Khaleej Times- Experts call for review of human trafficking law

The Dubai Public Prosecution’s office general attorney has admitted the UAE federal law on human trafficking is vague and is now advocating for a change.  He says the current form hindered prosecution,  did not detail acts that constituted human trafficking and was inadequate in outlining the procedures to be followed when violation was suspected.

Canadian Press-Ottawa to make sure no human trafficking problem at Olympics

The federal government is keeping an eye on Vancouver’s Olympic Games to ensure they do not further support human trafficking. Canada’s public safety minister said, “My view is that human trafficking is not a problem only at the Olympics. it’s a problem for Canada at all times at special events … we’re working with local police on the range of those issues.”

NY Daily News- She survived the horror Ex-’chica’ takes aim at trafficking

Kika Cerpa, a native of Venezuela, was lured to the United States by her boyfriend in 1993. When she arrived at age 20, her boyfriend’s cousin took her passport, her life savings and told her she had to pay off her debt by working at a brothel.  Now, Cerpa is working with the local authorities to educate the public on the dangers of force prostitution.

IJM investigator with rescued victims

As you saw – or will see – in At the End of Slavery, the work of IJM’s investigators can be dangerous. But, it is a core component to IJM’s four-fold purpose:

1. Victim Relief

2. Perpetrator Accountability

3. Victim Aftercare

4. Structural Transformation

You may have further questions on the motives, fears, hopes and work of IJM’s investigators, so we would like to offer you an opportunity to go even further undercover with these brave men and women.

If you would like to hear what makes IJM’s VP of Investigations, Jeff Blom, do this dangerous and life-changing work, please click here.

If you would like to see a photo/audio slide show that highlights the work of IJM’s investigators around the world, please do so here.

Did anything you heard stand out to you? Please share your thoughts with us, below.

With over 300 screenings of At the End of Slavery and more than 13,000 people who attended, The Weekend to End Slavery was a success in helping to catalyze individuals and communities to fight against this very real injustice.

Here’s a sneak peak into two watch parties that took place over the weekend:

1. Derek Webb and wife Sandra McCracken’s watch party in Nashville, TN:

• Here’s a tweet: “RT @derekwebb: here you go RT @uglymugs: http://twitpic.com/pkg17 – People watching “At the End of Slavery” // AMAZING! Thx so much! ~DL”
• Click for a twitpic of their watch party!

2. One house party in southeast Germany:

• Click for 4 photos from the house party!

If you attended a screening of “At the End of Slavery,” what’s one new fact YOU learned about human trafficking or modern-day slavery?

Did anything said or shown in the film come as a surprise to you?

What is one way you think your community can help end slavery, TODAY?

Please share your comments with us, below.

You can also give us an inside look into the screening you attended by sending a tweet to @IJMHQ with your thoughts and photos. We’d love to get your feedback!

Thanks again to everyone that is hosting or attending a house party or screening for At the End of Slavery this weekend. Over 300 screenings will be going on this weekend with over 13,000 attendees!
We want to hear from you. If you post photos, videos or blog posts about your event online, please share a link in the comments section.

If you’re on Twitter, hashtag your At the End of Slavery tweets with #ATEOS so we can display them in real-time.

Don’t forget to tune in tonight at 8pm EST for our live webcast with Gary Haugen (IJM President and CEO), Holly Burkhalter (IJM Vice President of Government Relations) and Amy Roth (IJM Director of Media Relations).

» www.attheendofslavery.com/weekend-to-end

If you can’t attend the live webcast, the recorded version will be available shortly after the webcast.

5. Check to make sure your TV and DVD player are working properly.

4. Prepare drinks and food of your choice beforehand, or ask friends to contribute. If you’d like a few fun recipes, please click here.

3. If you think name tags would be helpful for your group of attendees, pair these with pens in a convenient location.

2. Become more equipped and confident by reviewing the informational cards provided by International Justice Mission – pay particular attention to card numbers 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

1. Relax and enjoy your At the End of Slavery house party experience. You can be confident your hard work and passion will be evident to all who attend!

Thank you for partnering with International Justice Mission in the movement to end modern-day slavery.

Whether we are aware of it or not, hints of modern-day slavery are prevalent in many areas of the average American’s life.

Whether shopping in clothing stories or supermarkets, as consumers it’s important to be aware of our purchases, and what enterprises our money is actually fueling. One way this may be achieved is by helping educate our friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members on the conditions goods are made under.

The following three companies have created organizations that promote the sale of fair trade goods, and guarantee those who create them, as well as their families, have access to education and health care.

One of the largest fair trade organization’s in the world, Ten Thousand Villages, derives its name from a Mahatma Gandhi quote:

“…India is not to be found in its few cities but in the 700,000 villages…we have hardly ever paused to inquire if these folks get sufficient to eat and clothe themselves with.”

The non-profit program strives to help artists in dozens of countries by selling their  handmade gifts worldwide. TTV helps pay for food, education, health care and housing for artists who would otherwise be unemployed or working under oppressive conditions.

Theo Chocolate, the first and only organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the United States,  works to provide a product that is both environmentally and ethically responsible. Theo Chocolate ensures employees earn fair living wages and have access to health care and education for their families. It also uses green energy sources to power its factories.

Original Good looks to change consumerism by asking every consumer to be more responsible with how they spend their money.  The product brand from World of Good, Inc. aims to provide consumers with products that are created under fair conditions by artists worldwide.

Attention house party hosts:

With the Weekend to End Slavery just a few days away, it’s important to start preparing for your house party on Saturday, November 14.

So this week, AttheEndofSlavery.com will be offering tips and suggestions for throwing a successful screening. And, what is a great house party without delicious food? Here are three recipes from Allrecipes.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and Tasteofhome.com that your guests are sure to enjoy!

This week, we’re visiting two blogs that highlight issues of injustice and what the average person can do to free those under oppression.

Freedom (International Justice Mission)

Think Christianly and CJAYE57’s Weblog are two helpful resources on modern-day slavery, and each shares how At the End of Slavery helps support today’s battle for justice.

On Think Christianly, Jonathan Morrow provides a list of action steps on how individuals and communities can help shatter systems of oppression, and writes:

“We can end modern-day slavery. Do you believe that? … Change happens when ordinary people do what they can to take action. We can end slavery – but the battle will take all of us. How will you help shatter this system of oppression?”

CJAYE57’s Weblog, which focuses on the issues of human trafficking and abuse, highlights one post from CauseCast.org on how films like At the End of Slavery can expose injustice and empower individuals to fight against it:

“‘At the End of Slavery’ is filmed on location in India, Cambodia, and the Philippines with undercover footage from the front-lines of rescue efforts and first-person testimony of those freed from illegal slavery. The filmmakers hope to expose the atrocious issues of modern-slavery by making the compelling argument that with their success in finding and rescuing victims, and prosecuting those responsible, there can be a viable end to slave trade.”

To learn how you can take part in the movement to end modern-day slavery, please visit IJM.org.

International Justice Mission met with Brad Riley, Founder/CEO of iEmpathize, to discuss the important role the arts can play in raising awareness of modern-day slavery.

iEmpathize is an Arts and Advocacy non-profit created to help people learn more about, and fight against, violent forms of oppression – particularly child trafficking.

According to Riley, telling stories of hope that oftentimes go unnoticed is key.

To learn more about how you can use your creative gifts to combat modern-day slavery, please visit iEmpathize.org.

For stories of rescue and restoration, we invite you to visit ijm.org.

The Examiner: More than 700 arrested and 50 children rescued in sting

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the rescue of 50 children who were the victims of child prostitution- here, in the United States. 700 other suspects were also arrested, including 60 pimps, on state and local charges over the weekend. The FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and state and local law enforcement agencies contributed to the sting known as Operation Cross Country IV.

Blogomonster.com: NBC Dateline’s IJM feature exposes blogger to sex slavery

One blogger writes about sex slavery and how they first became aware of the issue.  They write, “I first became aware of the issue of human trafficking after watching a special on Dateline NBC. The program featured the work of the International Justice Mission (IJM.org), a faith-based human rights agency that seeks to free victims of human trafficking and prosecute the perpetrators. I was horrified by the issue of sexual exploitation and bonded labor. The staggering statistics broke my heart.”

The Business Mirror: Lawyers step up drive vs. human traffickers

Lawyers in the Philippines, including International Justice Mission’s Andrew Sawchenko, are hoping to put more people suspected of criminal exploitation in jail as they continue to crackdown on trafficking within the region.

Sawchenko said, “Since 2007, there has been a huge upswing in the cases filed, and we are looking forward to convictions as we need to establish that there is a significant risk so the people involved in trafficking will have a difficult business decision.”

BBC: Lords consider ’slavery’ offenses

A New parliamentary bill amendment, which aims to protect those being held under practices of servitude and forced labor, is going before the House of Lords in the UK.

Aidan McQuade, from Anti-Slavery International, said: “Forced labor will remain a reality in the UK unless adequate legislation is put in place and enforced…. The existing legal provisions fail to protect victims or ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice.”

KCAU-TV (ABC): UNL wants to become center for human trafficking research

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln want to become the new center for research on human trafficking.  Marketing professor Dwayne Ball points out that trafficking is a problem found worldwide, including Nebraska.

This week, we’re visiting two blogs that raise awareness about modern-day slavery:

The first blog is from an emerging, small business called Shift6Threads. The company’s goal is to be a force for good by supporting the work of organizations that combat modern-day slavery, including the Not for Sale Campaign and International Justice Mission.

The second blog is called, “The Truth About Polygamy and Human Trafficking,” which discusses the various issues surrounding religion, polygamy and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Please visit the above sites to get these bloggers’ perspectives on At the End of Slavery, and to learn more about what you can do to help combat this modern-day injustice.

To read the stories of two former sex slaves, learn more about modern-day slavery and to see how the work of one young filmmaker is helping to combat injustice, please check out the links below.

Huffington Post: Diary of an escaped sex slave

“You think slavery went out with Abraham Lincoln? Ask my friend Sreypov Chan about that. She’s a cute young Cambodian woman with a love for Kelly Clarkson songs and Tom & Jerry cartoons. But when she was seven years old, her mom sold her into sexual slavery…This month, Marie Claire published Sreypov’s story, along with a photo essay of her work inside one of Phnom Penh’s most notorious brothels.”

Image courtesy of Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh Post: Former sex slave wins 2009 Freedom Award

“Sex slave-turned-activist Sina Vann received the Frederick Douglass Award at the 2009 Freedom Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Awarded to those who have survived a form of slavery and are actively helping the lives of others, the Frederick Douglass Award provides US$10,000 to help facilitate current work and another $10,000 as a personal reward.”

Xinhua News: UN reports human trafficking as under-detected crime worldwide

“Human trafficking has become a serious and under-detected crime all around the world, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported on the EU anti-trafficking day. The relevant figure showed that currently, about 2.7 million people worldwide were victims of human trafficking, who were engaged in prostitution, begging, or high-intensity labor in tough conditions, including 1.2 million children victims.”

GulfNews.com: Gregg Helvey’s Kavi highlights modern-day slavery

“This year’s Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) not only showcased blockbuster and independent movies from around the world, but also ensured that films highlighting important issues were given their moments to shine. One such movie is Kavi, a short film by Gregg Halvey, which addresses the issue of modern-day slavery, told through the eyes and experiences of the main character, who lends his name to the title of the film.”

Over the next several weeks, we will be following key bloggers who are playing active roles in fighting against modern-day slavery.

Image courtesy of International Justice Mission

These human rights advocates are also highlighting At the End of Slavery as a tool to help catalyze the movement to end modern-day slavery worldwide.

Please visit ALENOW.org to learn more about modern-day slavery and how you can be a promoter of social justice.

To learn more about current, local and global stories on modern-day slavery, please check out the links below.

NJ.com – “Jury urged to convict woman in Newark human trafficking ring”

A woman in Newark, New Jersey is on trial for her alleged involvement with smuggling more than 20 West African girls to work in her hair braiding salons. The girls, ages 10 to 19, were forced to work 14 hour days without pay. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana W. Chen said, “She knew these girls were young. They were poor. They were uneducated. She knew they wanted a better life and they were susceptible to that promise.”

STL Today – “Study seeks ban on organ trafficking”

Exploiting a living person for the use of living cells or organs is already a crime included under human trafficking laws, but the U.N. and the Council of Europe say there is a need for a global definition.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - “90210’s McCord fights against human trafficking”

Nip Tuck’s and 90210’s AnnaLynne McCord joins a slew of other celebrities, such as Emma Thompson, Ricky Martin, and Ashley Judd, who are taking a stand against human trafficking.  On her experience with working with non-profit organization, Blind Project, she says, “It’s been really incredible to be able to shed light on a billion-dollar industry that barely anyone knows about.”

BBC – “Stolen youth of South Africa’s child brides”

Girls as young as 11 are being abducted and forced into arranged marriages as part of an ancient cultural custom in areas of South Africa. Now, many of these young brides are finding refuge in local care centers.

Please visit IJM.org to learn how you can help combat modern-day slavery.

Does your community know about modern-day slavery?

We wanted to find out what students and the University of Missouri knew about this global issue, so we set out on a series of interviews.

Please take a look at the video below to see the reactions of students when they were told just how prominent slavery is today.

To learn more about modern-day slavery, please visit IJM.org.