SHI Staff, Author at Shared Hope International

July 16, 2013 by SHI Staff

Fighting Slavery For Christ

Guest Blog Post by Pastor Angi

What does fighting slavery for Christ mean? How does fighting “slavery” for Christ and the issue of modern day slavery go together? For those who consider themselves, non-Christian that may be a puzzling question. But for those who consider themselves Christian it is the only way to fight slavery.

Slavery comes in many forms. We all realize this. It can mean drug or alcohol addiction. It may mean sex addiction through pornography. It could quite possibly mean addiction to things such as food, relationships, even work. But for today’s discussion let’s narrow it down to the buying of PEOPLE, HUMAN BEINGS for ones own gratification for the fulfillment of the basest crimes in nature. Crimes that one could never speak of in public. Crimes that defy normal thinking faculties. Crimes that leave the average human being running to protect their own trembling child within.

One would fight a “slavery” of any kind with the principles found in the Bible. Those principles would vary from addiction to addiction. For the sake of today’s argument, lets use the slavery that is near and dear all our hearts: THE SLAVERY OF HUMAN BEINGS via continental trade and modern warfare. It is not just limited to “third world” countries anymore. This is also an intercontinental crime of drastic proportions that we could now call a PANDEMIC.

Warfare and slavery go together in that it is a WAR against society that is being waged in the trenches known as our streets. Yes the very streets you call home are effected by this every single day. The sad fact is that most people do not even realize this is going on right under their noses. That is precisely WHY this pandemic has grown to the proportions that it has at this point. Now we must ask ourselves, each and every one of us what we can do? (2 Cor 10:4)

PRAY for starters. That will be the floodgate through which you can become enlightened and educated about where it would be right for YOU to start. (James 5:16-18a) When you are aware of the dismal depths to which this atrocity has plummeted it is only then that you can arise with a passion to be part of the cause as only you yourself can. For each and every one of us have a calling on our lives. If you are reading this it is by no accident for YOU have been called to the Kingdom “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)

We all have spiritual gifts whether you have discovered them yet or not. Ask and He will be faithful to reveal what YOU have to offer this fight. (Matt 7:7) Intercession is a very simple step to be taken by one who may feel overwhelmed and not be sure where they should step in. The next step is equally as simple. Fasting. Fasting is Biblical and PROVEN to get results. If that is a new concept to you, consider Jonah 3:5-10.

Allow the Lord to enlighten and educate you on this very necessary endeavor. The endeavor of liberating a society that otherwise would remain enslaved if it were not for the spirit of EVERYONE involved to bring an end to modern day slavery.

BIO: Pastor Angi is a stay at home mother of 4 also working in full time ministry. Her heart’s desire is to see an end to all human trafficking. She founded Angel’s Ministry as well as P.A.V.E.D which caters to the empowerment of women. As an author, evangelist, pastor and mother, her heart is to touch women the world over.

July 8, 2013 by SHI Staff

US News – Study: At Least 100,000 Children Being Used in U.S. Sex Trade

Sexual trafficking is largely seen as something that happens abroad, but the underground sex trade is very much alive in the United States – especially for minors, according to a new report from the National Colloquium on Shelter and Services for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims.

Human trafficking is a $9.8 billion domestic industry, with at least 100,000 children being used as prostitutes in America each year, according to the report from Shared Hope International, an organization working to eradicate sex trading. Shared Hope presented its findings in a congressional briefing Monday attended by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., co-chairs of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking and Reps. Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Jim Costa, D-Calif., co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Victims’ Rights.

FULL STORY: US News – Study: At Least 100,000 Children Being Used in U.S. Sex Trade

July 3, 2013 by SHI Staff

Briefing — National Colloquium 2012 Report Release

An Inventory and Evaluation of the Current Shelter and Services Response to Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

1:00-2:30pm, Monday, July 8, 2013

United States Capitol Visitor Center, HVC-200

A briefing will be held in coordination with Senators Portman and Blumenthal, Co-Chairs of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking; Reps. Ted Poe and Jim Costa, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Victims’ Rights and Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Donna F. Edwards, Co-Chairs, and Reps. Kristi Noem and Doris O. Matsui, Vice-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues to discuss the findings and next steps from the National Colloquium on Shelter and Services for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims.

Hear recommendations from the recently released National Colloquium 2012 Report representing a wealth of perspectives from over 100 provider, survivor, government, advocacy and funding experts on emerging trends and barriers encountered in attempting to secure restorative shelter and services for juvenile sex trafficking victims and survivors. Hear from members of Congress and Congresswoman Linda Smith (U.S. Congress 1995-99), Founder and President, Shared Hope International, together with survivor leaders and individual creating national, state and local level solutions, as we explore the critical challenge of restoring the survivors of juvenile sex trafficking.

[youtuber vimeo=’http://vimeo.com/69921098′]

Briefing Agenda:

Welcome and Purpose | Linda Smith, Shared Hope International
Remarks from Caucus Chairs and Members
Summary of National Colloquium Report Recommendations and Nexus to Federal Involvement | Carol Smolenski, ECPAT USA
Current Impact of TVPA on Shelter and Services for Minors | Dr. Mohamed Mattar, The Protection Project at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Panel Discussion: National Colloquium Report Recommendations Moderator: Eliza Reock, Shared Hope International

Challenges to Measuring Outcomes: Joye Frost, Acting Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice
Lack of Services Tailored for Boys: Marq Taylor, Survivor Advocate
Challenges to Placement: Dale Alton, Executive Director, Georgia Care Connection Office
Safety and Security: Dr. Courtney Gaskins, Director of Program Services, Youth For Tomorrow
Importance of Survivor Empowerment: Wilthelma TiOra Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, Anti-trafficking Advocate, Human Rights Project for Girls and Survivors

This event is open to the public. Seating is limited; please arrive early to guarantee seating.

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June 20, 2013 by SHI Staff

No Girl Left Behind

Guest Blog Post by Dale Rylander

Abolishing the Demand for commercial sex is not about the legality or morality of commercial sex. At one extreme, there are countries like the Netherlands where prostitution is legal. Guess what? Too few women “want” to be prostituted women, so the supply is being met by women that are trafficked. At the other extreme, making all forms of sensual public displays by women illegal would require women to be fully covered anytime they are outside their home (Islamic Shar’iah laws).

Both extremes ignore the source of the problem – men’s inability to control themselves. The problem is the Demand. Reducing the Demand will have a dramatic impact on commercial sex because it reduces the number of buyers and thus removes the economic incentive. Furthermore, that Demand will not be reduced or abolished by laws.

The Demand can only be reduced when men and women individually decide to hold men accountable for their attitudes and actions. Yes, Women. Women must stop dismissing the behavior of their sons (and husbands) as “boys will be boys.”

How should we hold each other accountable? I am not a psychologist, but my typical reaction of destroying sexually explicit material in a burst of embarrassment, anger and shame is probably not the right answer. Neither is calmly sitting down to discuss my reaction to each image. To be honest, I am still struggling to find the best intervention strategy. What I do know is I have no problem talking about, even showing my children, friends and peers, how to do many things. Sex is not one of those things.

Surprise, surprise. There are people willing to fill the void left by my silence for a profit. For large profits because the Demand is so big. Profits so huge that people are even willing to commit crimes to meet the Demand.

Is every prostituted woman trafficked? Some reports suggest they are, if not overtly, then they are systemically forced into commercial sex by our society because women do not have equal employment opportunities.

Are there any women that want to be a prostituted woman? My daughter just returned from a semester studying abroad. She was in the Netherlands enrolled in a gender-study course approved by a respected and accredited US College. As part of her course she talked with some prostituted women. They told her they choose their profession.

There are many sides to this issue and our society needs to address them. But no matter what my opinion is regarding these issues, I have the power to do something about the fuel that is driving this Demand. I publicly pledge to not buy commercial sex and to hold everyone I know accountable for their attitudes and actions with respect to commercial sex. I challenge you to do the same.

If just one girl anywhere in the world is trafficked into commercial sex then a crime has been committed. If I know a crime has been, is being or could be committed and I do not do what I can to stop it – under US law I would be a criminal accessory.

We are proud our armed forces believe and practice “No Man Left Behind.” As American citizens we should be proud to pledge and practice “No Girl Left Behind.”

Dale Rylander is a professional technology consultant. He is married with three adult children. His wife challenged him to take the Defenders Pledge. Motivated by the enormous scope of this issue, he is working as the first Defenders Captain in Dallas to educate and challenge men in Dallas, in Texas, in the United States and around the world to change their attitudes and actions about commercial sex.