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September 20, 2018 by Guest

What I learned through my Shared Hope Fellowship

By Aliz Nagyvaradi

I am grateful and humbled for the learning opportunity Shared Hope provided me this summer. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it has been truly impactful experience. Shared Hope has a 20-year history in the anti-trafficking field and its enduring presence makes it a leader in the field.

As a Policy and Communications Fellow, I mostly worked with the Center for Justice & Advocacy and the Communications Department on developing the Stop the inJuSTice campaign. This involved delivering the campaign message and sharing information about the non-criminalization of the victims of domestic minor sex trafficking with anti-trafficking stakeholders and the general public.

Shared Hope’s Center for Justice & Advocacy offers the most in depth, accurate and comprehensive legal knowledge and research in the field of domestic minor sex trafficking. Ten weeks were certainly not enough to be able to engage in the full breadth of Shared Hope’s work and research. I am still astonished by the complexity of the issue of child sex trafficking. It has many areas of intervention and details that require a high level of attention and collaboration with various stakeholders from different sectors. Due to the multifaceted character and prevalence of this crime in each and every state in the US, partnership and teamwork, frequent meetings across the country, and online resources are vital to making decisions and changing state laws, so that victims of child sex trafficking have access to trauma-informed services and are not punished for the crimes committed against them.

What I have learned about anti-trafficking work through my fellowship?

Partnership is crucial. Counter trafficking requires teamwork; one organization alone is not enough to effectively fight sex trafficking.
Education is key. In order to notice the signs of sex trafficking and to identify victims, we have to learn what to look for. Shared Hope’s awareness and training programs are designed to do that.
Private sector engagement is important. Companies that are in the travel, tourism, hospitality, or conferencing/meeting sectors can do so much to end the cycle.
Language counts. Any time we are talking about this issue, such as delivering a campaign message or wording bills, we have to be aware of how language impacts the perception of survivors and the overall fight against trafficking.
Dedication is also a key. We need to be persistent in our advocacy work and look for allies. Changes do not happen overnight, but through consistent work, we are able to make progress and generate change.
Collaboration with survivors is essential. We cannot combat human trafficking without including and elevating the voices of survivors.
A nationwide grassroots movement is a critical element of the anti-trafficking work. Shared Hope International’s volunteer Ambassadors of Hope are able to bring the message and spread awareness about trafficking in their communities, workplaces, and through their networks.
Everyone can take action. By sharing information about child sex trafficking, talking to your family members and friends, or contacting your legislator as a constituent you can make a difference.

I have also been fortunate to participate in Shared Hope’s JuST Faith Summit in June 2018, which mobilized people of faith to address the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking in their communities. As a staff member, I had the chance to inform the attendees about the Stop the inJuSTice campaign, as well as to attend the plenary sessions and workshops held by dedicated professionals and survivors of sex trafficking. Hearing about the journey of survivors and seeing how their faith helped them, provided an unexpected learning experience for me. I gained courage through their stories. Encountering the dedication and collaboration of stakeholders from Christian-based and survivor-led organizations was more than inspiring—it was truly transformational for me.

Coming from a legal background, I also felt comfortable contributing to the legal research that our policy work requires. While I was researching the online trafficking laws of the 50 states, I learnt a lot about the recent Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, and the criminal abuse of technology that allows sex trafficking and child online exploitation to grow rapidly.

During my time with Shared Hope, I have recognized parallels and similarities to some of the experiences I have had at the University of San Diego Kroc School of Peace Studies: the power of survivor narratives, the complexity of the issue, and the need for experts to pioneer efforts to eradicate sex trafficking. The courses at the Kroc School helped me develop critical thinking about human rights violations. At the same time, they contributed to my learning on how to address complex social problems and provide solutions to them. At the very beginning of my studies, my faculty advisor suggested that I think strategically when choosing my internship placement for the summer. I am glad that I took his advice. I only applied for internship positions which fell into my area of interest and required the skills and background that I could put in practice, but could still provide me with challenges and exciting opportunities to improve professionally. The work I was involved in at Shared Hope International was the perfect match for me.

Certainly, my fellowship with Shared Hope has been one of the most valuable experience I have had in the US so far, both personally and professionally. My faith has become stronger, which helps me in pursuing a meaningful career, one that has an impact on lives. I am equipped with all of the tools and resources that I need to become an effective anti-trafficking advocate. I have also become an official volunteer Ambassador of Hope, and am looking forward to working on Shared Hope’s projects in the future.

August 24, 2018 by Susanna Bean

2018 JuST Conference Keynote Speaker

We’ve kept the secret long enough… this year’s inspirational keynote speaker will be Leslie Briner, MSW, Consultant, YouthCare.

[easy-tweet tweet=”This year’s inspirational JuST Conference keynote speaker will be Leslie Briner, MSW, Consultant, YouthCare!” user=”SharedHOpe” hashtags=”JuST18″]

For over 20 years, Leslie Briner has served families experiencing homelessness, youth with developmental disabilities, youth in the foster care system and, since 2005, has worked with commercially sexually exploited (CSE) youth. She has designed, implemented and directed services for sexually exploited and trafficked youth and developed comprehensive training on the topics of sexual exploitation and trafficking. To date, she has trained over 7,000 people as well as providing substantial technical assistance and consultation on these issues in Washington State and across the country.

Leslie will be presenting “Building a Justice Centered Movement” reexamining broader social movements and how we can impact each other to collectively build justice. Join Leslie as she writes a love letter to the movement to end sexual exploitation and trafficking and inspires us in her call to action.

Check out the rest of our updated workshop and plenary agenda here.

June 13, 2018 by Sarah Bendtsen

Progress Without Protection: How State Laws Are Punishing Child Sex Trafficking Victims

Over the past 7 years of the Protected Innocence Challenge, states have made substantial progress – 47 states have raised their grade, and while the majority of states were failing in 2011, there are no longer any states with a failing grade and 30 states now have an “A” or “B” grade. By closing gaps in state laws, this progress has also shown a light on where the most substantial gaps remain – unfortunately, those gaps primarily impact protections for child victims, specifically, laws that allow a child sex trafficking victim to be criminalized for their own victimization.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Gaps remaining in our state laws unfortunately primarily impact protections for child victims, specifically, laws that criminalize child sex trafficking victims for their own victimization. ” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”#stoptheinjustice”]

Since the beginning of 2017, fifteen states have sought to pass laws to prohibit the criminalization of youth survivors of sex trafficking for prostitution and other offenses. Despite a growing consensus that children cannot be “prostitutes,” only four of the fifteen states have been successful in changing their laws. In fact, a majority of states still allow children to be arrested, detained, and prosecuted for prostitution, despite conflicting federal and state law that deems such children victims of child sex trafficking.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Since 2017, 15 states sought to pass laws to end the criminalization of youth survivors of sex trafficking for prostitution, only 4 of 15 were successful. ” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”#stoptheinjustice”]

During this legislative session alone, twelve states introduced legislation to create new or strengthen existing protections for youth survivors of sex trafficking. By trying to stop the prosecution of minors for prostitution, these states embarked on a multi-state effort to demand protection, not punishment for child victims. Despite strong support among survivors, service providers, and anti-child sex trafficking stakeholders, all 12 bills have been unsuccessful so far.

In order to address the legal conflicts and mobilize states to enact non-criminalization laws that adequately protect and provide comprehensive services for survivors of child sex trafficking, Shared Hope International is launching the Stop the InJuSTice campaign. Complementing the campaign launch, Shared Hope’s Center for Justice and Advocacy will release a video and e-learning training series to promote a better understanding of defining, implementing and developing a JuST (Juvenile Sex Trafficking) Response. These resources bring together the voices of survivors, service providers and advocates from around the country to weigh in on this issue.

Why do states face challenges in making progress?

Developing and providing a specialized, non-punitive response to juvenile sex trafficking victims remains a complex challenge for most states. Because of this, the passage of non-criminalization legislation has plateaued over the last two years. Throughout the course of providing technical assistance to stakeholders and state policymakers, Shared Hope’s Center for Justice and Advocacy has identified three common challenges in adopting and implementing protective responses for youth survivors:

A lingering misconception that some minors can be “prostitutes.” Despite laws in all 50 states and D.C. that recognize the sale and purchase of minors for sex as a form of human trafficking, and thus the minor a victim of child sex trafficking, many people believe that some children can willingly and consensually engage in commercial sex. Because of this, several states have been reluctant to pass non-criminalization laws so that prosecutors and law enforcement can retain discretion in determining which children are deserving of punishment instead of services. This misperception is frequently fueled by a widespread misunderstanding of sex trafficking victimization and the ways in which resulting or underlying trauma can present in youth survivors.
A lack of alternative and appropriate placement options and services. All states, including those that have passed non-criminalization laws, are faced with the challenge of developing and utilizing safe and appropriate placement options for youth survivors. With far more survivors than available therapeutic homes or facilities, states may depend on detention centers to hold victims until alternative placements are identified, if ever. Additionally, some argue that detention facilities remain the safest placement option for survivors, despite evidence that placement in such facilities can be traumatizing and not conducive to healing.
Diverging opinions regarding the best way to engage youth survivors in long-term services. Some stakeholders argue that, without the threat of charges or discipline for non-compliance, many minors are unwilling to engage in their service plan or make decisions that are in their best interests. While some youth survivors present run risks and may not consistently participate in services, this oftentimes reflects underlying trauma that needs to be addressed outside of a punitive system. A non-punitive approach allows minors to engage in the development of their own individualized service plan, free of timelines or coercive delinquency charges, exhibit an increased ability to trust their service team, regain confidence and a sense of control, and heal on their own timeline.

[easy-tweet tweet=”3 Reasons why states face challenges in making progress to end the criminalization of child sex trafficking survivors. Read here about all three. ” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”stoptheinjustice”]

Additionally, some law enforcement and prosecutors oppose removing criminal liability for youth survivors due to the belief that charging a survivor is an effective strategy in getting the minor to flip and testify against his or her exploiter. This strategy is detrimental and treats the minor as a prosecutorial pawn; it also goes against the evidence that a survivor’s cooperation in an investigation actually improves when the survivor, instead of being criminalized, is able to access services and build rapport with law enforcement and prosecutors.

The consequence of inaction

Arresting, detaining, and prosecuting minors for prostitution is inherently unjust and creates a legal contradiction—state law recognizes the minor as a crime victim yet simultaneously punishes the child for the same conduct that creates their victim status.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Arresting, detaining, and prosecuting minors for prostitution is inherently unjust.” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”stoptheinjustice”]

The criminal justice and delinquency systems are not designed to appropriately respond to juvenile sex trafficking victims. Treating child victims of sexual exploitation as criminals has serious long-term consequences. The process of being arrested, detained and prosecuted oftentimes creates an entirely new traumatic experience in the child’s life. It can strengthen a child’s attachment to their trafficker, while simultaneously fueling distrust in the systems that are there to serve the child. Delinquency charges can prevent the youth survivor from forming healthy and trusting relationships with persons in positions of authority who can assist and support the minor. Additionally, funneling youth survivors through the juvenile justice system can impair access to vital holistic support and care to address the trauma that accompanies and oftentimes precedes the exploitation. Charging exploited youth with prostitution and other offenses committed as a direct result of being trafficked has a long-term impact on their lives. Minors with juvenile records can be disqualified for employment and higher education opportunities, can be suspended or expelled from school, and can lose access to safe and affordable housing.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Treating child victims of sexual exploitation as criminals has serious long-term consequences.” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”stoptheinjustice”]

Take action and join the mission!

Shared Hope International is committed to ending the practice of criminalizing juvenile survivors for their trafficking victimization. To mobilize change, the Center for Justice and Advocacy is launching Stop the InJuSTice, a campaign to seek advancements in both policy and practice. Here’s how you can get involved!

Sign up for our Thunderclap! To kick off the Campaign, on June 22^nd we will be releasing our new video, “Stopping the InJuSTice” on our campaign page and via Thunderclap. This new video amplifies both the voices of youth survivors who have experienced criminalization for their trafficking victimization and solutions for change. Sign up for the Thunderclap to automatically share this important message and the new video when it is released on June 22!

Take our training On June 22 we will also release Just Response, a free webinar training program to advance non-punitive, protective responses for youth survivors.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Take action to end the criminalization of child sex trafficking victims. Read this blog to find out how!” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”stoptheinjustice”]

June 4, 2018 by Guest

Biblical Justice & Social Justice

By Christine Erickson, Director, Children-at-Risk “OneLess” Ministry Grace Church – Eden Prairie, MN

Biblical Justice & Social Justice

Is there a difference?

Selling a human being. Abusing a child. Stealing from a widow. Most, if not all of us, would agree that using force or fraud to exploit the vulnerable is evil. We carry within us an innate sense of right and wrong, a conviction that oppressors should be punished and the weak protected. We want justice.

Justice in its simplest form, means to set things right. Yet, how do we know what is right? Who defines “right”? Is it society-at-large or the culture we live in? Is there a moral law that we inherently know to follow?

Biblical Justice

As Christ-followers, the answer is simple. Our sense of justice is imparted to us by our Creator God. He is loving, kind, and merciful and He is also righteous, holy, and just.

“The Rock, His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” (Psalm 89:14).

God is just. It is part of His character, which means He is always just. He cannot be unjust, and He defines and sets the standard for justice.

We hear that God is love and God is holy more often than we hear that God is just. And we may readily agree that God sets the standard for love and holiness, but do we understand that He also sets the standard for justice? Pursuing biblical justice means we follow God’s way to make right that which is wrong, and we look to Scripture to define what is “right”.

We do not have to look far to see that Jesus is our standard of righteousness. Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, died a sacrificial death and rose again to make right that which was wrong. It is because of Jesus and His work on the Cross that we can be justified and made right with God. And Jesus also demonstrates a beautiful example for us to follow in the New Testament as one who cared for the outcast and reached out with compassion to help those most often overlooked. Jesus pursued justice. He physically and spiritually rescued those in need. Healing the leper in Matthew 8 and caring for the woman caught in adultery in John 8 are just a few examples.

As we look at the life of Jesus and the mandate given throughout Scripture, it is clear that Christ-followers are called to “do justice”. We are called to take action and confront evil, to care for the vulnerable, and to make right that which is wrong. This mandate is not new. It is not a cultural fad or something that is simply a trend in today’s society. Throughout the Old and New Testament, our call to do justice is clear.

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” (Psalm 82:3).

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause,” (Isaiah 1:17).

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others,” (Luke 11:42).

Social Justice

Social justice is a common term used today. A brief online search will uncover varying definitions of what it means. One definition says social justice is “promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity”. On one hand that sounds fine, but looking deeper, it is rather vague and can lead to many different conclusions about what justice really looks like.

In contrast to social justice, which focuses on a temporal view of addressing injustices in society, biblical justice starts with the eternal in mind. It starts by seeing people as God sees them – recognizing that we are all created in the image of God. And it is incumbent upon Christ-followers to pursue physical and spiritual freedom for the oppressed so others can also become what God created them to be. If we have experienced freedom, how can we not pursue freedom on behalf of others?

As the Church, we may partner with those doing the work of social justice in our communities, but let us not be confused about our ultimate mission. Our mission is not about picking up another cause because it sounds appealing and makes us look good. Our mission is about fully embracing the cause of Christ. The end goal of biblical justice is seeing lives reconciled to God and eternally transformed.

What can we do?

One day there will be perfect justice, carried out by a perfectly holy and just God. In the meantime, evil is pervasive throughout our world. Children are sold into sex slavery. The poor are beaten and forced to work without pay. Human trafficking or modern-day slavery continues in every country, city, and community. There are more than 35 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other time in history.

Can we, the Church, lead the way and pursue justice on behalf of the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, and the enslaved? If we know the One who is completely just, should we not lead the charge? YES!

Fueled by the compassion of Christ, we engage in issues of injustice – protecting the vulnerable, fighting for those held in oppression, walking alongside the wounded and pointing them to the One who heals, restores and redeems.

Pursuing justice starts and continues with a foundation of prayer, because we know it is His battle not our own. It involves time and sacrifice. It means stepping out of our comfort zone and persevering with patience. It means walking in wisdom and not jumping in haphazardly or foolishly. Our just God leads and we follow as He empowers us through the Holy Spirit. So, let’s go. Let’s engage in the fight for biblical justice.

Prayer is the first step towards biblical justice

Prayer is a huge part of biblical justice. This month, join us for 30 Days of Prayer, and our National Day of Prayer to End Child Sex Trafficking on January 31.

Learn More

May 11, 2018 by Guest

Disappointed with God

**This is the sixth guest blog in a series of posts by the 2018 JuST Faith Summit speakers. Check back for new posts highlighting the critical topics that will be featured at this year’s Faith Summit. Join us, June 20-22 at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, for this exciting Summit. Visit this link to see the full agenda and lineup of speakers.

By Lexie LaVallee, Survivor Leader

“I am weary; exhausted with weeping. My throat is dry, my voice is gone, my eyes are swollen with sorrow and I’m waiting for you, God, to come through for me.” Psalm 69:3

That Psalm could have come from my own pre-teen heart as I was trafficked just across the street from my grandmother. I remember crying out to God in my heart for Him to save me as I looked out the window to the home where my family thought it was just another normal gathering. No one knew I was being raped by the teenager they had been trying to help, and that encounter would turn into a secret trafficking operation just doors down for the next 2-3 years.

I grew up in the Church, and didn’t understand why a God who parted seas, made food fall from the sky and healed people regularly wasn’t there for me. I prayed and cried out to my only hope, but what I wanted to happen (when I wanted it) did not. Have you ever had that happen? Prayed for a miracle, specific outcome, breakthrough, or rescue to only find your prayers fell on deaf ears? I am sure that many of you can relate to feeling that way, regardless of how different our stories, personalities, or beliefs may be.

As Christians, I feel like we face this all the time. Whether it’s our life or something happening around the globe we ask in agony “why?” That question can be a loaded gun to our faith and theology, but it’s driven by the deep wound of disappointment. I believe this is the most common wound the enemy uses to incapacitate us. Anger, unbelief, hurt, shame, guilt, confusion, distrust, and many other heavy emotions can all be wrapped up in disappointment. Feeling it is normal, but it’s what we do after that which will set the trajectory of our lives. It can taint your legacy, or be a launching pad.

[easy-tweet tweet=” Feeling disappointment is normal, but it’s what we do after that which will set the trajectory of our lives. It can taint your legacy, or be a launching pad. – Lexie LaVallee” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”FaithSummit18″]

For the vast majority of my life I lived in a state of disappointment. In myself, the people who were supposed to protect me, and although I would never admit such a thing, I was disappointed with God. My heart became hardened, and I became fully reliant on myself for provision and care. I 100% believed God was real, and I believed everything the Bible said was true. Just that it wasn’t for me. I felt that if I had been a blind man begging Him for healing, He would have passed me by. Not because I wasn’t worthy, but that I just didn’t matter as much as everyone else.

Here’s how I overcame the lies that bred disappointment: praise and worship.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Here’s how I overcame the lies that bred disappointment: praise and worship. – Lexie Lavallee” user=”Shared Hope” hashtags=”FaithSummit18″]

My vibrant Church in Nashville (The Belonging Co.) really taught me how to do this. My pastors always said, “praise precedes miracles.” This was so contrary to my relationship with God. Just like I didn’t get praise until after I did something worthy of it, I thought it worked the same way for Him. Not that I wasn’t grateful or optimistic, but I never spoke life over the situations in my life that were bringing death to my spirit, mind, and body. I was just sitting around, waiting for Him to come through for me.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” And I began to wonder, what if I really meant the words I’m singing in Church. What would it look and feel like to believe it? To trust in His promises over my circumstances. Set aside my disappointment and walk in expectation. That’s what worship did for me. It shifted my heart from a place of unbelief to faith.

Here’s what that looked like in real life. There were a few songs that became anthems at different times. This is what they taught me.

“Kind” by Amanda Cook taught me of the true character of God. I would listen to it to shift my perspective anytime I felt abandoned, hurt, angry, or punished. That’s not who He is and I knew it because there was so much scripture to back it up.
“Good Good Father” by Kari Jobe shifted my belief that He wasn’t there for me. I have sung that over and over myself when things aren’t going well. “You are good. You are good. You are good.” Usually powerful prayer and praise flow from that place of trust and truth.
“God of Miracles” by Jesus Culture grew my faith into really believing in and receiving healing. That it was just as much for me as it was for any of His other kids.
“You’re Not Finished Yet” by Maggie Reed gave me hope. When situations were so beyond me and out of control. When I had to start taking medication daily for the STD I was left with after being trafficked, I sang the lyrics of this song as I took them every day. “Until I see your promise come. God with all I am, I’ll keep believing that you’re not finished yet. You’re not finished yet.”
“God’s Great Dance Floor” by Chris Tomlin, “This is Living” by Hillsong Young & Free and “Zeal” by Henry Seely taught me about the fun, lightheartedness, and joy of God. I don’t think we experience that part of God enough. We come to the throne too serious sometimes. He created fun and He wants to have it with us. I found that stepping into that joy kicked depression and anxiety right in the pants and out of my life.

I am excited to teach more on this at Faith Summit and hope you’ll be there to worship beside me. I know there is a breakthrough and so much wisdom for you at this conference.