Latest News - Page 26 of 120 - Shared Hope International

November 1, 2019 by SHI Staff

Shared Hope’s Written Testimony in Opposition to D.C. Bill 23-0318

Shared Hope International is a D.C.-based NGO focused on addressing the root causes of commercial sexual exploitation for the purpose of preventing child sex trafficking in the U.S. Since our organization’s inception in 1998, we have proactively pursued and supported policies that protect the inherent right of children in the U.S. to be free from sexual violence, including commercial sexual exploitation. Following the introduction of D.C. Bill 23-0318 in early 2019, we sought to understand the purpose and impact of this legislation, including to identify whose “safety” and “health” this piece of legislation would truly protect. Shared Hope strongly opposes the “Community Safety and Health Amendment Act” because, despite what its name purports, this bill fails to protect the safety and health of D.C. children and youth, who are an essential part of our community.

Shared Hope firmly believes that removing criminal liability for buyers, pimps, and brothel owners will significantly threaten the safety, well-being, and security of youth in the District, particularly youth living with various vulnerability factors. During the October 17th Committee hearing, Councilmembers heard hours of testimony which highlighted the forecasted impact this bill would have on the District and, most importantly, those most affected by the policies created through this effort. We adamantly affirm the numerous concerns raised by child protection and anti-trafficking advocates, including the impact this bill would have on: (1) repealing current processes for connecting exploited minors with vital services; (2) creating additional challenges for law enforcement to discern illegal activity from legal activity, thus creating barriers to victim identification and response; 3) expanding the market and increasing harm to those in commercial sex due to a rise in demand; and (4) transforming the District into a tourist destination for commercial sexual exploitation.

We can attribute the phenomenon of child sex trafficking in the U.S. to a culture that normalizes the commodification of human beings; fully decriminalizing commercial sex will uphold the already existing attitudes that tolerate the sale, purchase, and control of another person. As stakeholders, we would be shortsighted and reckless to believe that the implications of the policy this bill seeks to advance will be limited to consensual sex workers. Reinforcing a demand for human beings and their bodies will not start and end with consenting adults; the consequences of this will be horrific for vulnerable persons, including children, who do not choose commercial sex. We cannot allow the purported benefits for some to trump the well-established harm caused to others.

What remains unaddressed is what this bill painfully fails to do: create sustainable solutions to deeply rooted forms of injustice. Upon conducting a thorough analysis of the bill and watching all fourteen hours of the Committee hearing, it is evident that this piece of legislation provides a band-aid for affected communities and creates an easy fix for the Council. Over half of the witnesses testified to the systemic reasons driving the sale of commercial sex, all of which fall under the general umbrella of “survival.” Additionally, witnesses testified to the inherent violence that underpins commercial sex, detailing the dramatically high mortality rate for persons engaged in commercial sex compared to rates measuring the general public. 1 Many sex trafficking survivors and self-identified sex workers provided anecdotal accounts of the physical, psychological, and sexual violence they experienced due to commercial sex. Fully decriminalizing sex work to ensure that historically and presently marginalized communities, including vulnerable children and youth, can access shelter, employment, food, and security reinforces the unjust notion that some members of our society, disproportionately communities comprised of racial and gender-minorities, must sacrifice their safety and wellbeing to meet such fundamental needs. The Council must bypass the allure of a quick and easy fix and devote the requisite energy and resources to a problem that demands a thoughtful and sustainable solution. This is the only way of ensuring that presently impacted persons and generations to come are not positioned to choose survival over safety.

Many witnesses testified to the opportunities this bill creates; aside from importantly preventing the criminalization of affected persons, D.C. Bill 23-0318 fails to “lift up marginalized communities” as one witness purported. When the District enacted D.C. Act 20-560 in 2015, preventing minors from being charged and prosecuted for prostitution offenses, the Council responsibly included provisions to train relevant stakeholders and develop service response protocols. In fact, one of the existing protections for children, requiring law enforcement to refer an identified or suspected child sex trafficking victim to specialized services, will be repealed by this very bill that seeks to increase “safety.” Historical efforts to reform the City’s response to child sex trafficking included critical measures to ensure that exploited youth were directed away from the juvenile justice system and into services, inarguably supporting their holistic health and safety, and providing access to justice and opportunities. Conversely, this bill merely develops a task force to “study . . . the need for . . . resources to meet the needs of sex workers and other individuals engaging in commercial sex.” As detailed during the Committee hearing, the extensive needs are already well-established; in fact, the lack of these very services that the Committee seeks to study is what survivors of sex trafficking and consensual sex workers claim is driving their engagement in commercial sex. Rather than passing legislation that preys on vulnerabilities, the Council should invest in eliminating them by: (1) removing criminal liability for persons who sell sex, either consensually or through exploitative practices; and (2) creating access to comprehensive care and services, as well as meaningful opportunities for those desiring to cease engagement in commercial sex.

D.C. Bill 23-0318 blatantly ignores the cries of sex trafficking survivors and ally professionals that, based on a culmination of lived experience and sound research, denounce both the intent and resolution. Several proponents voiced frustration at the Council’s willingness to hear from opponents outside of the District; their voices speak to the enormous ramifications this bill will have on sex trafficking victims and vulnerable communities across the U.S. Vacuums of equitable opportunity are a magnet for exploitation. Undoubtedly, a general lack of opportunity and services, coupled with legislation that decriminalizes the purchase and pimping of human beings, will set the stage for an increase in child sex trafficking in D.C.

We respectfully urge the Council to listen to the collective concern of stakeholders who demand better for all vulnerable persons and communities. The District does not need a new task force to establish and respond to the imminent needs that drive exploitation and survival sex; rather, the Council is currently positioned to draw upon the fourteen hours of testimony and re-design legislation that empowers, protects, and invests in our community.

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

October 4, 2019 by Guest

How to Stay Engaged with #JuST2019 on Social Media

By Gunnar Simonsen

As we begin the final countdown to this year’s JuST Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 15-17, we want to share with you strategic ways you can get the most out of it, whether you are attending or not.

What Is The JuST Conference?

The JuST Conference is an unforgettable and inspiring conference that features today’s most pressing issues in the anti-sex trafficking field. Presentations and workshops focus on skill-building, survivor experiences, cross-discipline collaboration, task force development, case studies and lessons learned. The JuST Conference continues to stand by the motto that each person has a role to play in preventing and ending commercial sexual exploitation and that a collaborative community response is critical. Whether you are just getting started or have been working on the issue for years, the JuST Conference will have something for everyone.

How Can Attendees Maximize Their JuST Conference Experience?

If you are attending this year’s conference, here are some ways that you can maximize your experience by taking it online and getting social with it.

Do you use social media? If so, please be sure to be following Shared Hope International on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter!
- Facebook – facebook.com/sharedhopeinternational
- Twitter – twitter.com/sharedhope
- Instagram – @sharedhopeinternational
When posting from the JuST Conference, be sure to use the official hashtag, when applicable: #JuST2019
If you were a reporter, what would you share on social media from the conference? Pictures, quotes, questions, ideas, solutions, and so much more! But whatever you post, just be yourself. Your unique perspective is so valuable to us all.
Tag presenters on Twitter! When appropriate, tag them and share what you took away from their presentation. This is a great way to continue the discussion long after the presentation is over.
Remember, if social isn’t in social media, it’s just media. And that’s the difference between a monologue and a dialogue. Be sure to engage others who are posting using the hashtag as well as replying to comments made by others on posts. A rising tide lifts all boats, so let’s grow together in our knowledge and in doing so, help spread awareness across social media.

How Can Non-Attendees Glean From The JuST Conference?

The power of social media and the accessibility it offers can take people from all over the world and place them right at the conference itself. Two places you can expect to see a lot of activity from this year’s conference on Twitter and Instagram Stories. With Instagram stories, we’ll seek to provide a viewpoint from behind the scenes of what’s happening at the conference. From inside looks at workshops and plenaries to attendee testimonies, this will be a great way to see the JuST Conference without physically being in Cincinnati with us.

On Twitter, you can both follow and engage our conference hashtag, #JuST2019 by retweeting, commenting, and taking part in the dialogue with a community of Twitter users utilizing that hashtag from the event.

Of course, be sure to be following Shared Hope on Facebook and watch for our daily updates that you can like, comment, and share with your network, too. And don’t be afraid to reply to comments made by others. In this, we all might just expand our reach, by increasing our network.

The more we comment and share the more people we will reach with a message that needs to be heard.

Follow Shared Hope On Social Media

Facebook – facebook.com/sharedhopeinternational

Twitter – twitter.com/sharedhope

Instagram – @sharedhopeinternational

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*Please refrain from photography or videography of presenters, attendees or PowerPoint materials unless authorization is granted by Shared Hope staff and/or the workshop presenter This conference has many individuals in attendance that do not wish to have their identities or materials shared on public platforms If you would like to take photos with your peers for social media, please do so with a neutral background and be sure to gain permission to post the photo from all parties involved Be sure to check out our Instagram story and Facebook posts! Search for Shared Hope International Thank you for respecting the privacy of our attendees and presenters

September 9, 2019 by Guest

Storiez: Trauma Narratives with Youth

by Dr. Meagan Corrado

Meagan Corrado, DSW, LCSW, will be presenting, “Storiez: Trauma Narratives with Youth” on Tuesday, October 15 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.

Read Meagan’s blog post below:

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In a world of dissension, conflict, abuse, and trauma, it is easy to feel discouraged. Individuals, families, and communities face tremendous obstacles. In addition to the individual adversities people strive to overcome, they also encounter community, cultural, and systemic barriers. Stories of trauma abound. But wherever there are stories of trauma, there are also stories of strength and resilience.

As we support trauma survivors in processing their experiences, it is important that we focus not only on the pain but also on the strength. For every story of falling, there is a story of getting back up. For every story of despair, there is a story of perseverance. For every story of abuse, there is a story of creative survival. If we look for stories of trauma, we will find them. But if we look for stories of strength and resilience, we will find those too.

I am a Doctor of Social Work, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the creator of the Storiez Trauma Narrative Intervention. I am also a survivor of complex trauma. For the past ten years, I have provided individual, family, and group treatment to urban youth who have experienced trauma. I have heard many stories of adversity. These stories are jarring and painful. Colleagues often ask me how I survive the emotional and psychological impact of this intense work. My answer? I look for strength.

This starkly opposes our cultural paradigms and our systemic models. We are taught to blame and shame. We are taught to diagnose and dissect. We are taught to label and punish. This leads to a depressing, hopeless view of trauma recovery. It leaves both clients and helpers feeling defeated and disempowered.
But what if we looked for strength and resilience with the same fervor that we searched for pathology? What if we celebrated survival with the same energy that we devoted to diagnosis? What if we honored not only the narratives of shame but the narratives of empowerment?

In my attempt to provide a strengths-based approach to trauma treatment, I created the Storiez Trauma Narrative intervention. Storiez guides trauma survivors through the process of creating, voicing, and honoring their narratives. Storiez is grounded in trauma theory and social work principles. Trauma survivors reflect on the positive and negative elements of their stories, creatively express their experiences, and identify how they would like to shape their future.

Is there pain in these narratives? Yes. These narratives are riddled with danger and fear, but in every narrative, there is also strength. Wherever there are stories of trauma, there are always stories of strength and resilience.

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Meagan Corrado is a Doctor of Social Work and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is the creator of the Storiez Trauma Narrative intervention and has authored seven books. She is a full-time faculty member at Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She provides therapy to inner city youth in the Philadelphia and Camden, NJ areas. She earned her DSW from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 and her Masters of Social Services from Bryn Mawr College in 2009. She specializes in work with children and teenagers who are survivors of complex trauma. Dr. Meagan is also a mixed media mosaic artist. She creates layered artwork to express inner emotions, personal experiences, and elements of her life narrative as a survivor of complex trauma.

August 28, 2019 by Guest

You Want Trust? Build Relationships

By Natasha Paradeshi

Natasha Paradeshi, MPP will be presenting, “Importance of the Drop-In Center Model in Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking” on Tuesday, October 15 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. Read Natasha’s blog post below:

Trust is not something that appears overnight. Building trust takes time, persistence, and vulnerability. Trust is ultimately built through creating relationships.

I think about the relationship between my husband and me. When we first started dating, we both guarded our hearts because we didn’t quite know how much we could trust the other person. But through friendship, we got to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. Over time, we were able to get to the level of trust where we unclasped the tight grip we had on our hearts. Only then were we able to move forward in a marriage built on trust.Trust finds its roots in solid, positive relationships – the kind of relationship that a victim of trafficking may never have experienced. Or maybe they thought they had a good relationship with someone, but that person broke their trust. This is exactly why it’s so hard for a victim of trafficking to trust service providers when we reach out our hands. Because they haven’t seen a reason to trust us yet, they may not tell us the full story, which often means we don’t identify them as a victim of trafficking. This can lead to them not getting the most appropriate services for their levels of trauma.

How do we create these positive relationships so we can serve survivors better? The great paradox is that it is at once incredibly difficult and yet so simple: we create positive relationships by being loving, helpful and truthful with survivors. We must have open and honest communication. We try our best to say the most helpful thing and provide the best services, even though we may not always get it right.

One of the best ways we’ve found to build trust is through drop-in centers, which are safe, accessible and non-judgmental – places where trust is built. We create positive relationships by opening our doors at our drop-in center, The Landing, which is based in Houston, TX. Drop-in centers not only provide basic needs and continual support, but are also the stepping stone for victims to get further help, resources, and referrals from other service providers. By not judging someone because of their circumstances or choices they have made because of those circumstances. By offering a safe place to rest for an exhausted woman after a night of being picked up and dropped off on the streets. By having an art station ready for the little girl whose mom has been in and out of jail. But most importantly, by listening to what each survivor has to say.

Because of this emphasis on building trust, we have been able to increase victim identification, which is the first step in getting help for survivors, many of whom are falling through the gaps. At The Landing, we are coming up on our four year anniversary. In that time, we’ve served over 500 survivors of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Over 60% of these survivors have been identified as victims of sex trafficking. This shows that building relationships is key for survivors to open up about the extent of the trauma they have, which, in turn, allows them to heal. And the stories of increased hope, confidence and mental well-being are incredible! I think of April, who has been coming to The Landing’s drop-in center for two years. Recently, she was diagnosed with cancer. Facing such a life-threatening sickness alone is terrifying. But because we were able to build a trusting relationship with her, she has a community to support her through this journey. We get to be her family in her time of need, giving her hope. I think of Juanita, who was trafficked in the cantinas and came to us for counseling, case management, and other services. We were able to be there for her when she recently graduated from college! The first time she came to The Landing she was shy, soft-spoken, and seemed unsure of herself. But now, she is a confident young woman who voluntarily introduces herself to other clients at The Landing, welcoming them with warm smiles.

Consider drop-in centers when you think of valuable resources. This model is reliable in building relationships and trust so that we can help identify and serve more victims of trafficking. And when a survivor of trafficking is ready to leave their abuser – they have somewhere and someone to turn to.

Natasha Paradeshi serves as the Executive Director/Co-founder of The Landing, Houston’s first drop-in center for survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. She believes that this model helps increase trust with survivors, giving them greater access and hope for freedom. She is responsible for strategy direction, development implementation, program oversight, and community engagement. Over the past 8 years, she has been passionate about creatively filling needs and forming strategic partnerships so that more survivors can get access to the services they need. Natasha graduated from the University of Southern California with a Masters of Public Policy degree and from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts.