SHI Staff, Author at Shared Hope International

October 10, 2019 by SHI Staff

Oppose the DC Decriminalization Bill

Shared Hope stands with survivors of sex trafficking and opposes D.C. Bill 23-0318, Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019. Supported by the lived experiences of survivors and our 20+ years of work in the field, it is indisputable that legislation to decriminalize the purchase and sale of another for sex will both perpetuate and normalize harm against already vulnerable communities and populations, especially youth. In fact, the only reliable way to protect survivors who have been positioned through force, fraud, coercion or circumstance to engage in commercial sex is to eliminate criminal liability specifically for them and instead, provide access to specialized services. Indeed, this move will prevent future exploitation and radically shift a culture that standardizes the commodification of human beings.

Our position on this bill echoes our policy priorities over the last 10 years. Since 2010, we have been advocating for meaningful protections for survivors of child sex trafficking, including non-criminalization laws and the development of comprehensive care and services. We have seen enormous progress in this area of law; resultantly, we have witnessed a radical shift in how survivors and perpetrators are regarded. In fact, 29 states and D.C. have passed critical legislation to correct the historic injustice of holding minors accountable for their own victimization and providing a pass to offenders. Efforts like D.C. Bill 23-0318 will not only undermine this progress but will revert the District to a place that is unsafe for vulnerable populations and friendly to those who wish to exploit them.

Contrary to its name, D.C. Bill 23-0318 will not increase the safety and health of individuals who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing commercial sexual exploitation. The bill, and the supporters of it, seem to ignore the hundreds of sex trafficking survivors who are unwavering in their fear and belief that D.C. Bill 23-0318 will drastically reduce the safety and well-being of current trafficking victims and persons at risk of exploitation. Despite a demand for the provision of holistic services and meaningful criminal justice reform to benefit trafficking survivors and self-identified sex workers alike, this bill provides neither.

As we call on the D.C. Councilmembers to prioritize the true safety and well-being of our communities and oppose the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019, we have also compiled some ways that you can share your voice in opposing this legislation.

Action for DC residents:
Sign up to testify in person. Email the Judiciary Committee at judiciary@dccouncil.us. Provide your name, telephone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any) by close of business on Monday, October 14.
Tweet and/or email the D.C. Councilmembers through our “Oppose D.C. Decrim” campaign.
Tweet using the hashtags #Stop318DC, #ProtectSurvivorsNOTBuyers, #FullDecrimHurtsEveryone

Action for everyone:
Tweet and/or email the D.C. Councilmembers through our “Oppose D.C. Decrim” campaign.
Tweet using the hashtags #Stop318DC, #ProtectSurvivorsNOTBuyers, #FullDecrimHurtsEveryone
And as everyone at Shared Hope is packing our bags to head to Cincinnati for the JuST Conference, we are thankful for our allies who will be on the ground at the hearing. To stay up to date on the efforts to oppose this legislation, follow these key allies on social media for regular updates on the DC decrim effort: @rights4girls, @Courtneyshouse, @NCOSE, @DCChildrensLaw, @WorldWEUS

August 12, 2019 by SHI Staff

An Unexpected Friendship – 2019 JuST Conference Closing Plenary

We are excited to announce that Marian Hatcher and John Pulley will be joining us on the JuST Conference plenary stage as our closing plenary!

Marian and John will be presenting, Conversation with a Reformed Buyer – “I Represent the Worst of What Happened to You” on Thursday, October 17 at this year’s JuST (Juvenile Sex Trafficking) Conference in Cincinnati, OH. Visit justconference.org/just2019 to review our workshop agenda and for more information on how to register.

Interested in learning more? Review their blog post below.

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An Unexpected Friendship

by Marian Hatcher, Rev Dr., Policy Analyst & Victim Advocate, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Public Policy and John Pulley, Co-Founder, ManAlive Expedition

John Pulley: Last summer I had the privilege of speaking at the JuST Faith Summit. I was thrilled to be included in the program and about as nervous as a person can be. Public speaking was not the issue. Speaking as a former buyer to a room full of survivors, advocates, and crusaders was the driver for my nerves.

Marian Hatcher was taking the stage immediately after my session. Based on what I knew of her being a survivor and her history in the abolition movement, I was not sure how my presentation would be received.

A wise person once said, “Unexpected friendships are the best ones.”

Marian’s grace towards me that day forged one of those unexpected friendships. She showed deep kindness in the words she spoke to me publicly before she began her presentation.

As we have had the opportunity to get to know one another through phone calls, text messages, and social media, I have come to respect her dearly. We have discussed the work towards ending slavery. We have discussed our families and history. We have prayed together. We have also given each other insights and perspectives that we would not have gleaned otherwise.

The friendship has been one of mutual respect and honesty and has brought more than its share of the unexpected.

We are genuinely excited to be able to present at the JuST Conference in October.

Marian Hatcher: Yes, we are excited and no, I never expected to be associated with a former buyer let alone become “chums”. Our unexpected friendship is a testament to Gods love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. It was just the thing to do. On the stage in Minnesota that day, I felt such compassion and understanding as John shared with such courage, a part of his journey.

I remembered sharing parts of my story years ago. Of course, I shared as the victim not the victimizer, so there was, in my eyes a different kind of courage required by him. One steeped in deep humility and acknowledgment of terrible, awful actions on his part. All to satiate his appetites for sexual gratification.

As a Christian, as a human being, who has also done terrible and awful things, I found forgiving John a way to free myself of a continuing mental/spiritual bondage, previously unrecognized. My healing continued that day, as did his.

It’s unfortunate his name is “John”(LOL), because today, he’s a pretty good guy. How about we call them what they are “sex buyers”.

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Marian Hatcher has been with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for 14 years where she is now, Policy Analyst & Victim Advocate in the Office of Public Policy. She coordinates several of CCSO’s anti-trafficking efforts such as the “National Johns Suppression Initiative,” a nationwide effort targeting the buyers of sex as the driving force of sex trafficking and prostitution. Marian is a national expert on combating the demand, sitting on numerous boards (including Shared Hopes Advisory Board) and facilitating trainings for the FBI and Homeland Security. She has been featured in numerous documentaries, including I AM JANE DOE. Marian is a 2014 recipient of the Pathbreaker Award and in 2016 she was honored by President Obama with a Presidential lifetime volunteer achievement award.

John Pulley

John Pulley is an author and public speaker. Speaking openly, honestly and without shame, he speaks boldly to the hearts of men who are dealing with sexual addictions of all kinds. As a former buyer and sex addict, he knows firsthand the devastation hidden and minimized sexual issues are causing to individuals, marriages and communities. He is currently finishing a book about his journey into and out of addiction. John is also a consultant to the anti human slavery organization Fierce Freedom and co-founder of ManAlive Expedition, a ministry that is a raw, honest journey into the deep desires and passions of the heart of a man. Like his passion for speaking, the core and primary objective is to create an environment that allows men to connect with and hear from the Father directly – allowing Him to interpret and speak insight directly into their lives.

July 10, 2019 by SHI Staff

2019 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report – Our International Reflection

2019 Visit to new Village of Hope in India

By Nancy Winston, Vice President, Shared Hope International

Each year at this time the TIP report lands with a thud. The huge undertaking by the U.S. Department of State to define the state of human trafficking world wide used to represent a couple pounds of paper on my desk and now is a virtual thud on my computer. While I have interest in this report and trafficking writ large, I am always drawn to look more closely at those where Shared Hope has had a presence. While the report talks mostly about what the governments are doing, there is always acknowledgement of NGO activity at some level within the sections that discuss Protection and Prevention—and yet, it is impossible to see in a report like TIP the real difference that an NGO like Shared Hope has made and is continuing to make.

Human trafficking awareness was only beginning to impact the global conscience, beginning with books like Kevin Bales’ Disposable People, about 20 years ago. Remarkably, that is also when child sex trafficking came to the attention of a member of Congress who would found Shared Hope, making us one of the first NGOs to establish programs for protection and prevention in India and Nepal. Those early efforts were quickly followed by establishing resources in Fiji, South Africa and Jamaica. It is gratifying and humbling to realize how much Shared Hope was already doing by the time the first TIP report was produced 3 years later. While certainly not able to do the extensive evaluation that the Department of State subsequently did, Shared Hope learned enough to quickly address needs for protection and prevention —not for all, of course—but for some, giving birth to our motto of “one life at a time.” [easy-tweet tweet=”Shared Hope learned enough to quickly address needs for protection and prevention —not for all, of course—but for some, giving birth to our motto of one life at a time.” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”SharedHope” url=”https://sharedhope.org/2019/07/10/2019-trafficking-in-persons-tip-report-our-international-reflection/” template=”dark”]

This spring I had the privilege of returning to India, Nepal and Jamaica to evaluate our support of partners in those countries doing the work on the ground. Our relationship with these groups goes back over much of these two decades of the anti-human trafficking movement and illustrates the value of Shared Hope’s investment in protection and prevention. In India, one partner established an academy specifically for young women who were little ones rescued from the brothel when we first met them; now they are being trained in disciplines specifically intended to equip them (academically, emotionally, psychologically) to be some of the first females to go from the brothels of India to leadership in the country. Another partner in India has taken on the role of legal guardian for children whose mothers are still trapped in the brothel until those moms can get free. During the period of guardianship (which for most is many years), they make sure the moms and children continue to have regular times to spend together and work on their relationship with the hope of re-unification someday. In Nepal, the rescued children we met in those early years have graduated college, or married, or pursued careers of service to give others the gift of freedom. In Jamaica, our partner is teaching 13 year olds who have had babies due to incest or rape how to mother, and helping take care of those babies as well. [easy-tweet tweet=”In Nepal, the rescued children we met in those early years have graduated college, or married, or pursued careers of service to give others the gift of freedom.” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”SharedHope” url=”https://sharedhope.org/2019/07/10/2019-trafficking-in-persons-tip-report-our-international-reflection/” template=”dark”]

I’m proud of the fact that our Department of State continues to challenge the world to do better, but what is most inspiring to me is the privilege of seeing how improvements are occurring on the micro-level such as the ones Shared Hope has been able to touch, one life at a time.

February 15, 2016 by SHI Staff

2015 Was Awesome

January 14, 2016 by SHI Staff

Human Trafficking: What You Need To Know – Focus on the Family Best of 2015

On January 19 and 20, Shared Hope International will return to Focus on the Family radio network. Our 2-part series, Human Trafficking: What You Need to Know, was selected for the Best of 2015 lineup, airing this month. We invite you to tune in, and invite everyone you know to tune in as well.

Recently, Focus on the Family sent us this note from one parent who
happened to tune in at just the right time. What happened next will bring you to tears.

“When I heard your broadcast on human trafficking, my heart broke. My daughter, who was 13 years old at the time, was experiencing all the signs that the guest described, and I was truly worried. I decided to search my daughter’s room and much to my alarm, I found stripper clothing and wads of money. When I discovered these things, I knew that it was no accident that I just ‘happened’ to be driving and I clicked on the radio at the exact time of your radio program. I knew that God had specifically provided for me. My father’s heart was pierced, and I called and spoke to one of the [Focus on the Family] counselors, who helped me contact help and place my daughter into a residential treatment center. Thank you for airing this broadcast because through it you have saved the life of a precious child from the chains of slavery.”

Please join us and invite everyone you know. You don’t know the impact it will make and the lives it might save. Join us January 19 and 20. Find a station in your area or listen online.