Ecumenical Conference on Human Trafficking
Multiple Perspectives to Addressing this Complex Issue
Sponsored by National
Council of Churches – Justice for Women Working Group & United Methodist
Women’s Division United Methodist Seminar Program on National and
International Affairs
Ecumenical Conference on Human Trafficking – Tuesday, September, 30, 2008
PANEL – RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESS TRAFFICKING
Facilitator: Loey Powel – United Church of Christ
Presenters:
Ana White – Episcopal
Una Stevenson – Church Women United and Presbyterian Church, USA
Barbara Anderson – American Baptist Church – Break the Chains
Amy Hartman – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Cherish Our Children
Ana White – born and raised in Argentina – presented her November 2007 - Power point presentation entitled “Episcopal Church: Taking Action To Stop Modern Slavery” By Addressing Trafficking. Federal legislation and resolutions within the Episcopal Church.
Definitions very important for policy work The definition has 3 important parts:
- Action
- Means
- Purpose
United States definition is very similar (United Nations protocol was based on proposal given by the U.S. in 2005).
Three Resolutions of General Convention - 2000, two in 2003 (both education and condemnation).
2 Diocesan Resolutions have come forward on Trafficking – Iowa and Southwest Florida
Florida Coalition against Human Trafficking
What can faith based groups do?
Advocacy
Education and Awareness
Services and Assistance
Advocacy
On the national level – reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Production Act (TVPA).
State Level – about 30 state legislations have some check on what is being done and is still needed.
Communicate with members of Congress. Use media to spread the word, op ed, letters to the editor and have events.
Education and Awareness
Episcopal Church – 10,000 packets of educational materials were distributed (about 2 ½ yrs ago) – which included a DVD entitled “Restore and Rescue.”
Diocese of Atlanta – College Chapter Forum
Diocese of Southwest Florida – Education Campaign
Original workshops – informational campaigns – forum
Write article.
Service and Assistance
Where national and international organizations can network. We can bring moral support, community to help with reintegration.
Partner with community organizations:
Diocese of Southwest Florida – helped with Filipinos.
Diocese of Pittsburgh – provided assistance to victims in Thailand
Share success stories.
Make the work more sustainable in a shorter period of time.
Episcopal Public Policy Network – (EPPN) – sends alerts. Join EPPN or your denominations policy alert program. Join refugee, immigration, and trafficking network- email Ana at awhite@episcopalchurch.org
Advocacy Immigration Network - she has started to send 1 update a month. Trafficking will be one issue.
UNA STEVENSON- CHURCH WOMEN UNITED – from the United Kingdom – ECPAT Forever
Church Women United – an ecumenical organization – founded in 1941 by 7 members from different states.
Children and children’s safety – key issues
We should take same approach. Presbyterians have been working on this since 1983.
In 2006 the Synod of Northwest Maryland – Preventing Trafficking
United Nations Convention on the rights of the child – United States hasn’t signed up yet. Code of Conduct – Carol has work closely with her.
Presbyterian Church Women have asked different departments to take on different aspects of the work. “Overture 2008.”
Mission Response through Investment (MRII) sorts out where dollars are invested. (If not signing code of conduct - )
Christian Education Resources – Sex exploitation in military – bring attention.
3 Work Plans – sound bites for advocacy - Workshop – 3 Faces of Trafficking
2007 Resources – Education and Action. - Resolution to end sweatshops in the developing world asking states to create human trafficking task force. (Polaris)
Send Report 2008-12 – Human Trafficking – Priority. Quadrant (4 years) New York Office did not participate in economic justice.
January 2005 Tsunami – many casualties = children.
23%-25% tourists using these kids are Americans.
Ron O. Grady – 1981 started ECPAT – asked Department to host conference but would not.
Tsunami/Hotels – tourism/sexploitation
Women’s Edge – (Organization? Report?)
1st World Congress – ECPAT – Sweden
Una attended, also Laura Lederer
Presbyterians
19 Government Representatives – out of 122 possible governments. 1,100 people attended.
Janet Reno’s Asst. Attorney General met with them and ask them “What do you want us to do?”
Plan for action (like Beijing)
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) - 2000 was the handprint of this - also listed sweatshops
ESP Post Tsunami - 30¢/garment - we pay $11 each
People sell their kids, desperate to sex traders
Senate Bill 367 – we need some work on the House Resolution 1992
Work Plan 1 - We should pay fair price for import goods (all workers don’t receive a fair wage). Church Women United (CWU) sent letters to big box companies, i.e. Wal-Mart, Target, etc.
Tens of thousands of persons working in Jordan. $1.1 billion is spent on clothing but imports into the U.S. from Jordan are without fee.
Work Plan 2 – learn about victims of trafficking worldwide in the United States and outside. TVPA: what it does and does not do.
United States Department of Justice – How is it helping other states?
Work Plan 3 – Help for Victims
Dr. Richard Estes – University of Pennsylvania
He prepared a 238 page report which showed what help is available for victims.
ECPAT – Who is there to help us? American girls and boys are exploited yet unseen, unheard and unhelped. Create task force in states where they don’t have them. Call upon religious leaders to help.
April – Child Abuse Awareness Month
Oct – Domestic Violence Awareness Month
US – 296,000 young people are at risk/affected from domestic violence
BARBARA ANDERSON- American Baptist Church Director - “Break the Chains” – at Harvard for 20+ years. Women’s ministry launched campaign - Break the Chains in 2007 and have raised over a two year period $250,000 and promoted awareness.
Website –Created PowerPoint presentation and script for speakers and biological/stories – of work with and missionary’s in the field. Yearly and national conference/women’s day/missionary’s home on deputation – telling the story.
In Massachusetts they gave presentations at Church association meetings and also did skit and held small group discussions. There was an overwhelming response, request for more presentations. They also added worship and a prayer circle. Used free Rescue and Restore materials from the government –and gave out Break the Chain bracelets.
Town Day – Set up a tent in the town square on lawn – explained all day about the issue which had a huge impact. But what are you going to do next?
Community – Congregation
1st Sunday of Advent – focus on hope. Tree symbolized victims
Issue and our responsibility to offer hope to victims
Ornaments and angels of hope
Chains (made of paper)
Lights in memory of victims
Community Awareness Night
Boston Human Trafficking Task Force (police)
State Representative from Massachusetts
Cable Talk Show Host
Doing Small Part on Huge Issue –
Attacking from top not working – has to come from the bottom
Churches are a great place
Victims – where to bring them?
No safe house in Boston – Organizing a safe house in which there which will bring other faith leaders together in the community. Think about organizations who could collaborate.
Build a network locally
Organize a breakfast for women’s ministries representatives and then statewide
Amy Hartman- Evan. Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - Cherish Our Children
From her dissertation – “Release The Captives” – Sex Trafficking – Children
This was her first ecumenical event.
Advocates prayer and action through the congregations – 10 of 65 Synods
Four Components
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began with a task force in Minneapolis
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Intentional prayer for all the children in the congregation from birth to 25. The decision-making part of the brain does not fully develop until we reach 25 years old.
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Education related to sexual exploitation- speak from pulpit twice a year.
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Internet safety training.
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Relationship building – who is also doing this?
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Prevention, intervention services.
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Action – wide open – your congregation ought to be able to figure out what action it will take.
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Legislative advocacy
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Letters and papers. Craig’s List (Internet), etc.
How did Cherish Our Children come about? Since ’93 the women of the ELCA have been addressing commercial sex exploitation of children.
2001 – ELCA Statement
Bishop Craig Johnson of Minneapolis discovered some of his kids in his confirmation class had been recruited for prostitution, etc. He had been thinking about starting a bishop’s task force. The 2003 Church-wide Assembly read a Newsweek article on juvenile prostitution in Minneapolis. He was razzed and started the task force.
Think Tank for Church and Community read the 2001 ELCA Statement and then made a challenge – Make sure you’re taking care of your own kids. (Don’t just think it is just those kids out there.)
Prayer
140 kids in congregation – 95 people praying for them. At the time of baptism/kids are match with person who will pray for them.
Hymnal – congregational prayer for children
Education Curriculum for Junior High School Students entitled “Wise As Serpents.” Parents must be aware of recruitment that is take place over the Internet. Internet Safety Training can be received from local police.
Church found out 1 person does this work on a full time basis. They made connections with Lutheran Social Services –
Safeguarding, God’s Children which was developed by Episcopal Church – developed curriculum package/PowerPoint presentation. 36 frames summarized her thesis.
Presented every week
Cherish the Children” publication
Wednesday prayer sent by email.
Every Wednesday prayer ties the issue into the Sunday reading. They can sign up on the website.
Looking ahead to the Sunday Texts – lectionary done for 1 year – It is amazing something connects with children every time.
Parish Nurses – have great ability and insight for conversations.
Actions – connecting with homeless shelters, after school programs for at risk youth.
Oprah had a program on internet predators recently.
Wrote letters regarding Dairy Queen – not good (fish in a barrel)
Working with congregations – bring it to their level.
People will hear, and hearts are touched.
Provide encouragement, suggestions.
How can we get information into the regular parts of our lives.
Training
Leadership - to build teams for the work
Do in depth work in our denominations, and then create ecumenical partnerships.
Connect with people who are doing policy work.
September 10, 2001 – University of Pennsylvania released huge report on sex trafficking in the United States, Canada and Mexico
300,000 children – What if they had a memory wall like 9/11?
notes compiled by Kim Robey