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July 24, 2013 by SHI Staff

Don’t Ever Stop Fighting

Blog Post by Ethan Morrow

In the midst of pain, and what appears to be failure, what do you do? How do you get up and keep fighting? I had to ask myself that question last month when the Oregon House passed a very tough bill.

After weeks of fighting to avoid passing this bill via an online petition, the bill was passed. For me, this was a devastating blow to my gut. I felt like I had been punched multiple times. Because of this bill, it was still a misdemeanor to pay for sex with a minor in Oregon. Because of this bill, I still felt like our children could not be protected like they should be. As a dedicated Defender, there couldn’t be any worse feeling.

For a while, I couldn’t get up. I couldn’t motivate myself. After all, what was the point of continuing the fight? Was I even making a difference? So, for a while there, in my mind, I had given up. I had lost hope. It may not seem like a big deal, but for me it was. The Oregon Senate not passing this bill was extremely discouraging, because it was a very simple bill that protected children. That’s a no-brainer, right? If the Senate won’t pass a simple bill, then how will we do anything else?

But then, out of nowhere, an internal voice spoke to me. You are a Defender, Ethan. You are a Defender. Defenders do not give up. Then I was reminded how we did make a difference. In just over 5 days, almost 800 people from all over the US had signed that petition. Nationwide, people stood in agreement with me. Nationwide, people stood up and supported young girls. And people did notice. The press noticed. Nationwide, people cared.

So, do you want to know what I did?

I got back up. I got back up, made the simple choice to go to work, and kept fighting. I turned my deep disappointment into deep motivation. And to my surprise, a few days after that, all of the fighting paid off. I watched the miraculous happen as Senator Floyd Prozanski stood up and made a movement to take the bill back to committee so it could be re-amended, making it a felony on the first offense to purchase sex from minors. An article on this event can be found here.

Because we kept fighting, life change happened. Because we kept fighting, Oregon is properly protecting trafficked children. And I now I realize something: If we had stopped fighting after a devastating setback, it would still be a misdemeanor in Oregon to purchase sex from a minor.

So I have one simple message to say to all of you today. Defenders, don’t ever stop fighting. Keep fighting, and never give up. Because if we stop fighting, what are all of the young girls who are still being trafficked going to do? Who is going to defend them, through thick and thin? That’s our job, men. That is our job.

Don’t. Ever. Stop. Fighting.

July 22, 2013 by Guest

State Department reaches out to Interns to Spread Trafficking Awareness

Written by: Jessica Garber – Intern at Shared Hope International

An overview of the Fifth Annual Intern Roundtable on Trafficking in Persons, hosted by U.S. State Department, to which Shared Hope International sent representation.

TIP-roundtable — The official Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons’ Twitter account: @JTIP_State

Monday, July 22^nd, Senior Advisor to Secretary Kerry and head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons of the U.S. Department of State, Ambassador Luis CdeBaca hosted the Fifth Annual Intern Roundtable on Trafficking in Persons. Representatives from organizations across the Metro area were gathered for the event, some of whom had never learned about the issue of human trafficking until that very day. The unique part of the event is that it was about far more than numbers and more than the tier-rankings that appeared in the 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report—it was purely about the importance of joining the effort to combat worldwide human trafficking.

Ambassador CdeBaca spoke directly to my fellow interns and I, who are working with trafficking awareness groups, saying that many professionals in this area believe that they will one day be working next to us as colleagues. However, Ambassador CdeBaca inspired the audience by declaring that we have already joined the fight as colleagues by dedicating our time and energy to this stringent issue, empowering the future professionals in this area. He proceeded to tell a story of a young woman who was being trafficked and did not speak English, and every day when her trafficker would leave she would sneak the English dictionary and write a few words down on a piece of paper. After a few weeks, those groups of written words formed a note for help, which she tossed over the fence of the residence where she was being held captive. Because of her refusal to give up and determination to communicate this issue to others, help found her note and her life was forever restored.

It is groundbreaking stories such as this one that we don’t hear when we read a statistic that states the number of victims. Special Agent David Rogers, a panelist, remarked that this number of victims is in existence and it is not going away; therefore, we should remove our focus from trying to decipher this total and focus our energy on trying harder to eliminate the issue altogether. He advocated for a victim-centered approach to become the “norm” in our society, and that these women and children are being sold are victims, and if given the chance would give anything to lead a better life. Agent Rogers also discussed how human trafficking is so unique from other crimes because the damage that is imposed upon the victims is psychological—an extreme detriment to mental health, and even brain development in child victims.

Ambassador CdeBaca concluded posing a powerful inquisition: when these victims run toward freedom and walk into their new lives, will we walk with them? That is what we need to make our life mission—speaking for those who cannot.

July 16, 2013 by SHI Staff

Fighting Slavery For Christ

Guest Blog Post by Pastor Angi

What does fighting slavery for Christ mean? How does fighting “slavery” for Christ and the issue of modern day slavery go together? For those who consider themselves, non-Christian that may be a puzzling question. But for those who consider themselves Christian it is the only way to fight slavery.

Slavery comes in many forms. We all realize this. It can mean drug or alcohol addiction. It may mean sex addiction through pornography. It could quite possibly mean addiction to things such as food, relationships, even work. But for today’s discussion let’s narrow it down to the buying of PEOPLE, HUMAN BEINGS for ones own gratification for the fulfillment of the basest crimes in nature. Crimes that one could never speak of in public. Crimes that defy normal thinking faculties. Crimes that leave the average human being running to protect their own trembling child within.

One would fight a “slavery” of any kind with the principles found in the Bible. Those principles would vary from addiction to addiction. For the sake of today’s argument, lets use the slavery that is near and dear all our hearts: THE SLAVERY OF HUMAN BEINGS via continental trade and modern warfare. It is not just limited to “third world” countries anymore. This is also an intercontinental crime of drastic proportions that we could now call a PANDEMIC.

Warfare and slavery go together in that it is a WAR against society that is being waged in the trenches known as our streets. Yes the very streets you call home are effected by this every single day. The sad fact is that most people do not even realize this is going on right under their noses. That is precisely WHY this pandemic has grown to the proportions that it has at this point. Now we must ask ourselves, each and every one of us what we can do? (2 Cor 10:4)

PRAY for starters. That will be the floodgate through which you can become enlightened and educated about where it would be right for YOU to start. (James 5:16-18a) When you are aware of the dismal depths to which this atrocity has plummeted it is only then that you can arise with a passion to be part of the cause as only you yourself can. For each and every one of us have a calling on our lives. If you are reading this it is by no accident for YOU have been called to the Kingdom “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)

We all have spiritual gifts whether you have discovered them yet or not. Ask and He will be faithful to reveal what YOU have to offer this fight. (Matt 7:7) Intercession is a very simple step to be taken by one who may feel overwhelmed and not be sure where they should step in. The next step is equally as simple. Fasting. Fasting is Biblical and PROVEN to get results. If that is a new concept to you, consider Jonah 3:5-10.

Allow the Lord to enlighten and educate you on this very necessary endeavor. The endeavor of liberating a society that otherwise would remain enslaved if it were not for the spirit of EVERYONE involved to bring an end to modern day slavery.

BIO: Pastor Angi is a stay at home mother of 4 also working in full time ministry. Her heart’s desire is to see an end to all human trafficking. She founded Angel’s Ministry as well as P.A.V.E.D which caters to the empowerment of women. As an author, evangelist, pastor and mother, her heart is to touch women the world over.

July 9, 2013 by Guest

Recap of 2012 National Colloquium Report Release

Written by: Jessica Garber – Intern at Shared Hope International

NAtCo1 — Efforts to Overcome Obstacles to Victim Restoration: 2012 NatCo Release

On Monday, July 8^th, Shared Hope International hosted the release of our 2012 National Colloquium Report, which presents a wealth of perspectives from over 100 provider, survivor, government, advocacy, and funding experts on emerging trends and barriers encountered in attempting to secure restorative shelter and services for juvenile sex trafficking victims and survivors. Moderated by Shared Hope’s Director of Programs, Eliza Reock, the briefing included remarks from leaders in the efforts to combat minor sex trafficking, such as Shared Hope’s Founder, President, and former Congresswoman Linda Smith, Acting Director of the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice, Joye Frost, as well as survivor and anti-trafficking advocate Wilthelma TiOra “T.” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew.

15 years ago, Congresswoman Smith started an organization that shed light on a different kind of survivor of a violent crime—the sex-trafficking victim. She spoke of how even though there was a shift in focus to domestic minor sex trafficking between the years of 2005 and 2006, Shared Hope recognized that global services were still needed. To become fully knowledgeable about the subject, Linda and other Shared Hope staff members traveled internationally to meet and speak with survivors. Our organization emphasizes the importance of victim restoration, and understands how crucial the role of long-term restoration is to ensuring that each victim can lead a permanently better life. Our National Colloquium Report uncovers obstacles that victims tend to face while trying to enter this restoration process.

Joye Frost, Director of the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice, followed shortly after by discussing the challenges faced when attempting to collect data that adds to the knowledge base of domestic minor sex trafficking: funding, logistics, and the population of victims, which is a difficult population to identify. It is these obstacles that lead to a lack of basic victimization statistics that drive funding, policy, and legislation. Frost stated that the FBI will now collect data on sex and labor trafficking, which could help efforts immensely. She concluded with one certainty—involvement definitely makes a difference; it is vital that the victimized children have a caring and non-judgmental adult in their lives.

T. Ortiz, who was a victim in “the life” from ages 10-17, now holds the esteemed title of being one of Glamour Magazine’s 2011 Women of the Year and a leader of the Human Rights Project for Girls. She spoke about the importance of empowering these victims on all levels, and celebrating and encouraging smaller accomplishments and their personal talents, as well as available opportunities. Since the victims are all different people, with different interests and passions, it is important that therapy can be held in different settings. For example, art therapy or a life coach may be more beneficial for one young woman as opposed to strictly a psychologist.

These three speakers, along with the other panel of talented contributors, gave incredible insight into what issues victims face when seeking restoration, why these issues exist, and suggestions on how to eradicate them. Shared Hope will continue to provide in-depth research to continue this fight for knowledge which can ultimately lead to long-term and positively life-altering restoration for minor sex trafficking victims.

The 2012 National Colloquium Report is available for download here: http://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/National-Colloquium-2012-Report-B.pdf

The Report Release can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/69921098

July 8, 2013 by SHI Staff

US News – Study: At Least 100,000 Children Being Used in U.S. Sex Trade

Sexual trafficking is largely seen as something that happens abroad, but the underground sex trade is very much alive in the United States – especially for minors, according to a new report from the National Colloquium on Shelter and Services for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims.

Human trafficking is a $9.8 billion domestic industry, with at least 100,000 children being used as prostitutes in America each year, according to the report from Shared Hope International, an organization working to eradicate sex trading. Shared Hope presented its findings in a congressional briefing Monday attended by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., co-chairs of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking and Reps. Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Jim Costa, D-Calif., co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Victims’ Rights.

FULL STORY: US News – Study: At Least 100,000 Children Being Used in U.S. Sex Trade