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April 15, 2012 by SHI Staff

Hold ‘Em for Freedom

Matt knew he wanted to host an awareness event, after taking the pledge and becoming a Defender. His goal was to organize an event that would both attract men and raise awareness about sex trafficking.

So, he organized a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and called it “Hold ‘Em for Freedom.”

The premise? Educating men about sex trafficking while playing poker.

At the event, Matt had tables set up with facts about sex trafficking, books on the issue, and a laptop playing the full-length “DEMAND” video. Matt began the event with a presentation by dispelling 3 myths about sex trafficking. “(One), that most women choose to become prostitutes, (two), that sex trafficking doesn’t happen here, and (three), that there is nothing we can do about it,” he said.

He challenged men to take the pledge, and set up laptops for them to sign up as Defenders or donate.

The turnout was great, and by the end, “Hold ‘Em for Freedom” resulted in over $1,000 being raised for victims of sex trafficking.

“I believe that sex trafficking will continue to be a weight on my heart,” said Matt. “(It) will therefore have a place in whatever ministry God places before me.”

We salute you, Matt. And we’re proud to call you a fellow Defender.

April 12, 2012 by Guest

On the Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, President Obama Refocused Efforts on Modern Day Slavery

By Anne Reilly

On March 15, President Obama held a meeting with cabinet members and senior advisors to lay out plans to put an end to modern day slavery. The United States has long been a leader in addressing international human trafficking. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton led the group in discussing the current situation and making plans to combat the issue. The United States plans to utilize tools to combat human trafficking including: law enforcement, victim service provisions, increasing public awareness, and diplomatic pressure. These tools can be used domestically or internationally to target traffickers and help protect victims. In addition, the United States will increase partnerships with organizations, schools, businesses, and local communities.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKTj5beMjmw’]

The U.S. was one of the first countries to take action against slavery in its modern form. In 2000, Congress passed the “Trafficking Victims Protection Act” in order to address the problem. This law gave a federal definition to the crime of sex trafficking and created the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons within the U.S. Department of State to study the issue. Every year since the enactment of the TVPA the U.S. Department of State releases a “Trafficking in Persons Report”evaluating the efforts of every country in prevention, prosecution, protection and partnership to combat human trafficking. Countries are ranked using a tier system. Low ranking countries face public scrutiny and possible sanctions, prompted many countries to toughen anti-trafficking efforts.

Though the TVPA provides a strong legal platform, many states are lacking laws on the issue. Shared Hope spearheaded the effort to make sex trafficking a priority issue in states by creating the Protected Innocence Challenge in 2011. Every year this challenge will evaluate states based on its current legislation regarding domestic minor sex trafficking. Each state receives a grade for its efforts, as well as recommendations on how to strengthen laws to protect citizens

President Obama said, “I am confident that we will one day end the scourge of modern slavery, because I believe in those committed to this issue: young people, people of faith and station, Americans who refuse to accept this injustice and will not rest until it is vanquished.”

We couldn’t agree more.

April 9, 2012 by SHI Staff

Back to Our Beginning

Two American women and one Indian man navigated their way through the heart of the brothel district in India. They entered one particularly dismal building, climbed four flights of dark and narrow staircases, and pushed their way through the choking stench of body odors vainly masked by incense. Every room they passed on the way up was in use, or was framed by a vacant-eyed girl or woman … waiting, waiting, for the next humiliation.

When they reached the top floor two mothers were anxious to receive them. One was the brothel owner; the other was Hanna, a very young mom who was debt-bonded to her.

These two ladies had begged our restoration partners in India to take their precious children away from the horrors of the life in the brothel. They were overjoyed to see their children’s rescuers had actually arrived. Their children would finally be free. Yet they remained enslaved.

We had no idea this covert meeting in 2010 sparked a hope and determination in Hanna that would eventually empower her escape the chains of exploitation and flee to join her child at our partner’s restoration home.

Hanna never knew her birth date, so when her loving new family realized it had been a year since she was set free, they blessed her by celebrating the one year anniversary of her rebirth into freedom, complete with a surprise party.

In the next two months, our team will travel to Jamaica, India and Nepal to engage face-to-face with local restoration partners that have matured and expanded because of our support. We look forward to sharing an update on Hanna’s story and others from our partners in Jamaica, India, and Nepal once our team returns with pictures and stories of God’s provision.

April 1, 2012 by SHI Staff

Media and News Coverage, March 2012

Mar. 29: Seattle Times – Washington Gov. Gregoire signs Bill Into Law Pressuring Sellers Of Online Sex Escort Ads
Mar. 12: Citizen Magazine – Stopping Traffic

March 30, 2012 by Shamere

Unavoidable Destiny | The Reality of the “Bottom Girl” Part 2

Last week I wrote on the realities of the “bottom girl.” This person has been heavily manipulated to become the pimp’s right hand man. Will you stop for a second just to imagine the kind of manipulation that took place for anyone to be second to the pimp? Through all the physical and psychological torture, this person became loyal to a guerilla pimp (pimp who uses fear, violence and coercion). Imagine being loyal to a friend who betrays your trust? Isn’t it difficult to stay loyal to these kinds of people? Now add violence to that situation.

Pimps manipulate bottoms more than any other girl. One of the most common lies is that he is going to leave “the game” to have a life with her. Sometimes, the pimp dangles her dreams in front of her. “Yes, I will send you back to school; yes, I will get you your own apartment; and yes, I will get you a car.” However, while she is with her pimp it will never be her reality, only a dream. But here she is, clinging to the unrealistic hope that one day he will fulfill his promise.

I was manipulated to become the pimp’s “bottom girl” through the promise of school. I knew the first night he forced me to sell my body that I was not comfortable in that life but I was beaten to the point of unconsciousness for telling him I wanted out. Then, the same man who beat me so badly, turned into prince charming. Apologizing and affirming that I will go back to school.

The duties of the bottom girl are clear, but for some it’s difficult to comprehend. Her responsibilities to the pimp make it easy for our society and judicial system to see her as criminal instead of a victim. She is beaten, threatened, and forced to exert the same level of exploitation and coercion as the pimp, contributing to her dual role as victim and exploiter. The authority given to her in the pimp’s absence comes with great accountability. To whom much is given much is required.

Come back next Friday to learn how the characteristics of the bottom unfold from victim and through coercion and violence by the trafficker, the victim becomes exploitative as well..