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July 21, 2020 by Guest

A Virtual Summer

Due to COVID-19, Shared Hope International had to shift our internship program to a remote experience. Despite losing the in-person experience, we maintained providing a meaningful for our interns, including our D.C. office interns Sapna Swaymapakula and Mariah Cabrera. Sapna gratefully shared with her and Mariah’s experience in this blog.

Participating in a virtual internship was not in the plan for myself or my peer Mariah this summer. Both of us intended to move to Washington D.C. and have our full internship with Shared Hope International. For Mariah, it was her last semester for her undergrad, my second to last. While our internship program, The Washington Center, gave the option of reapplying for a different semester, both of us stuck through with the process and trusted that the internship would be as equally opportunistic and insightful. For both of us, Shared Hope International has been eye opening, making us both more aware of the reality of child sex trafficking.

Shared Hope International has educated us both more on sex trafficking’s origin, and in modern society. Through webinars, we have learned about the history of sex trafficking, and different factors that play a part: race, sex, age, status, and even education. We both are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Shared Hope International team. Both Mariah and I never imagined gaining so much from a virtual internship. The projects are at times challenging, but we enjoy that sense of accomplishment when turning them in before the deadline. Each project differs from the previous one, and allows us to strengthen our skills in every aspect we’re challenged in. Working on a wide range of projects has allowed us both to harness new skills, skills we otherwise would not have gained while supporting various programs and departments within Shared Hope.

Even though we are working virtually this summer, we still have been given the opportunity to interact with other members of the team, which we did not expect. Both Mariah and I communicate constantly and found that we work better together on our various projects. We have learned effective ways to professionally interview others, how to compose a professional cover letter, tidy up our resumes, and communicate effectively and professionally. These two months at Shared Hope International are passing quicker than either one of us expected, but we both know that we will carry these memories and skills with us wherever we go. Shared Hope International has helped us mature professionally and personally, and we can’t wait to use these skills to help build our future.

July 13, 2020 by Guest

20th Anniversary of Trafficking in Persons Report

“20 years ago today, there was not a single country in the world with a comprehensive anti-trafficking law. We have since seen 154 countries pass anti-trafficking legislation.”

-Ambassador-at-Large John Cotton Richmond

The 20th annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report was released on June 24th, 2020, celebrating two decades of the U.S. Department of State’s assessment of responses to human trafficking across the globe. Countries from around the world are invited to contribute information, highlighting their efforts, successes, and shortcomings in the fight against human trafficking. This year’s report not only marks a legislative milestone, but also an international one by highlighting the efforts and successes being made all over the world to fight against human trafficking. When the TIP Report was released in 2001, only 80 countries were signed on, and on the 20th anniversary it was announced that there are now 177 countries participating and 154 countries have passed anti-trafficking legislation.

Over the past 20 years, the U.S. Government has tracked its improvement in light of the historic passing of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). In 2000, the TVPA was signed into law, creating protections for victims of human trafficking and allowing the government to prosecute trafficking offenders. Not only did the TVPA directly address the issue of human trafficking both domestically and internationally, it also established the creation of the annual TIP report, the first of which was published on July 28, 2001. Since then, the TIP Report has been an effective tool for perpetuating global change, leading to the increased number of countries enacting anti-human trafficking legislation.

The TIP Report required only a rating of governments based on how well governments followed or met the minimum standards of a three-tier ranking system established in the TVPA. Along with the three-tier rating system, each government provided explanations in an effort to bring “clarity and context to the report” (TIP Report, 2020). Today, the TIP Report has become a robust document, including tier placements for each country and in-depth country narratives. The TIP Report also includes, Victim Stories on Forced Labor, Sex Trafficking, and Debt Bondage.

The TVPA was also useful for shaping domestic legislation. In 2010, Shared Hope International used the TVPA when drafting for its Protected Innocence Challenge. Under the Protected Innocence Challenge, each state receives a Report Card and a grade based on a legislative framework that addresses six key areas of law related to domestic minor sex trafficking.

View your state’s 2019 Report Card here!

The Protected Innocence Challenge shines a light on each state’s efforts to eradicate domestic minor sex trafficking. Grading each state on how effective their legislative response is creates accountability, provides direction of issues to focus on, and equips states to better address the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking.

With so much to celebrate this year, we mustn’t forget that human trafficking is still an issue worldwide. According to the 2020 TIP Report, 25 million adults and children suffered from human trafficking this year. There is still much work to be done to hold countries and trafficking offenders accountable, but there is also a lot we can do here to stop domestic human trafficking domestically. Find more ways you can take action today!

July 1, 2020 by Guest

It Begins With Me

I learned about the sex trafficking of minors in the United States while serving as an active duty military officer. I was heartbroken to learn that while I was serving my county, supporting peacetime and wartime operations overseas, another war was raging at home. The casualties – countless American children. Every day, American children are manipulated, groomed, and exploited, often while they are in the confines of where they feel the safest. Like so many others I have since encountered, I was aware of human trafficking overseas but completely naive to what was happening right in front of me within the borders of my own country. Anger, sadness, hopelessness, and even fear were some of the emotions that attacked my mind. So, what do I do now? What do I do with these profound emotions? How can I take all this raw emotion and put it somewhere that can make a difference? Who am I to think I can do anything anyway; this feels like it will crush me?

It starts with me and my sphere of influence. As I wrestled with my emotions, I realized that pretending the sex trafficking of American children was not happening was not an option. I had fought for so many other things in my life, if I was not willing to fight for our children, what was the point? I also quickly learned that I was certainly not alone in my hunger for education, restoration, and justice. Organizations, like Shared Hope International, are attacking this atrocity with a holistic approach that includes providing the support volunteers need to make a difference in their communities. As an Ambassador of Hope you are not alone. You are part of a bigger team and the tools and support are there to empower you to bring the fight to your own community.

For more information on becoming an Ambassador of Hope, visit: https://sharedhope.org/aoh/

Now you have the tools, but what do you do with them? Start small! For me, my fight began with carrying flyers in my bag. If I had the opportunity to talk to someone about sex trafficking, I had a flyer for them with more information. The lady in the grocery line, the girl working the register in my favorite clothing store, and even my doctor. A flyer for all of them. As I learned more, and became more confident, my timid beginning handing out flyers evolved into opportunities to provide training to military members, churches, and middle/high schools. I have had the opportunity to mentor high school students and set up educational tables. While stationed in Hawaii, I was able to volunteer with a phenomenal organization, Ho`ōla Nā Pua, a nonprofit located on Oahu committed to the prevention of child sex trafficking and providing care for children who have been exploited. It was through this organization that I discovered Shared Hope International. These two organizations changed my life in a profound way, and I will never stop fighting for our children.

My life has evolved and so has my sphere of influence. It is smaller, at least for now. I am no longer an active duty military officer but a stay at home mom with two young boys! Turns out being a parent really is the hardest job! I find myself having to start small again and slowly the doors are beginning to crack open. That’s okay. Life changes and the way we are able to fight, as individuals, changes too. Instead of providing training for a room packed full of active duty military members, now I might be having an intimate conversation with fellow members of a mom’s club. It can be difficult for me to lead training and participate in education events, but I can build presentations and send emails. That’s my sphere for now and I am learning to be okay with that. While my sphere has changed, perhaps the biggest change is the why I am committed to fighting sex trafficking. Having children of my own has brought the reality of what we are fighting against home in an even more powerful way. When I look at my sweet babies’ faces, I know there are people out there who would exploit and abuse them, and frankly, it brings me to my knees. But in that fear, I find the strength to keep supporting Shared Hope International and their commitment to “Invade the Darkness.” In the end, the fight starts with me and my commitment to fight within whatever sphere of influence I find myself.

Together we save lives!

June 16, 2020 by Jo Lembo

A Pastor’s Call to Biblical Justice

We who believe in a big God, who loves us and cares about every detail of our lives, often are unaware of His hand guiding us years before we actually recognize we have been called to a specific assignment.

My husband, an ordained minister, and I worked as a team in “marketplace ministry”, or the business world. Clearly, we did not need to be within the walls of a structured church to find hurting people who needed to know God’s love for them. That message of hope was crucial for the many who would cross our path in the business world but who would never come into a church building–people with needs, hurting hearts and dreams being nursed without fulfillment. Although our paycheck was signed by a corporation, instead of a church, we were still very much in ministry, maybe even more so. After several successful careers and meeting amazing people that remain in our lives today, we were invited to return to structured ministry in support of a large church as associate pastors…pastors, plural.

Not only did they wish to ordain my husband within their network of churches, they asked me to accept ordination as a female pastor. Because it was their practice to ordain both husbands and wives as teams, I agreed, though ordination held no particular significance for me! With or without it I would continue doing what I was already doing: loving people, sharing the love of God and helping where I could.

In that church, a small group of young adults had been set afire to fight human trafficking, and being their oversight pastors, we were impressed by their passion and agreed to let them host an event in January, which we learned is Anti-Trafficking month. I must confess I felt I’d fulfilled my obligation to have given this social issue a place for that one Sunday. But they didn’t quit! They kept the issue alive in the church and community with skits, t-shirts, conversations, and then participation in Lobby Day to End Trafficking at the state capital. They asked me to go with them.

On the drive down, they reviewed their talking points in favor of legislation to deter sex trafficking. I loved their determination to speak for those who weren’t being heard–victims of sex trafficking in the USA, but personally, I was unfamiliar with both the issue and the wheels of justice! So I told them they needed to do all the talking.

We had appointments with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. A survivor of child sex trafficking, now an adult, came with us to share her powerful story supporting the need for the proposed legislation. I listened as these young ladies made their case, told their stories, and left their printed materials. I was proud of what they were doing. Our last appointment was with a Senator known for her no-nonsense approach, and ‘just the facts’ mannerism. As they shared their talking points, I stood looking out the window over the seats of power in our state, and felt God speak to my heart, “Ask to pray for her.” I must confess I wrestled with it – just how would I do that? I knew nothing of her own faith, or how she might feel about the separation of church and state being breeched right here in her senatorial office. It was a moment until I remembered my business card that clearly stated I was an ordained minister. Well, why not? I’m a card-carrying member of people who are supposed to pray, right?

As the young people wrapped up their presentation, I stepped to her desk, handed her my card, and said, “Senator, I am these young ladies’ pastor, and I’d like to pray for you if you’d let me.” She was visibly uncomfortable but agreed. I stood next to her, laid my hand on hers, and simply thanked God for her in her service to our state, recognizing that He had called her to protect and care for us and that we were grateful. Then I prayed she would have the wisdom to know what is right, the courage to do what needed to be done and that He would walk with her every day. As I said amen, she quickly said “thank you, and excuse me”, and exited into the Senate chambers adjoining her office. The thought came to me to follow her. Why not? I was already in this far… why doubt the ‘voice’ now?

She was leaning against one of the large, marble pillars encircling the Senate chambers, wiping a tear. I said, “Senator, I believe that this legislation will help children like Deni to have a childhood. Thank you for listening to us today. If there’s ever anything I can pray for you, please email me.” And I left.

In the months and years that followed, she often emailed me with requests, sometimes personal, sometimes legislative, but the door remained open and we became friends of an odd sort. That fall, I was invited to open the legislative session in prayer in those same chambers. It was the first time in the state’s history that an ordained woman had ever been asked to pray on that momentous day. It was my own “aha” moment, why I had to be ordained years before.

Many years later, now I’ve found myself testifying on behalf of legislation to end domestic child sex trafficking in senate hearings, and special committee hearings. I am part of a national powerhouse organization, Shared Hope International, as they shape laws to protect survivors, and work with all 50 states and DC on justice and restoration initiatives.

Did I see this coming? No, I just said “yes” and the rest was God’s job to fulfill His calling in my life. What events in your life seem to be creating a path to fight child sex trafficking? Find out more how you can become activated by becoming a Weekend Warrior, a trained volunteer Ambassador of Hope, or be involved in advocating for better laws.

June 11, 2020 by Linda Smith

Faith and Justice

We have taken time to observe and ponder the events of the past several weeks. It has been instructive to watch and listen to what is being said and done as individuals, groups and organizations absorb and react to, our nation’s current events. There are various opinions on roots of the turmoil–and causes and cures–but the theme we see replaying is that when you dehumanize people so you don’t see them, you can do anything to them. This is, in fact, the essence of using children for sex, brutalizing another human being, destroying another person’s livelihood, and of racism. We would do well to go back to the Bible’s two greatest commands—to love God and love our neighbor. We neighbors are not loving each other very well right now. Faith without works is dead, and the work (or action) in these times for those of us who claim the Christian faith is to work against the injustice of dehumanizing others. There is certainly more than one way to do that.

In this conversation, Linda Smith founder of Shared Hope and Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher have an unfiltered discussion about these very things.