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July 13, 2017 by Guest

Senate Hearing on the 2017 TIP Report

Today, the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held an annual hearing with representatives from the U.S. Department of State to review the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report. The State Department released the TIP Report on June 27^th, where Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for a “shared hope” among stakeholders that the 21^st century will be the last to see human trafficking.

Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) presided over the meeting. He was joined by Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD), along with committee members Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). The Honorable John J. Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of State, and the Honorable Susan Coppedge, Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons represented the State Department as the hearing’s witnesses.

The hearing gave Deputy Secretary Sullivan an opportunity to highlight specific countries that improved, or dropped, in their rankings. Both Afghanistan and Ukraine moved off of the watch list to Tier 2, while China, one of the most talked about reductions, fell to Tier 3 status.

A majority of today’s discussion concentrated on two countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia and Burma, whose TIP ranking improved in 2017,raising questions among the committee’s senators. Senator Menendez questioned Malaysia’s rise to Tier 2, stating that the sheer number of human trafficking victims in the country does not qualify its removal from the watch list. Malaysia’s climb from Tier 3 to Tier2-Watch in 2015 caused debate among government official, with some claiming that the decision was based on a political agenda. Ambassador Coppedge defended the State Department’s decisions, stating that rankings are determined purely off of the country’s efforts related to human trafficking.

United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Hearing Review on the 2017 TIP Report

Burma’s ranking was also questioned, specifically in regard to child soldiers. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently removed Burma, which moved back up to Tier 2-Watch after falling to Tier 3 in 2016, from a list of nations that exploit children as child soldiers; however the TIP Report, cite child soldiers as an abundant trafficking issue in the nation. Both witnesses stood by the Secretary’s decision, claiming that Tillerson made a factual interpretation based on the TIP Report’s findings that Burma recently released 112 child soldiers from government employment.

The witnesses also addressed the potential redesign of the State Department, stating that the TIP Report and anti-trafficking efforts will remain intact with a continued level of priority and integrity.

Shared Hope International works directly with anti-trafficking efforts in India, Nepal, and Jamaica. A blog covering these country’s 2017 TIP Report rankings will be released soon.

By Justin Pollard – Policy Intern, Summer 2017

July 12, 2017 by Susanna Bean

Critical Human Trafficking Legislation Passes the House

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today the House of Representatives passed HR 2200 the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017 (TVPRA). This important legislation was sponsored by Representative Chris Smith—author of the original Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 and the 2016 recipient of Shared Hope’s Lifetime Pathbreaker Award—along with lead co-sponsor Karen Bass. The bill also passed with strong bipartisan support from 27 co-sponsors, including Representatives Ted Poe, Anne Wagner and Susan Davis.

HR 2200 continues the protections established in the Landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, with a particular focus on preventing trafficking through educating children and other at-risk populations on how to avoid trafficking victimization, promoting trauma-informed services and access to housing for homeless and foster youth, and encouraging credible and effective use of the trafficking tier ranking system by the U.S. Department of State in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

As an endorser of this bill, Shared Hope International is pleased to see the authorization of $520 million dollars in funds being allocated to enhance the fight against human trafficking over the next four years.

“This vote in the House today is a strong sign the US is committed to addressing the crime of juvenile sex trafficking with substantial investment,” commented Linda Smith, President and Founder of Shared Hope. “Shared Hope is committed to continuing advocacy at the federal and state level to ensure our laws reflect our societal commitment to prevent trafficking and to treat these children as survivors of a crime and ensuring their protection while punishing any actor involved in their exploitation.”

[easy-tweet tweet=”This is a strong sign the US is committed to addressing juvenile sex trafficking. – Linda Smith” user=”SharedHope”]

The House also passed HR 2480, the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act. This critical legislation addresses the fuel that keeps trafficking markets alive: demand for commercial sex. Under HR 2480, law enforcement could compete for federal funding specifically to develop and execute sex trafficking demand reduction programs. These additional resources empower local law enforcement agencies to invest in demand reduction efforts to prevent and end the exploitation of sex trafficking victims.

Both of these important bills now move to the Senate for consideration. To follow the latest developments on the TVPRA and HR 2480, follow Shared Hope on Facebook and Twitter.

July 10, 2017 by Susanna Bean

Pathbreaker Awardee Leads Human Rights Efforts

In his unabated championship for marginalized people, Representative Chris Smith last week led a human rights effort to highlight human trafficking at the 2017 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk, underscoring why Shared Hope International awarded him our Lifetime Pathbreaker Award in 2016.

Congressman Smith is only the 2^nd individual to earn the Lifetime designation of the award (Congressman Frank Wolf, 2013), and he truly has spent his entire career in the pursuit of justice for the downtrodden. Chris was one of the first voices to speak up about human trafficking and the major thrust behind the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000; he has been instrumental in reauthorizations of that act up to and including the present re-authorization efforts.

During 1995-1999 Shared Hope’s founder, Linda Smith, was his colleague as they served in Congress together. After leaving Congress, and in the early days of Shared Hope’s history, Linda Smith initiated regional and international efforts to further the goals of the TVPA and has continued to collaborate with Chris on anti-sex trafficking legislation.

The Pathbreaker Award is a prestigious award to honor individuals who made an outstanding contribution to the movement against commercial sexual exploitation. These leaders broke the trend of inaction and initiated proactive responses to prevent sex trafficking.

July 7, 2017 by Susanna Bean

Collaboration is Key

This week we are interviewing Natasha Nascimento, Founder & Executive Director of Redefining Refuge as a part of their graduation from our Partner Grant Program! Read the first and second part of their story and check back later this week for the rest of their story!

Q: What was your favorite part about being a Shared Hope partner?

A: There have been many favorites. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Staff at Shared Hope; who I frankly hate to label as ‘staff’ – they are among some of the most passionate and dedicated child advocates that I have ever encountered and I feel privileged to have worked with and learned from them. The JuST Conferences will continue to stay near and dear to my heart, and Redefining Refuge will continue to attend and support this in any way we can. I have loved the educational materials that we continue to leverage heavily in our quest for getting the information out there.

Q: What’s the biggest thing Shared Hope International provided for you during your time as a partner?

A: You believed uncompromisingly in our mission when no one else did. At the time we were the first and only safe house in the Tampa Bay area (sadly 5 years later, we still are), but we had little to no support from our State. If it weren’t for you, the 100+ girls that have come through our door would never have known a safe and nurturing environment.

Q: What’s some advice you would give to people/organizations (like your own) just starting out in this field?

A: Do not despise humble beginnings!!! They are truly a phenomenal foundation from which to grow, learn, and refine. Learn from others!!! There is no sense in re-inventing the wheel, or making the same mistakes as others – partner, partner, partner!!! COLLABORATE!

[easy-tweet tweet=”Do not despise humble beginnings! – Natasha Nascimento” user=”SharedHope”]

July 3, 2017 by Susanna Bean

Don’t Give Up!

This week we are interviewing Natasha Nascimento, Founder & Executive Director of Redefining Refuge as a part of their graduation from our Partner Grant Program! Read the first part of their story and check back Wednesday and Friday for more.

Today Natashsa shares the ups and downs of starting a safe house. She shares that despite all the set backs it’s worth the work, don’t give up!

Q: Where were you/your organization when the grant began vs. where you are now? Explain.

A: In 2012, Redefining Refuge began the process of securing and readying a therapeutic safe house in anticipation of Florida adopting safe harbor laws to be applied to female minors who were exploited by means of sex trafficking. However, due to some significant structural issues that were revealed midway through, the project was subsequently halted, and the search for a new space began. This was extremely disheartening because we had already spent several months renovating this 1920’s home on both the inside and outside.

In late 2012, Redefining Refuge secured a new and very promising location. Not only was this home situated on 10 acres and almost a 100 years newer and several thousand feet larger, but as ‘fate’ would have it, both the inside and outside were replicas of the colors we had painted our first home; colors I had personally chosen at the Home Depot much earlier that year. The scriptural reference “be faithful in little {and I will see to it that you have the opportunity} to be faithful in much” resonated with me deeply. It was finally all falling into place – or was it?

Unfortunately Redefining Refuge encountered major permitting and licensing hoops in the State of Florida as the Department of Children and Families (DCF) had not yet licensed such a facility. Despite our educated reluctance to be licensed as a ‘group home,’ we were left with no choice in the matter, and ultimately conceded to the terms set forth via DCF. We were licensed in May 2013 to begin accepting residents.

In July 2013, Redefining Refuge received our very first grant from Shared Hope International, but sadly the constraints set forth by DCF failed miserably, and after just a few short months we were forced to close our doors. Shared Hope remained a faithful partner of Redefining Refuge throughout this extremely tumultuous period. In 2014, we were able to try again and finally began to experience more successes than failures. We were included in state law drafting, presenting nationally about our successes and failures on our path to open our doors, and continuing to build relationships with everyone we met. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it.

[easy-tweet tweet=”It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it.” user=”SharedHope”]

We have had the absolute privilege of growing our relationship and mentorship with Shared Hope from 2013 to 2017, and you have truly been the ‘big sister’ that gave our caterpillar dreams its first set of butterfly wings. You believed uncompromisingly in our mission, in our leadership, and in the true ‘can-do’ spirit of collaboration. There will never be words adequate enough to convey the absolute heartfelt gratitude, love and respect that Redefining Refuge has for Shared Hope.

[easy-tweet tweet=”You believed uncompromisingly in our mission and in the true ‘can-do’ spirit of collaboration. ” user=”SharedHope”]

Because of you formerly exploited girls were able to celebrate a birthday for the very first time. A bed was no longer something that had to be shared, but rather a place to rest a head and dream of a bright and promising future. We went from serving roughly 40 girls per year, to approximately 8-10 girls per year because they are staying much longer. We have had the opportunity to plant seeds for real and lasting change as opposed to merely being a Band-Aid on a larger issue. We have become more of a home than just a ‘safe house’. We are eternally grateful, and pray that your butterfly effect continues to touch the hearts, minds, and lives of all the exploited youth that will cross your path.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Because of you formerly exploited girls were able to celebrate a birthday for the very first time.” user=”SharedHope”]

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Every year Shared Hope works in partnership with domestic and international partners, giving them grants to fund their direct service work with survivors and offer them technical support. This blog series celebrates the graduation of two of our partners.