In 1865, The United States outlawed slavery with the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Section One of the amendment stated that ” neither slavery nor involuntary servitude. except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”
Brave words but yet it took over a century of suffering, anguish and bloodshed until people started to believe that slavery had finally been abolished. Here we are in the 21st century still addressing the issue of “modern-day slavery” or Human Trafficking. There is still so much work to be done, so many people to be educated about all forms of human trafficking. It is sad to see how people are embellishing numbers and sensationalizing the crime to increase fundraising not thinking about the negative consequences they are creating that it is affecting the public view, interest and the victims.
Just yesterday I was at an event and when people walked by and saw the word ” human trafficking” they would walk away making statements as ” disgusting”, ” epidemic”, ” horrific” and many more negative comments that makes me angry to say. Not one person talked about hope, the victims or even how can we help.
We have new groups going around and misleading the community to get people to open their pocket books and give t hem money to help victims. Some groups don’t even provide victims services and others are using human trafficking as a way to get name recognition, more funding and even promotions at work. But at what cost?
Territorial wars, false accusations, media attacks against grassroots agency that have been doing the work for years. Is that how we help victims? Is that they way we can make a difference on some one’s life?
I have been working human trafficking cases since 1999 and I have seen new groups come together. I have seen and met amazing people doing the right thing for the victims. I have also met and seen evil. The ones that don’t really care about the victims because they are using human trafficking to make a name for themselves, for fundraising, promotions at work and even fame. I have seen and met narcissistic people that only use this to promote themselves. These are the ones that don’t know what they are doing and have never taking the time to create programs to help more victims. But it is sad to see how the movement is going backwards and how victims are being pin against each other as some of this same impostors are addressing only one form of trafficking and pushing aside other forms like labor trafficking and domestic servitude.
I ask each and every one of you if this is right. I ask each and every one of you to look beneath the surface not only for the victims but to make sure that the group you are listening to and supporting really has experience about human trafficking. For ach and every one of you to take the time and do the research to make sure the groups are legit. To asked the questions and make sure they talk about programs that will empower and give a survivor the tools to rebuild their lives. Males, Females, Child or LGBTQ…. they all deserve to be rescued and restored.
Remember this is all about the victims and not our personal agendas.
FCAHT's Blog 
Well said! Hopefully we’re helping by teaching the signs of human trafficking to our Crew Leaders and farm supervisors, and who to call if they see something suspicious — FCAHT.
LikeLike
Human Trafficking has become the new buzzword that everyone wants to fight but they have no clue as to what they are fighting for or against.
The crime of trafficking in Human Beings is – without question – the most despicable crime there is and yet – despite all the public outrage and bluster of the Pop Up Task Forces, Coalitions and Organizations frantically filing 501c3 applications, very little provision has been made for survivors who have successfully transitioned out. And if a survivor overcomes all odds and squeezes past the hoops and hurdles of the “system”, they are dismissed as not being victim “enough” or the “wrong kind”.
Programs are written to accommodate grant application guidelines instead of meeting the real needs of the victim. Relationships with law enforcement and political figures are prioritized over connecting with survivors. Instead of taking aggressive efforts to PREVENT exploitation – the few and far between services that ARE available are meted out to fewer than 1 percent of those who actually need it.
Many of these self important and glutenous anti-trafficking organizations have an all or nothing attitude that prostitutes, undocumented workers, migrant farmers, sex workers and even the occasional college student with a missing kidney – must have either done something to deserve the life they have or cannot continue to exist without an “advocate” with their agenda attached. If the survivor agrees to “drink their kool-aid” – they will then drag them around and show them off.
Someday, we will need to shut off the rhetoric and take a look at the real problem.
Poverty. Everybody wants out of it and they will do anything – including be subjected to Fraud, Coercion and Force – if they think they can be with their family – whatever that family may look like – have enough to eat and “get by”.
If you want to fight Human Trafficking – leave your judgement at the door and give your support to those who provide DIRECT services to victims and survivors.
LikeLike
sound so good !!
LikeLike