Inspired by the work of Somaly Mam and the Somaly Mam Foundation to eradicate modern-day slavery, two young men named Adam and Ben have embarked on a journey to raise awareness and funds to fight this great evil. They first about sexual slavery during a two month visit to South East Asia. They were horrified by the soaring number of victims and decided to take action and do something about it.
Adam and Ben are cycling 1600 kilometers through Vietnam — from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Along they way they will be documenting the ride through blogging, taking photos, and shooting video. You can follow them on their blog, or contribute to their journey here.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Voices for Change and Shay Mitchell: Slavery is Real, I Know It
Actress Shay Mitchell introduces Voices For Change, strong and empowered survivors of sexual slavery from Cambodia. These women have seen firsthand the horrors of human trafficking, and now they work every day to eradicate this evil.
Voices For Change is a platform for survivors to use their voice, tell their story, and raise awareness of sex slavery. Their voices are heard in courts of law, public service announcements, and events. These women are survivors - they are not weak, nor are they helpless. They are helping themselves by helping others and bringing awareness to this horrific truth. Slavery is real.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Taking Pimps Off the Street to Reduce Sex Trafficking
Prostitution is illegal in 49 of the 50 states in the U.S. When law enforcement officials find individuals selling sex, they often see that as the primary crime, arrest those people, and carry on. However, not every situation is as it seems. Women in prostitution are not all willing participants - some may be victims of human trafficking, working at the orders of pimps and unscrupulous criminals. Due in part to increased awareness of human trafficking and the roles of pimps in commercial sex, police officers are now focusing on those who aid and abet the crime of prostitution.
The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force in California was featured in a recent CNN article for changing their focus when targeting crimes of this nature. According to Seargent Craig Friesen, head of the Anaheim Vice unit, the old procedures involved arresting the girls and johns to the outcome of minimal charges and quick release. But this did not get to the root of the problem. The team determined that by focusing on arresting and eventually jailing the pimps, victims would have a better chance of escaping and seeking help. In California, pimping carries a mandatory 3-year sentence, which would keep these individuals off the streets for extended periods of time, widening the window of opportunity for survivors to seek help.
Pimps prey on vulnerable young women, promising a better life and love and affection. Through coercion, deception, force, and abusive treatment, pimps are able to gain control of their victims and eventually enslave them, selling their bodies for sex and drugs. With these kinds of people off the streets, more women will be safe from this manipulation.
To target pimps, the OCHTT has been going undercover, finding suspects by answering online adult services ads to catch pimps. While the original goal was to make one pimping arrest in the first year, thirteen have been made in the last nine months.
Read the CNN article here. Become aware, take action.
The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force in California was featured in a recent CNN article for changing their focus when targeting crimes of this nature. According to Seargent Craig Friesen, head of the Anaheim Vice unit, the old procedures involved arresting the girls and johns to the outcome of minimal charges and quick release. But this did not get to the root of the problem. The team determined that by focusing on arresting and eventually jailing the pimps, victims would have a better chance of escaping and seeking help. In California, pimping carries a mandatory 3-year sentence, which would keep these individuals off the streets for extended periods of time, widening the window of opportunity for survivors to seek help.
Pimps prey on vulnerable young women, promising a better life and love and affection. Through coercion, deception, force, and abusive treatment, pimps are able to gain control of their victims and eventually enslave them, selling their bodies for sex and drugs. With these kinds of people off the streets, more women will be safe from this manipulation.
To target pimps, the OCHTT has been going undercover, finding suspects by answering online adult services ads to catch pimps. While the original goal was to make one pimping arrest in the first year, thirteen have been made in the last nine months.
Read the CNN article here. Become aware, take action.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Donate Your Birthday to End Slavery
Do you have a birthday coming up? Looking for a way to support a good cause?
What if you donated your birthday?
Join our Birthday Campaign and in lieu of gifts, ask your friends and family to donate to end sexual slavery and support the victims as a birthday present to you. We are so lucky to be able to celebrate our birthdays with gifts, laughter, and love, but not everyone is as fortunate. By donating your birthday to end slavery, you will remind yourself and all of your loved ones of how lucky we are. A donation to the Somaly Mam Foundation can have a profound impact on the life of a survivor and on the eradication of slavery. This is an amazing gift that will have a lasting effect on many people across the globe.
What if you donated your birthday?
Join our Birthday Campaign and in lieu of gifts, ask your friends and family to donate to end sexual slavery and support the victims as a birthday present to you. We are so lucky to be able to celebrate our birthdays with gifts, laughter, and love, but not everyone is as fortunate. By donating your birthday to end slavery, you will remind yourself and all of your loved ones of how lucky we are. A donation to the Somaly Mam Foundation can have a profound impact on the life of a survivor and on the eradication of slavery. This is an amazing gift that will have a lasting effect on many people across the globe.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
New Video to Raise Awareness of Trafficking
Richard Simko, a supporter of the Somaly Mam Foundation and PROJECT FUTURES global created a video to raise awareness of modern day slavery. He hopes that this video will create movement and we do to. Please take a moment to watch, learn, and turn your awareness into action.
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