survivor Archives - Shared Hope International

August 2, 2024 by Leif Larson

2024 JuST Conference, the nation’s premier training conference, presented by Shared Hope International

The 2024 JuST Conference, www.justconference.org, the nation’s premier training conference, presented by Shared Hope International on October 22-24 in Phoenix, Arizona is shaping up to be a game-changing event in the fight against juvenile sex trafficking. With an unrivaled educational agenda featuring presentations, workshops, survivor experiences, and cross-discipline collaboration, attendees can look forward to a comprehensive program that tackles key issues in the juvenile sex trafficking field.

One of the standout features of the JuST Conference is its emphasis on skill-building and coalition development. Workshops and training sessions will provide participants with the tools they need to effectively identify and respond to juvenile sex trafficking in their communities. From law enforcement to healthcare professionals to social workers, attendees from a wide range of backgrounds will come together to learn from each other and share best practices.

But it’s not just about building individual skills – the JuST Conference also places a strong focus on community involvement. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, including survivors, advocates, law enforcement, and policymakers, the conference aims to foster a sense of unity and collaboration in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation. It’s clear that addressing juvenile sex trafficking requires a collective effort, and the JuST Conference provides a platform for diverse groups to come together and work towards a common goal.

Survivor experiences are a key component of the JuST Conference, www.justconference.org, offering attendees a firsthand look at the realities of juvenile sex trafficking and the impact it has on individuals. By centering the voices and experiences of survivors, the conference underscores the importance of trauma-informed care and survivor-centered approaches. The many survivor-led workshops give testimony to the fact that survivors are ‘overcomers’ and powerful leaders in the anti-trafficking movement.

In addition to its focus on education and awareness, the JuST Conference also shines a spotlight on the importance of cross-discipline collaboration. Juvenile sex trafficking is a complex issue that requires a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together experts from various fields to address its root causes and implications. By fostering collaboration among different sectors, the conference aims to create a more holistic and integrated response to human trafficking, breaking down silos and facilitating more effective solutions.

Live Illustrator Matt Orley will also return to JuST Conference in 2024 with his session illustrations.

New for this year’s JuST Training Conference is the introduction of “Professional Pathways” training. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of experts from the fields of healthcare, law enforcement, legislation, research, and service providers to combat juvenile sex trafficking.

The JuST Conference is designed to provide advanced training programs known as “Professional Pathways” that aim to enhance participants’ skills, grant access to valuable resources, and amplify the impact of their work in the following critical areas:

– Law Enforcement, Legal, and Policy: Enhancing knowledge and strategies for effective law enforcement, legal proceedings, and policy implementation.

– Physical & Mental Health: Addressing the physical and mental health needs of victims and survivors of sex trafficking.

– Multidisciplinary Teams: Fostering collaboration and coordination among multidisciplinary teams to better support victims and address the challenges of sex trafficking.

– Prevention: Equipping attendees with tools and resources for effective prevention strategies and interventions.

– Research & Lived Experience: Providing a platform for sharing research findings and lived experiences to enhance understanding and improve responses to juvenile sex trafficking.

– Service Providers: Enhancing the capacity and capabilities of service providers to offer comprehensive support to victims and survivors.

The JuST training Conference promises valuable insights and opportunities for all participants. From networking with like-minded individuals to learning from industry experts to gaining practical skills to take back to your community, there’s something for everyone at this enlightening event. By attending the JuST Conference, you’ll deepen your understanding of juvenile sex trafficking and justice for the victims.

This year’s JuST Conference, the nation’s premier training conference, will be held October 22-24 in Phoenix, Arizona is set to be a transformative event that will empower attendees with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. With its focus on skill-building, task force development, survivor experiences, and cross-discipline collaboration, the conference offers a comprehensive and inclusive program that addresses key issues in the juvenile sex trafficking field. The JuST Conference is a must-attend event for anyone committed to combating juvenile sex trafficking and supporting survivors. Keep an eye out for updates on this impactful and informative conference – you won’t want to miss it!

May 15, 2014 by SHI Staff

Boko Haram Shines Global Spotlight on Women’s Education

Congressman William Keating remarked that women constitute half of the Earth’s population and serve as the sole caretaker in many households, and yet they “continue to be 2/3 of the world’s illiterate population,” at last month’s Women’s Education hearing “Promoting Development, Countering Radicalism.”

The recent kidnapping of 276 Nigerian schoolgirls by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which name translates roughly to “Western education is forbidden,” shines a global spotlight on education for women. While many are denied access to education due to financial or family obligations; the victims in the Nigerian kidnapping were denied and punished for receiving education. In a recently released video, a man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, threatens to sell the girls and says “Girls, you should go and get married.”

The mounting pressure on females seeking to gain education has reached America as traffickers target U.S. teens to be sold in local trafficking markets. Traffickers target girls in their early teens to meet a demand for commercial sex with young females. The girls are banned from attending school or developing critical job skills necessary to participate in a competitive job market once they escape.

Humera Khan was encouraged by her father to travel from South Asia to the United States saying “education is enough for you to break social norms.” On April 3 she addressed the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the power of educating women, saying education gave her the power to regain control of her own life, as well as inspire and empower her to continue moving towards success. Today, Khan is the Executive Director of an independent research organization. She suggested looking for education solutions and resources locally where people are more likely to invest in the women and girls of their own community.

Education not only allows for career advancement, it builds self-confidence, capability, empowerment and analytical decision making skills that impact every aspect of a woman’s life. It is important to offer educational opportunities to sex trafficking survivors to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and independence to regain control of their lives. Some restoration programs assist young girls and women in returning to high school, obtaining her GED, or enrolling in college. Combining educational opportunities with vocational training programs like the Women’s Investment Network equips young girls and women to become responsible and financially sound once employment is gained.

Shared Hope recognizes the value of education in the restoration process. We created Terry’s House to offer survivors an affordable housing option so they can focus their time, effort and resources on their education.

Read Shamere’s story of overcoming her trafficker to return to school.

April 1, 2013 by SHI Staff

Guest Post: A Man to Fight for You

Guest Post by Chelan Rene’ Russ

When he was little, Ricky battled with what he thought was a series of bad dreams. They would send him into a state of panic. But there was no way he could fight them because he was still asleep. See, they weren’t bad dreams after all. They were actually night terrors.

As he got older, they became more frequent. He married his high school crush and she became instantly aware during those nights, of how he felt attacked. They’d laugh over coffee the next morning, about how he grabbed all the sheets off the bed and paced, breathless, looking for an exit for ten minutes. Other nights, she’d roll onto her side and ask, “what were you choking on this time?” He’d give her an uncomfortable smile and reply with some random object…a needle, a lightbulb, a drinking glass. How ridiculous. But how real it seemed to him in the moment. If only he could fight back the fear in that dreamlike state.

It became a familiar battle against this evil. The terrors would attack without warning and be met with little to no resistance. How unfortunate and a bit embarrassing, I suppose, to be a man and not be able use your God-given ability to fight against fear and evil.

There’s a battle raging that men need to fight in. But they are fighting for another’s freedom, not their own. Thousands of girls are the casualties. They’re fighters, and yes, I’ve met some. But they have only earned that title because a man didn’t fight for them when they needed it most. Those men — their daddies, stepdads, big brothers – were locked away in their own state of self-induced sleep…lulled by a myriad of addictions to mind-numbing substances, porn, denial, work.

Those men, expected to protect her, lost the presence of mind and in many cases even the conviction to fight. Slowly choked out was their ability to discern her worth. And so regardless of the reason, they were not present to fight for her. But what is a man if not a fighter for good? He is as helpless as he is useless.

I spoke with a girl today who longed for that man’s presence as a child. When fair-skinned “Lyla” was five, her daycare provider’s son stole her innocence for a moment of his selfish pleasure. The moments as such recurred in various forms: drugged in a club, exploited on a sidewalk, even restrained on motel sheets by a serial rapist. Her worth felt like a slow drain. Would any man ever treat her with dignity? No matter how she mined for ways, Lyla knew no way out. Her flight or fight instincts took over. And since there was no other man who’d honored her enough to fight for her, she would give it her best shot. It never really sufficed.

“You daydream about it,” She admitted. “You need a hero. You you need someone who is bigger and stronger than you. Someone of the same gender as those who hurt you… but who instead, redeems it all.” The sincerity from her wounds seems to speak, “Wake UP! I know the evil is ugly and it is painful, but please, wake up. Tell us we’re worth fighting for and get up…and do it. Fight for me because they never could. Or never would.” And she whispers, “Give me hope again.”

Chelan Rene’ Russ is an avid abolitionist, wife, mother, and blogger who lives in Portland, OR with her husband and 2 children. Visit her personal blog here.

March 7, 2013 by SHI Staff

Survivor Story: Robin’s Journey to Redemption and Restoration

My name is Robin. I was born in Portland, OR but grew up my whole life across the river, in Vancouver, WA. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a home where I could feel safe and know I was loved. My mother took me to Sunday school and taught me the love of Jesus. Every teacher I ever had liked me and I did we’ll in school. Growing up I was popular, and had a lot of friends.

I became alcoholic after my first drink at 14-years-old. Gradually through my adolescence, I began experimenting with other substances and they became more important to me than school. After miserably failing almost two years of college, I dropped out. I had just turned 21 before I met the man who sold me a dream. The dream turned into a nightmare and the nightmare lasted six years. In those six years I was prostituted up and down the I-5 corridor from Seattle to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Honolulu, Hawaii. I walked away from my pimp in 1999, penniless, alcoholic, and addicted to crack-cocaine. I have never gone back to him.

It took me over 12 years away from the life to be strong enough to really look at what had happened to me. I was 21 years old when my pimp walked into my life and because I was an “adult”, I always carried the guilt and shame for “choosing” this lifestyle. I wasn’t ready to look at my past until I learned about my past. Once I learned about my past, I gathered enough strength and humility to tell my story. Telling my story and backing it up with the truths, rather than misconceptions about prostitution, allowed me to heal. When I saw myself as a victim, no matter my age- that’s when I was able to forgive myself and move on.

Defenders were few and far between when I was living in the streets where men bought and sold women and young girls for sex. There was only one Defender who could save me from the bondage of sex-trafficking; that Defender was Jesus! I often wonder if my life would have turned out differently if there were more men of God living as Defenders.

Despite growing up in a good home, learning manners and respect, no one taught me to love or respect myself. When I see men taking the Defender’s pledge today, my heart fills with love and hope for the future; but I don’t see enough men taking the pledge. I want to see our nation’s leaders, our pastors, and our teachers taking the pledge.

I want to see these men teaching our sons how to live as Defenders of women and how to stand up against immorality — without feeling like there is something wrong for doing so. When a man promises not to purchase or participate in pornography, prostitution or any form of the commercial sex industry, demand decreases.

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Tim 6:11). When a man promises to hold his friends accountable for their actions toward women and children, our daughters become safer and demand decreases. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). When a man promises to take immediate action to protect those he loves from this destructive market, families are not torn apart and demand decreases. “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim 5:8).

When I see men taking the pledge to be a Defender, I see God moving.

Robin became involved with trafficking when she was recruited by a pimp in 1993. After six years of abuse and many near death experiences, she was delivered by her Savior Jesus Christ in 1999. In June 2012, Ms. Miller earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Portland State University. She is active as an advocate for victims of sex-trafficking. Today Robin is the volunteer coordinator and receptionist for a non-profit organization in Vancouver, WA.

February 26, 2013 by SHI Staff

Defenders Guest Post: Stop Traffick Fashion

Guest Blog Post by Melissa Wuske

“I have found great freedom. I want to give God thanks. He has given me good things—health, peace, a good husband, a good family.”

—Ashoka, survivor of the sex trade in Kolkata, India

At Stop Traffick Fashion, we’re all about women around the world like Ashoka. Started in 2009, Stop Traffick Fashion provides opportunities and hope for survivors of human trafficking, while offering women stunning ethical fashion. Survivors and those at-risk of human trafficking make all of our products and are paid a fair wage for their work. This empowers them to create a sustainable income and live a free, happy life. In addition, a portion of all sales revenue is donated back to organizations that rescue victims and provide rehabilitation and training for victims of human trafficking. So whatever you buy, from T-shirts to handbags to jewelry, you’re helping someone make a fresh, free start in life—and freedom is a beautiful thing.

We’re working toward cultivating and expanding our custom line of bags, jewelry, and t-shirts in order to bring socially conscious, fashion conscious women products that tell a story of freedom. We want every piece in our collection to be so striking that it starts a conversation, opening an opportunity for people to talk about human trafficking.

At STF, we’re passionate about helping people use their unique skills and interests to fight against human trafficking and become everyday abolitionists. We’re not all lawyers and social workers living on the frontlines of the fight against trafficking, but each one of us can take small steps toward big change. Our founder, Emily Hill, lives out her love of ethical fashion and social justice through STF. As the communications director, I combine my writing skills with my compassion for exploited people. It’s exciting to know that I can equip people to end trafficking by blogging about ethical fashion, human trafficking, and empowering women.

This excitement to mobilize all types of people makes us so excited for The Defenders movement. Men are a powerful and needed part of the anti-trafficking movement, and while STF’s approach is decidedly ladylike, we love to see men taking a pledge to action.

Melissa Wuske, Communications Director at Stop Traffick Fashion. Melissa loves merging her passions for writing and for helping provide restoration for exploited people. She graduated from Miami University with a degree in Adolescent English Education and is a former middle school language arts teacher. She now works full time as a freelance editor and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Melissa has visited Fresset, one of STF’s partners, in Kolkata, India.