by Donya Dunlap | Jan 13, 2014 | Making a Difference, Modern Day Slavery
When confronted with the horrific facts of human trafficking, a common question rises to the surface of many minds. Why does this happen? The answer is simple.
Human trafficking is a business of supply and demand.
People want cheap products. Farmers and factory owners use slave labor to keep prices low. People want to indulge in pornography. Producers film it, often using coercion to force their “stars” to perform. People want to purchase sex. Pimps are happy to sell their women, men, and children many times a night. Even video game players can purchase a prostitute on Grand Theft Auto for $50, $70, or $100.
Before a significant difference in the numbers of victims can be made, a change must occur in our culture and mindsets. We have to understand that we aren’t talking about just numbers, discounts, and avatars. These are real people, in real-life situations. These are sons, daughters, sisters, mothers, and brothers.
Like drugs and arms trafficking, human trafficking is a market-driven criminal industry that is based on the principles of supply and demand. … human trafficking is fueled by a demand for cheap labor or services, or for commercial sex acts. Human traffickers are those who victimize others in their desire to profit from the existing demand. To ultimately solve the problem of human trafficking, it is essential to address these demand-driven factors, as well as to alter the overall market incentives of high-profit and low-risk that traffickers currently exploit. – Polaris Project
Johns and pimps aren’t the only ones to blame for this situation either. To some extent, all of us are—myself included. I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t like a good bargain, and many of us feel forced into buying the cheapest thing on the shelf because of financial difficulties. However, our pennies saved may come at a very steep price—the life of a forced labor worker.
Until drastic changes are made in the supply chains of products around the world, it will be nearly impossible to avoid purchasing products that are entirely free of slave labor. But that doesn’t let us off the hook. There are things that we can do to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. Below are a few suggestions to help you get started.
Play 20 Questions.
Take the quiz at slaveryfootprint.org and find out how many slaves work for you based on your purchases. Then follow-up after your score by sending messages to the companies that provide many of your goods to encourage them to eradicate slave labor in their supply lines. According to the quiz, I have approximately 37 slaves working for me. I would like to see that number go down this year. How about you?
Get Informed.
There are dozens of websites with informational packets to help you learn about human trafficking and modern day slavery. I always recommend Polaris Project and their National Human Trafficking Resource Center as a starting point as they have excellent statistics on the US and ways that you can take part to reduce slavery in your community. Spend an afternoon reading the information provided so you’ll know what trafficking looks like. Put the NHTRC hotline number in your phone so you can report the situation as you see it. (1-888-373-7888)
Tell Your Friends.
Social media is a powerful influencer. Instead of forwarding the funny cat video your friend posted yesterday, why not use your platform to change a life? Take the Slavery Footprint quiz and post your score. Encourage your friends to do the same. Host a Sole Hope shoe cutting party. Invite a local anti-trafficking organization leader to speak at your homeschool group or Bible study. Start a book club with a focus on human rights. There are unlimited ways that you can get involved. You can speak for someone that has no voice.
You Can Make A Difference.
Photo credit: AlicePopkorn / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
References:
by Donya Dunlap | Jan 8, 2014 | Modern Day Slavery
In the introductory post for this series, “Human Trafficking: An Old Business with a New Name,” the history of human trafficking was discussed in its root form, slavery. Today the umbrella term is referred to as “Modern Day Slavery” to differentiate between the forms of slavery that exist today and those that occurred during the time of the trans-atlantic slave trade.
The modern definitions of slavery and the slave trade as defined by the League of Nations in 1926 are:
(1) Slavery is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised.
(2) The slave trade includes all acts involved in the capture, acquisition or disposal of a person with intent to reduce him to slavery; all acts involved in the acquisition of a slave with a view to selling or exchanging him; all acts of disposal by sale or exchange of a slave acquired with a view to being sold or exchanged, and, in general, every act of trade or transport in slaves.
Modern Day Slavery
Modern Day Slavery has three main components: bonded labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. Bonded labor occurs when a person is enslaved as means of payment for a loan. Forced labor occurs when a person is threatened into working against their will. Lengthy explanations of both of these forms of slavery and other slavery categories can be found at antislavery.org under the modern slavery section. Human trafficking may contain elements of both bonded and forced labor, but due to its transitory nature, it has its own category.
Human Trafficking
Antislavery.org will also provide us with the definition of human trafficking:
Trafficking involves transporting people away from the communities in which they live and forcing them to work against their will using violence, deception or coercion. When children are trafficked, no violence, deception or coercion needs to be involved: simply transporting them into exploitative conditions constitutes trafficking. People are trafficked both between countries and within the borders of a state.
…
Most coverage of the trafficking issue has focused on trafficking for sexual exploitation, but around a third of all trafficked people are used exclusively for labour exploitation (for example, domestic work, agricultural work, catering or packing and processing).
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking is
the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.
Human trafficking happens to people of all ethnicities, ages, education levels, and socio-economic backgrounds. Due to the mobile and secretive nature of trafficking, it is difficult for law enforcement officials to determine numbers of victims, but it is estimated that 20.9 million individuals, including children, are trafficked for sex or labor globally. (Polaris Project: International Trafficking) Cases have occurred in cities, suburbs, and rural areas of all 50 states in the U.S. and in Washington D.C. (Polaris Project: The Victims) An approximate 100,000 children are estimated to be forced to work as sex slaves within the borders of the U.S. every year. (Polaris Project: Human Trafficking Overview)
These statistics are overwhelming and extremely disheartening, but there is hope! Understanding the problem is the first step towards eliminating it. By taking steps to learn about human trafficking, you are well on your way to becoming a modern day abolitionist!
Are you a freedom fighter?
I’d like to hear from you in the comments section below.
Photo credit:
AlicePopkorn / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
References:
“Slavery Convention.” United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. 2012. Web. 7 January 2014. <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/SlaveryConvention.aspx>
“Slavery Today.” Anti-Slavery International. Web. 7 January 2014. <http://www.antislavery.org/english/slavery_today/default.aspx>
“Human Trafficking.” United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2014. Web. 7 January 2014. <http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html?ref=menuside>
(Individual links to pages included above. ) Polaris Project. 2013. Web. 7 January 2014.
by Donya Dunlap | Jan 6, 2014 | Modern Day Slavery
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month
The term “human trafficking” is a bit of a buzz word right now. It is getting a great deal of attention in the media, but it is anything but new. In fact, it has been recorded in the earliest of records such as the Code of Hammurabi (ca 1760 BC) and the Bible. You might know it better as the term “slavery.”
The official title pronounced by President Barack Obama in his press release on December 30, 2011 declares January to be the “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.” This document references the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 and the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in the United States on February 1, 1865 under President Abraham Lincoln. Many think these dates signified the end of slavery in our country. Sadly, there are more slaves today than ever before in the history of the world.
An article from BBC News states that using ship records, the number of slaves at the height of the trans-atlantic slave trade can be estimated at 12.5 million people. Today’s estimation, recorded in the same article, is 27 million people—more than double the number of slaves before the legislation banning slavery began with William Wilberforce’s work in Britain in 1807.
The worldwide slave trade brings in an estimated $32 billion dollars a year (2009 International Labour Conference Report). That’s big business, tied to the international arms trade and second to the drug trade. It is also believed to be among the fastest growing illegal enterprises (Polaris Project).
Since becoming aware of human trafficking myself and trying to raise awareness over the last few years, I have often been asked questions like: What is human trafficking? How can it be prevented? What are the signs? How can I help? It is my hope to answer these and other questions over several posts during this month of January. The information shared will only be a small light into a very dark hole, but I hope it will help others better understand the problem and better equip themselves to fight it in their communities.
Join the conversation:
Post your comments and questions on human trafficking in the comments section below.
Photo credit: AlicePopkorn / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
References:
“History of Slavery.” Wikipedia. 4 January 2014 at 10:05. Web. 5 January 2014
Obama, President Barack. The White House: Office of the Press Secretary. “Presidential Proclamation — National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2012.” 31 December 2011. Web. 5 January 2014
Hogenboom, Melissa. BBC News. “A tipping point in the fight against slavery?” 18 October 2012 Last updated at 19:11 ET. Web. 5 January 2014
“William Wilberforce”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 5 January 2014
“The Cost of Coercion: Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.” International Labour Conference 98th Session 2009 Report I(B). International Labour Office: Geneva, Switzerland. <http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_106230.pdf>.
“Human Trafficking.” Polaris Project. 2013. Web. 5 January 2014
by Donya Dunlap | Oct 17, 2013 | Making a Difference, Modern Day Slavery
I went into a strip club on Saturday. Several actually. And strangely, I felt at home.
I think it’s because Jesus was there.
This weekend, I was ministered to by the organizers of Strip Church Training, a ministry of XXX Church. The ministry trains women to go into strip clubs to share the love of Jesus. On Saturday night, one of the hosts graciously allowed those attending the conference to minister in her clubs with her team leaders. I felt honored to be there.
The first two clubs refused to let us in. My leader had received favor in both locations before, but this time our impact reached only the bouncers and the managers. But they need Jesus too, so we smiled and left without a fuss. We were allowed into two other clubs, one of which was not even on our original list. Those clubs welcomed us with open arms. Literally! As soon as the bartender at the first location saw our leader she gave her a big hug and excitedly shared with the flabbergasted patrons that this organization comes by regularly to give gifts to the girls and talk to them. The girls seemed to enjoy the earrings we gave them and thanked us for coming. The second club let us in with hesitation. The bouncer wasn’t quite sure what to do with us and kept checking in as we chatted with two of the girls in their dressing room. I would have loved to know what he thought of us as we joined hands with the girls and prayed for them.
I learned many things during the conference sessions.
I learned that many of these girls have a connection to Christianity in their family history, but have rejected it, usually because of hurtful behavior they experienced from Christians. I learned that while some club owners will refuse you entry, others will welcome you and thank you for showing love to the girls that work in his or her place of business. I learned that there isn’t one tried and true method to reach these women, except being a conduit for the love and compassion of Jesus. I learned that these girls are exceptionally adept at reading people and transparency is vital in building their trust. I learned these things and countless others, but one speaker’s comment rises to the top:
These are Jesus’ girls.
Jesus is raising up an army of former dancers, ministry leaders, soccer moms, school teachers, and anyone else that will heed the call to show His love to His girls. And the amazing thing is that in a place so dark, the littlest flickers of love shine brightly. A pair of earrings, a cupcake, a gift card, a make-up session…little gestures communicating care and hope can mean so much.
We might never know the impact of this outreach until Heaven. But I firmly believe that this ministry pleases Jesus. He smiles to see a young woman kneel down to speak to an elderly house mom about her grandkids. It pleases Him to watch a young dancer receive a booklet of verses from His Word. He thrills to listen to a circle of prayer in a strip club dressing room. It pleases Him because His heart beats for the lost and hurting. He created these girls. He loves them, and He is calling us to love them too.
You can take part in the blessings of this work through prayer and financial support. If you would like to become an Infusion Prayer Partner, click here to join the Facebook group to receive regular updates on the ministry and prayer requests. If you would like to become a Monthly Ministry Partner, you may do so by signing up for a reoccurring donation at www.giveherlove.com. The funds will go towards ministries like strip club outreach, and will also begin building the fund for our future Ministry Center that will provide counseling, life-courses, services, and office space for the ministry staff.
by Donya Dunlap | Sep 4, 2013 | Modern Day Slavery
I firmly believe that when Jesus directed His followers to go into “all the world” that He meant it. That is why I moved to Charlotte to begin Infusion. Charlotte? Yes, Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Bible belt of a country once known for its Christian beliefs, is a dark part of “all the world” that Jesus called me to specifically. It is my desire to shine the light and hope of Jesus into some of the darkest parts of Charlotte—the “gentleman’s” clubs of the adult industry. Why? Because Jesus loves strippers.
When Jesus rescued the woman taken in adultery He didn’t focus on her sin. He didn’t ignore it, but He didn’t condemn her for it. That’s why He came. To rescue. To redeem. When Jesus gave living water to the woman at the well, He called her out of the fantasy world that had lead her to where she was at that moment, but He also showed her love and gave her a new life. A radiant life and a future full of promise.
I could go on and on about statistics and tell you how many girls end up starting in the clubs to make money and end up forced to pimp on the streets. I could write about what the church as a whole needs to do about this problem…but that’s not what is on my mind today. Today I’m desperately burdened for the one thinking she just needs a little cash to get by, yet remains unaware of the battle for her soul. I cry for the one that thinks she has no options and is right now making a horrible decision leading her into a life of spiritual captivity. I want to show Jesus to that one and that one…and the one after her and the one fixing her hair next to her.
Jesus loves every single one of these women, young and old, that don’t even know His name. I want to make the introductions. I want to take Jesus into the dressing rooms of the strip clubs and show those girls that He wants to give them hope and a future. That He already has, if they will accept it.
I need help. I can’t do this alone.
On October 11-13, 2013 there is a Strip Church training conference to teach people like me how to bring Jesus into the darkness of the adult industry. Just as any soldier must go through training before heading to war, so must I. But as with any other war, there are expenses—expenses that I can’t afford. So I’m asking you for help. The conference itself costs $250, plus hotel, airfare, parking, meals, etc. I have a little over two weeks before I need to purchase plane tickets. Unless I can raise most of these expenses during that time frame, I can’t commit to this program.
Would you be willing to help send me with the light of Jesus into the darkness? You can do so with a simple click of the button on my donate page, or by using the mailing address on that same page to send a check in to Citylight with “Strip Church Training” on the memo section.
You may never meet these girls this side of Heaven, but I believe there will be a chorus of dancers praising Jesus there someday as a result of this ministry and your gifts. He wouldn’t have called me to this task if He didn’t have a harvest of beautiful, loved women on His heart. Thank you for helping me help them!
“Like” Strip Church on Facebook
Photo credit: dtraleigh / Foter / CC BY-NC
by Donya Dunlap | Jul 10, 2013 | Guest Posts, Making a Difference, Modern Day Slavery
Through my good friends at The You Are Project, I was introduced to Kelly Master and her anti-trafficking organization, Dining for Dignity. Kelly’s boldness, tenacity, passion, and commitment to women inspires me and challenges me every time I think of her or listen to her speak. I asked Kelly to share some of her story and the birth of Dining for Dignity with us today and I hope she is as much of a blessing to you as she is to me.
From their website: “Dining for Dignity (DfD) is a non-profit organization that utilizes social media and public forums to expose the reality of sex trafficking. Understanding the complexity of trafficking, DfD is linking arms with government agencies, local leaders and the public to influence change. Our goal is to educate communities through discussion, awareness and prevention.”
Think you’re not qualified to truly make a difference?
Think again!
During a season of great frustration and stress, I longed to make a greater impact on my world. Learning to be content in this season, understanding that doors would open in due time became key in my peace. One day while doing my laundry a “God idea” dropped in my heart. Start a monthly breakfast and call it Dining for Dignity. Immediately I sensed we would gather to dine and highlight ministries that restored dignity to women and children’s lives. So I gave it a go. Little did I know what God had in store for me.
The Discovery
Stumbling upon human trafficking stories on the internet seized my heart! I was undone at the reality that millions of women and children were being sold for sex across the globe. Consumed with this discovery, I read every story I could find and watched every video clip available. Conscious that children five years old were being sold for sex in undercover footage from Cambodia rocked my world. Viewing pictures and reading true stories of the red light district in India and Thailand pierced my heart. Fully understanding that my life as I knew it would never be the same, I began raising my voice and sounding the clarion call. I became a woman on a mission! These monthly meetings quickly turned the corner. No longer was I simply highlighting other ministries, but now, I was going full force to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Team Effort
Trafficking is a beast! There is not one simple solution to bring down this giant. Realizing a team effort would be our best defense; we linked arms with government officials, media, community leaders, churches and other trafficking advocates. In addition to our monthly meetings, I began to speak at Universities, churches, Q&A panels, and special events. Our sphere of influence continues to grow as abolitionists are joining the ranks.
Exotic Evangelism
In addition to sex trafficking advocacy, our team expanded to outreach the adult industry. Each month I lead a group of women into strip clubs across South Jersey and Philadelphia sharing the unconditional love of Christ. Our motive is purely to encourage, love and inspire these young ladies lives with the reality that they are valued and purposed. Christ called us to shine our lights and we have discovered that our lights shine brightest in the darkest. Our witness of love is building bridges into a community that has typically been shunned by the church. Jesus truly loves strippers, porn stars, you and me. How will they know unless we tell them? How can we tell them unless we go?
Father: I pray that each person that reads these words will be encouraged in walking out Your word. I ask that Your precious Holy Spirit lead, guide and direct us. More than that, I ask that every excuse be wiped away and a fresh tenacity to love would light our paths. In your precious name I pray.
Has Kelly’s story encouraged or challenged you in some way? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
