Break the Chains: Slavery in Modern Times

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Break the Chains Slavery in Modern Times

• A Disciples Women
• Social Action Project
• 2009-2010

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Human Trafficking

• What is Human Trafficking?
• The illegal trade of human beings for sexual
  exploitation or forced labor

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Human Trafficking

• How Bad Is It?
• 600,000 - 800,000 humans are trafficked across
  international borders each year
• 18,000 20,000 are trafficked into the United
  States each year
• The majority are women and children

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Human Trafficking

• Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime
  in the world.
• Drugs
• Human Trafficking
• Illegal Arms Industry

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Effects of Human Trafficking

• Devastating effects on individual victims who
  suffer physical and emotional abuse
• Undermines safety and security of every nation it
  touches

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Common Theme of Victims Stories

• Children are given to others for care to help
  alleviate poverty conditions at home
• Women are promised a job and a better life in a
  new land
• Common denominator is poverty

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Whats Being Done?

• Governments and non-governmental organizations
  (NGOs) are getting involved
• U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act
• National Council of Churches Justice for Women
  working group taking a stand
• Other U. S. and ecumenical involvement

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Abolishing Modern Day Slavery

• Increase rescue of trafficking victims
• Increase prosecutions of traffickers
• Treat people freed from slavery as victims not
  criminals
• Stop the demand for modern day slaves

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What Can We Do?

• Educate ourselves as to the extent of the problem
• Participate in the Disciples Women Break the
  Chains Social Action Project on Human Trafficking
  by supporting an organization committed to ending
  slave trade in our time

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Organizations Committed to Ending Slave Trade

• Children of the Night www.childrenofthenight.org
• Polaris Project www.polarisproject.org

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Organizations Committed to Ending Slave
Trade

• Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking
  (CAST) www.castla.org
• Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking
  (FCAHT) www.stophumantrafficking.org

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Children of the Night

• A non-profit organization dedicated to assisting
  children between the ages of 11 and 17 who are
  forced to prostitute on the streets for food to
  eat and a place to sleep.
• They are making a difference in the lives of
  hundreds of children each year
• Located in Southern California

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Polaris Project

• One of largest anti-trafficking organizations in
  the United States
• Offices in Washington DC Newark, NJ Denver,
  CO and Tokyo, Japan
• Recipient of numerous awards for its achievements

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Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking
(CAST)

• Multi-ethnic human rights organization who
  assists persons trafficked for the purpose of
  forced labor
• Opened the first shelter for trafficked women in
  the U.S.
• Focus on justice, dignity and empowerment of
  trafficked persons

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Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking

• An entity within the Human Rights Advocacy Center
• Participates in human trafficking cases and
  provides outreach and advocacy services to
  at-risk people, especially in southwestern
  Florida

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Other Resources to Check Out

• Human Trafficking
• www.humantrafficking.com
• The Emancipation Network www.emancipationnetwork
  .net
• Save the Survivors
• www.madebysurvivors.com
• Download a listing of videos and books
• for your book club or womens group at
• www.discipleswomen.org

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What Disciples Women Can Do

• Regions select an organization dedicated to
  abolishing the slave trade from the list provided
  or one that is more local to their region.
• Establish a monetary goal of support and submit
  the pledge card to Office of Disciples Women.
• If possible, find a local organization and
  establish a goal for volunteer hours in your
  community

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What Disciples Women Can Do

• Connect with your local police department to
  learn what they are doing to combat human
  trafficking in your area
• Determine if there are ways to support this
  effort with hands-on activity, as well as money
• Create an awareness day for your church or
  community and invite speakers from local
  organizations
• Regions report progress (money and hours) toward
  your goal to ODW quarterly

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Timeline for Break the Chains Social Action
Project

• Begins in January 2009
• Ends in June 2010
• Results to be celebrated at Quadrennial Assembly

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Break the Chains Slavery in Modern Times

• Make Break the Chains your
• prayer
• priority
• a reality!

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Donations to Support Break the Chains

• Make donations to
• The organization(s) you select as indicated on
  their websites
• Give through your Region
• Report your giving, both monetarily and in time,
  to your regional Disciples Women staff person by
  June 1, 2010