growth and acceptance of other forms of sexual exploitation such as prostitution, pornography and strip clubs.
The United Nations estimates that human trafficking is among the top three sources of money for organized crime, along with drug trafficking and illegal arms trading.
Featured Video
Dig Deeper
Want to know more basics about sex trafficking? Check out the Administration for Children and Family’s sex trafficking fact sheet.
Want to know more about efforts to fight sex trafficking? The Salvation Army’s one group working to abolish modern day slavery.
Want to know more about sex trafficking in the U.S.? Check out Shared Hope’s report.
Want to know more facts about sex trafficking? Check out the Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking’s sex trafficking fact sheet.
Want to know more about the connection between prostitution and sex trafficking? Check out this article: “What’s Wrong with Legalizing Prostitution?”
Want to know how more about how pornography, prostitution and sex trafficking are linked? Check out this article: The Seamless Fabric.
Get Involved
Here are some ways to take action against sex trafficking.
Become an expert
The first step to take action is to learn about what you’re fighting.
Read Linda Smith’s book, From Congress to the Brothel. Linda gives a powerful glimpse into the lives of several trafficking victims, allowing you to hear their heartbreaking stories and to witness the healing power of God in their precious lives.
Check out Love146′s online booklet about Modern Day Slavery.
Go to Shared Hope International’s website and order a complimentary copy of “Renting Lacy.” To learn even more, watch videos produced by Shared Hope International and read their research on child sex slavery in the U.S.
Identify trafficking and spread the word
In order to fight trafficking, more people must learn how to identify sex trafficking in the United States and help spread the word about this issue.
Join the nationwide movement and host an Innocence Lost Vigil in your community as part of the End Demand: Kids are NOT for Sale Awareness Campaign.
Learn more about sex trafficking in our country by getting a copy of the video “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking – Prostituted Children in the United States.”
Check out Not For Sale to see a map showing where people are being trafficked in the United States today.
Join the conversation about how to stop sex trafficking at Blog146.
Volunteer to help with Stop Child Trafficking Now’s Walk to Stop Child Trafficking – or join the walk to yourself!
Host a movie night with your friends
Help raise awareness about sex trafficking by having your friends over to watch a movie or documentary discussing the issue.
Check out this list of movies. Or, watch this 45 minute documentary about the dark and hidden world of sex traffickers, pimps, and buyers.
Allow your money to follow your heart
If you abhor the fact that children are being raped and tortured, help organizations like Shared Hope help these kids! Groups need financial support to help rescue children and provide them with important services. If you feel led to give, there are creative ways you can gather the funds to make a difference.
Give up one splurge, like your daily latte, monthly shopping trip, or weekend movie, and give that money to an organization fighting sex trafficking. Or, give in a friend or loved one’s name for a birthday or other special occasion.
Check out Love146 or Shared Hope International for ways to partner with organizations on the front line of fighting sex trafficking.
Most importantly, pray
Pray for the victims of child sex trafficking, their families and all those individuals working to end this horrible abuse.
Keep up to date on news that can help you pray for those fighting to end modern day slavery.
Sign up for Shared Hope’s newsletter and get regular reminders about those victims and volunteers who need your prayers most.
Millennial of the Month
Our Millennial of the Month is Kristin Schein, a 25-year-old who refused to ignore the problem of sex trafficking that was happening in her community of South Florida. Check out our interview with Kristin.
Related Videos
Check out this video about how a neat organization, Love146, learned about the realities of trafficking and became passionate about fighting this form of modern day slavery.
