Today was National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day (NGHTAD) and the buzz against human trafficking was all about. E-mails and 24 hour campaigns were bustling around the Internet, while Facebook was exploding with chatter on what one could do on the day to promote the day.  People across the country were sharing resources and information on how to become more aware, and what one could do to be involved in the global fight to see an end to the enslavement of some 27 million men, women and children who are held by the chains of modern slavery.

However what I want to stress most about NGHTAD, is that this is not a day to be aware, but to get aware, stay aware and act! I hope that people took today, and this national awareness month to learn some of the facts, look into resources, but most of all take tomorrow and thereafter to use them. Sure having a nationally recognized awareness day is great, but it is useless if it just sits there on the books and the only ones shouting from the rooftops about human trafficking/modern slavery, are those who are already standing on the front lines. I can write, type, talk and shout till my fingers go numb and my lungs go dry, but it’s all useless if no one is on the other side listening and learning.

True, an awareness day and awareness month, is great but for those of us in the field every day, every month, every year, is a National and Global Human Trafficking Awareness day. Did I talk more about trafficking today than any other day, yes and no! Sure, I spoke to a HS in the morning, various citizens in the afternoon as I used the day as an opener to talk to people I came across at every corner; the metro, cafe, CVS, etc. and I posted flyers everywhere I could, blogged, twittered, and facebooked away. In the evening my awareness raising continued as I was asked on a radio show to speak about the day and what people could do, as I rushed doing half my interview driving to attended an anti-trafficking community group meeting to learn and share with other organizations and interested citizens.
Therefore while it seems like I was non-stop, and I was publicly so to speak, as were so many others in the field, but the reality is that most of us are non-stop every day. I am famed for my 4am bedtimes, and all too often have had a colleague at another organization say, “You should have called me I was up”. Thus weather you hear the voices of activist on the front line or not, they are there and they are strong.  Nonetheless the harsh reality is there are far fewer of us than there are victims and survivors to assist. It is for this reason that it is so vital that the fight to combat modern slavery is not that of a day, nor that of a month, but a year long global fight by each and every local and global citizen, that will not end until each victim is rescued and every survivor is in a sustainable and thriving life. It is a long hard road, but it is a fight we can win if we unite to do so.  We all have a role to play…the end to modern slavery is a giant puzzle, and each one of us holds a piece to that puzzle…the puzzle of freedom!

What can you do?

• Learn more; watch films, read books and websites about Human Trafficking.
• Tell others about Human Trafficking…your voice is powerful…write, blog, talk!
• Start or join a student or community organization to raise awareness and learn more.
• Volunteer or organize a fundraiser with a local organization that works on Human Trafficking or a related cause.
• Post awareness flyers/posters in your office/school/gym.
• Buy Fair Trade and Slave Free products as often as you can.
• Don’t remain silent! Report it! Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline if you suspect any potential cases of human trafficking. (Put the number in your cell phone NOW!): 1-888-3737-888

It takes all of us to build the bridge to freedom!

Today marks National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day (NGHTAD), as a resolution passed by the US Senate on June 22, 2007 has forever marked January 11th as a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of Human Trafficking across the globe.

Take action today, be it via the internet or in your own city/town/village across the world to remember all those around the globe who have been victimized by modern slavery and who are unable to govern their own lives.

• There are some 27 million people held in slavery today across the globe. (bigger and bolder, could be placed separately, possibly centered?)
• According to 2009 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report over 80% of those trans-nationally trafficked are women and children.
• The US State department estimates that some 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year and about 80 percent of them are female and at least 50% are children.

• In 1850 a slave in the Southern United States cost the equivalent of $40,000 today. According to Free the Slaves, a slave today costs an average of $90.

If you suspect a situation or a potential victim, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1-888-3737-888 now!  We highly recommend you take a moment to place this number in your mobile phones now.

*The flyer was provided via the Bridge to Freedom Foundation, for downloadable copies please see www.BridgetoFreedomFoundation.org

Traffickers target Kenyan economic refugees
Human traffickers are taking advantage of Kenyans seeking to escape extreme poverty, droughts and rampant unemployment. Anti-trafficking advocates say Kenya lacks existing laws and manpower to combat the problem.

Nepal frees hundreds of former child soldiers
Hundreds of former child soldiers bid their comrades farewell today at a camp in southern Nepal where they have lived since communist rebels joined a peace process. They are the first of nearly 3,000 former child soldiers to be freed from seven camps where they have been confined since a peace agreement in 2006.

107 slave laborers freed in Mexico City
Mexican authorities have freed 107 indigenous people who officials say were being held as slave laborers in a Mexico City factory disguised as a drug rehabilitation center. Twenty-three suspects were arrested…The victims ranged from 14 to 70 years old, and some were tortured…Some victims also suffered sexual abuse..

15 Kyrgyz child slave laborers freed from factory near Moscow
Police have released 15 Kyrgyz minors who had been used as slave laborers at a factory in Noginsk near Moscow, the Interior Ministry said on Monday. “An illegal clothes factory has been discovered in the compound of an industrial facility in Noginsk, where citizens of Kyrgyzstan under the age of 18 were used as workers,” police said in a statement. “The children had their documents taken away and lived in impoverished conditions under day-and-night guard,” police said. “They were forced to work at night.” The children were not paid, and were given no free time. “The children were…punished for disobeying orders or refusing to work,” the statement said.

Walmart Won’t Buy Cosan Sugar Amid Slavery Blacklist
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s biggest retailer, suspended a supply contract with Cosan SA Industria & Comercio after the Brazilian sugar maker was added to a government slavery “blacklist.” Cosan said it won an injunction ordering it be removed from the list. Walmart is the first retailer to come out with sanctions against Cosan after the sugar producer was added Dec. 31 to a Brazilian Labor Ministry’s list of companies whose workers operate in slave-like conditions. Walmart’s local unit said it temporarily suspended purchases of Cosan’s Acucar Uniao and Acucar da Barra sugar brands.

Selling Sex on Facebook
Technology is changing industries all over the world faster than they can link their Facebook profiles to their Twitter accounts. Prostitution is migrating online just like everything else. So say goodbye to the era of street corner pimps smoking outside Cadillacs, and hello to the era of slick escort websites, carefully coded Craigslist ads, and online marketing of commercial sex. Call it the age of the e-brothel.

Zimbabwe continues to battle controversy over diamond mining
Abuses at Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond field continue despite agreements with internal monitors to end military control of the area, rights monitor Global Witness says. Zimbabwean authorities were forced to make a last-minute cancellation of a planned auction of 300,000 carats of rough diamonds after failing to obtain a conflict-free certification for the stones.

Separation of sexes changing in Saudi Arabia?
Top Saudi Arabian religious officials have begun to endorse a clear distinction between the innocent meddling of the sexes and sinful behavior in recent weeks. For decades, Saudi religious authorities have rigidly enforced separation of the sexes in public.

Can GPS mapping improve slum life?
Humanitarian organization OpenStreetMap has trained a team of young Kenyans to use global positioning system devices to map the Nairobi slum Kibera in the hopes of improving access to services for the area’s more than 500,000 residents. The data will be uploaded to the Internet as a free map to help residents and aid agencies better understand existing service availability and gaps.

Nepal frees hundreds of former child soldiers
Hundreds of former child soldiers bid their comrades farewell today at a camp in southern Nepal where they have lived since communist rebels joined a peace process. They are the first of nearly 3,000 former child soldiers to be freed from seven camps where they have been confined since a peace agreement in 2006.

Taiwan couple builds a “papercrete” future
A couple in Taiwan has opened a small school built from “papercrete” — a mixture of paper, water and cement — using recycled newspapers collected by would-be students. The couple plans to open a paper-based pizza restaurant.

WHO: Premature birth rates rising across the world
About 10% of the world’s 130 million annual births are premature, the World Health Organization says. The vast majority of premature births occur in developing countries, where limited availability of medical care decreases the chances of survival, but preterm birth rates are growing in rich countries as well.

Pakistan finds suicide bomber school
Pakistani military officials say they have discovered a compound used by the Taliban to brainwash young men into becoming willing suicide bombers. Parents from impoverished regions reportedly sent their children to the compound in response to promises of education and free food.

Report finds Haiti child slavery rampant
Poverty has driven more than 225,000 children into positions as unpaid household servants across Haiti, the Pan American Development Foundation says in a report. Families unable to provide for the children send them to wealthier households to work, where some face mental and physical abuse on top of long work days.

Malnutrition continues to stalk Afghan women, children
Malnutrition continues to drive high maternal and child mortality rates in Afghanistan despite billions of dollars in aid, education and infrastructure improvement since 2001. The World Food Programme and UNICEF are working to feed an estimated 100,000 children and 35,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women at clinics and through free lunches provided at schools.

Improved education, infrastructure raise Zambia’s cholera season hopes
As the rainy season in Zambia picks up, so does the threat of Cholera; around 60 cases have been recorded since mid-November, but the authorities and aid agencies hope education and improved infrastructure will help keep the waterborne disease at bay.

Study: Orphanages’ care equal to family life in poor countries
The care orphans in poor countries receive at orphanages is at least as good as care they might get when taken in by family members, says a study published in the journal PLoS One. The number of children worldwide missing one or more parents tops 143 million and continues to grow.

Egyptian academy stops publishing book after Christian protests
In what is seen by many as an unprecedented response, Al Azhar’s Islamic Research Academy has decided to stop publishing a book criticized for defaming Christianity. ‘The Scientific Report’, written by Muslim intellectual Mohamed Emara, was released alongside the institution’s monthly magazine in November. The author said the work was commissioned by the Research Academy to refute a book written by a Christian Coptic writer a few months ago that was regarded as denigrating Islam.

Nepal child soldiers to be freed
The Nepalese government and former Maoist rebels have agreed on a plan to free thousands of child soldiers from camps. United Nations programs will provide the former fighters with education and training to help rehabilitate them. The children have been living in Maoist camps since a UN-brokered end to the country’s civil war three years ago.

Eyes have fallen off of Sri Lanka since the country ended it’s 26 year civil war ended in May 2009. The conflict ended with the governments forces final defeat of the insurgent Tamil Tigers rebel group (LTTE).

Over the years, especially in the last few years of the conflict international human rights groups repeatedly called for action due to the continuous crimes on the civilian population, including torture and the use of child soldiers, however the conflict continued to cause displacement, death, and poverty. Children were one of the biggest targets of the violence and hostility, as some quarter of a million people were displaced, the large majority of which were children, left without their basic fundamental rights to education, healthcare and nutrition.

However while the conflict may be over the situation for civilians continues to be a daily struggle to rebuild their lives, no one has a more difficult time adjusting to peace and reintegrating into post-conflict peace than that of the children who were caught in the heart of the conflict, the child soldiers of the Tamil Tigers.  UNICEF estimates that from 2003 to the end of 2008, over 6,000 children were reportedly recruited by Tamil rebels, however the true figure is largely thought to have skyrocketed as the conflict went into it’s final months.

Hope for an end to the long standing conflict almost ended after the ending of the 2002 cease fire on January 16, 2008, which culminated with more violence.  After the escalating violence a UN Human Rights Council meeting was held that same month, were a final resolution was passed by the Council, applauding the countries new policies and cooperative efforts.  In the northeastern part of the country it is estimated that some, 3000,000 Tamil civilians are still in government camps after being displaced during the conflict. However human rights observers have stated that the camps are little more than prisons, for which many children are being held in. Yet the Sri Lanka government is now saying that it no longer needs the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who warning of a possible humanitarian catastrophe  and thus set the government on edge, and thus left the international community with heavy concerns that without observers violations may continue.

Some children, and young adults that were forcibly recruited, and, or kidnapped as children, have found their way into rehabilitation and reintegration programs, however have found that returning to civilian life is not an easy feat.  After years, some near lifetimes, as child soldiers, trained to kill and with little other skills, social, educational or even many simple life skills, reintegration is a long and hard battle, and for those that may have fought unimaginable battles this one will be their hardest.

As the final LTTE battle ended some 112 former soldiers, between the ages of 14-29 years-old, arrived at the Protection and Rehabilitation Centre in Ambepussa.  At the rehabilitation center the former combatants are given vocational training, and education in math, computer science and languages, and sometimes they even get to participate in cultural and sporting events and occasional field trips (The Economist).  However those who made it to the center in Ambepussa are the lucky ones.

What is the future for the children of of Sri Lanka’s longstanding war?  The answer remains unknown for all the children affected, weather as child soldiers, displaced or forced to witness endless violence, all will require a great deal of resources and care, all of which is limited.  The true long-term affects on civil society in the country will not be seen for years to come, but there appears to be an inevitable trend for disability unless serious and sustainable rehabilitation programs are put into place on a much larger scale.

You can see my previous posts on Sri Lanka, such as Conflict Continues to Destroy Children’s Lives in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Children Malnurished Despite Health Programs, for further information on the background of the conflict.

We often give children little input into matters of foreign affairs, politics or human rights, however children are the most observant and astute and regardless of weather or not we teach them about the world or not, they are watching and learning.

Recently I was sitting around with my friends son, who is the ripe old inquisitive age of 7 years-old, and he was asking me question after question about what I do.  I told him I try to help people and sometimes share their stories so that others will help them.  When I told him I write things he wanted to see them and began to ask more questions when I showed him a bot of my web writings, he did not seem to understand why I needed to write about these things so much.  He did not understand why adults let such things happen, it was simple to him that such violations of ones human rights were just wrong.

When asked what he thought about war he said;

“You shouldn’t have to have war just over what you think, its your mind…”

When I asked him what he thought about children having to fight in wars, and use things such as guns to fight he told me;

“It’s not fair to make kids fight if they don’t want to do it…its just really bad.”

what if kids weren’t allowed to go to school? They have to have the rights to do it…the president said it was illegal…he should keep his word…its kinda bad!

I then asked him. Do you think people should buy other people?

“No, we already said a long time ago we couldn’t by people. its their rights….they are just people walking along happy until people just start making them do stuff…its not fair.”

A seven year-old took no time at all to see the reality our injustice world, he spoke instanly of the truth and he spoke open.  Most of all this young boy, spoke of the truth that we so often want to ignore, the truth of justice.  Maybe it is children that should be teaching us about life, relationships, leadership and equality!

Human trafficking is the worlds fastest growing industry, according to the 2009 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report over 80% of those victimized by transnational trafficking are women and children. According to the International Labor Organization (End of Child Labor Within Reach 2006), each year, some 1.2 million children are trafficked for the purposes of labor, while another 1 million are trafficked into the sex trade.

Do watch the news, read news articles, or my blog posts and question what you can actually do that will make a difference?  Feel you are stretched for time or don’t have any money to give?  Well there is something that you can do today to help end child trafficking.  Help those in the field, and other concerned citizens like yourself to pass the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 (HR 2737).  The bill was introduced by Chris Smith, U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 4th District, a leader in the fight against modern slavery. However the introduction of the CPCA is only the beginning in what is often a long legislative process, one that can only be successful with a united voice of the American voter.

Now is your chance to use your voice and put your vote to the test, as when it comes down to it the voice that is heard on the hill begins with you. Members of Congress look to their constituents for direction and support, and we need you to take the opportunity now to let your representatives know what matters most not only in your district, but across the country. Therefore let us all unite together to urge Members of Congress to support the Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA)of 2009, and together we can see that we move one step closer to bringing an end to modern slavery.

What does the Child Protection Compact Act (HR 2737) mean?
This groundbreaking legislation seeks to eradicate trafficking in children by focusing on assistance and collaboration with eligible individual countries through the implementation of Child Protection Compacts.  Many countries have passed anti-trafficking, child labor, child marriage, and similar laws to combat modern slavery, however there is not always the means to enforce these laws.  The lack of enforcement of such laws continues to leave children unprotected.  The CPCA would help enforce anti-trafficking laws in targeted countries by providing them with technical assistance and training. These target countries are ones who have shown a level of political will to fight human trafficking, but have been without adequate resources, know-how, and the capacity to follow up with survivors.  Therefore if enacted, the CPCA will offer additional resources for the targeted countries law enforcement, victim protection services, and deterrence through the apprehension and prosecution of human traffickers.

SEC. 6. CHILD PROTECTION COMPACT.

(a) Compact- The Secretary, acting through the Ambassador, may provide assistance for a country only if the country enters into an agreement with the United States, to be known as a ‘Child Protection Compact’, that establishes a 3-year plan for achieving shared objectives in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.

(b) Elements- The Compact should take into account the national child protection strategy of the country and shall contain–

(1) the specific objectives that the country and the United States expect to achieve during the term of the Compact;

(2) the responsibilities of the country and the United States in the achievement of such objectives;

(3) the particular programs or initiatives to be undertaken in the achievement of such objectives and the amount of funding to be allocated to each program or initiative;

(4) regular benchmarks to measure, where appropriate, progress toward achieving such objectives, including benchmarks for each program or initiative;

(10) the strategy of the country to sustain progress made toward achieving such objectives after expiration of the Compact.

What can you do?
Get a meeting with, call, write, e-mail the Congressional Representative and,or Senators in your home state and district. Let them know how important it is to you that we abolish modern-day slavery in our time, and give a voice to children across our country that have been silenced by the invisible chains of modern slavery. This is essential in all 50 states as we work to get this bill to the next stage of life, and closer to being a reality.

If you have reason to suspect that someone is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline on 1-888-373-7888. Multilingual call specialists are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential.

Today, 16th June, is the International Day of the African Child, honored worldwide since 1991, the day is set in which to celebrate the life of an African child. The day was founded in remembrance of the massacres of the innocent children and adults  who participated in the June 16th  Soweto Uprising, in South Africa in 1976, when some ten thousand children marched in protest of the  quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their native languages.  During the Soweto Uprising hundreds of those children marching were shot, another hundred plus  people were killed and thousands injured over the following weeks as protests continued.  The day was thus established to mark not only the courage and sacrifice of those in Soweto, but to give a voice to the plight of all African child.  Thirty-three years later the day still gives continued awareness of the still vital need for the improvement of education for all African children.

Today’s major event is the 11th session of the Children’s Parliament, held in Cameroon. This years focus is on child and maternal mortality, according to the United Nations (UN) Millennium Campaign some 50,000 African children under five years old die from preventable and, or curable diseases. Yesterday the campaign called on all African states, civil society organizations and the private sector to not only tackle the issues of; child and maternal mortality, high school dropout rates and poor quality standards of Universal Primary Education. According to the campaign 38 million children of primary school age in Africa continue to remain out of school.

“Child survival, protection and development are not only universal aspirations enshrined in the MDGs; they are also human rights issues ratified in the International Convention on the Rights of Children and the African charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,” said the UN Millennium Campaign Communications Coordinator for Africa and Acting Deputy Director for Africa, Ms. Sylvia Mwichuli. “Investing in the health and education of African children and their mothers is a sound economic decision and one of the surest ways for a country to secure its future. Reducing child mortality and ensuring universal primary education requires strong political commitment.” (Day of the African Child: The Unending Plight of African Children)

Children of Africa’s 54 countries are all unique and diverse, nonetheless they share the same struggle for daily survival, as disease often run rampant, child labor and the use of child soldiers impacts most of the continent. Their diversity aside the children of Africa are more often displaced by force or urbanization than another continent, they suffer more than any other nations from HIV/AIDS, education is a right all too often missed, while child labor and trafficking often surpass it in demand.  The Day of the African Child leaves one to reflect on the often dire needs of children across Africa, and give focus on the need to increase equal access to suitable education, health, and the protection against abuses such as physical and sexual abuse, trafficking, the recruitment of child soldiers, child labor and child marriages.

While  children across the vast expanses of the Africa continent have received an international day of recognition, the true day of recognition has yet to be seen.  Recognition and value for the true worth of the African child will come only when their voices are truly heard and an investment in their collective future is seen; when one sees and end to gender inequality,  when their little bodies are no longer seen as disposable and an end to demand is seen for their use as tools of the sex trade, labor and weapons of war.  Until that day children across the continent of Africa continue to suffer unjustly, their abusers receive little recourse for their actions, and the majority of the governments sit idly by.  Therefore take a moment  today to share their stories of suffering and hope, for then tomorrow may be a better day for children around the globe.

For more information on the legal framework regarding child participation see Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which includes the right of the child to be heard and have his or her view given consideration in all judicial and administrative proceeding affecting him or her. For further information please see the African Charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child, for which article 4 states, how is in the best interest of the child and thus provides for the right of the African child to have his or her view considered in all proceedings affecting him or her.

Slavery Monument in Zanzibar

Yesterday, March 25th, the UN marked the second annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The story of the end of the slave trade deserves to be told here at the United Nations.  Indeed, the defense of human rights is at the heart of this Organization’s global mission.  Our Charter proclaims equal rights.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude”.  -Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

However, as we take a moment to remember the some 12-17 million victims of the Transatlantic slave trade, let us remember and never forget our horrendous past, but let us also remember that we have not fully escaped the ghosts of slavery.

“Despairingly credible comparisons of scale and suffering may be drawn with the trans-Atlantic trade in Africans in the Americas in which more than 12 million people were forcibly transported over the ocean in four hundred years. It is to our great shame that if today’s statistics are correct, and 700, 000 people are now being trafficked across borders into slavery annually, we will have equaled that total in a mere 20 years.” - Mrs. Ndioro Ndiaye Deputy Director General International Organization of Migration (IOM)

The figures in the statement by Mrs. Ndiaye and the IOM leave the figure for modern slavery at 14 million, however leaders in the modern anti-slavery movement, such as Kevin Bales, President and Co-founder of Free the Slaves,  cite the figures as some 27 million.  Figures for the Atlantic Slave trade and modern slavery are both undoubtedly underestimated, regardless of the exact number any number of persons held in any form of slavery is plainly unacceptable.   It is clear that we have not fully learned the lessons from the legacy of the 400-year slave trade.

The establishment of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade will hopefully serve to bring more awareness to the issue and increase the pressure on states to increase awareness and educate on the the issue of both historic and modern slavery.  Thus this day, along with the work of countless modern abolitionists, charities, states and the passing of more and more legislation against these modern crimes, will aid in the prevention of modern slavery, and see that future generations never have to hear the word slavery, but in that of a historic context.

To learn more about Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery see the following resource pages: Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Links

Human Trafficking Conventions and Laws

Slavery and Trafficking Related Books

Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Reports and Publications

Human Trafficking and Slavery Related Movies and Documentaries

Also see my other posts on Child Trafficking, Slavery, and Child Soldiers

If you have reason to suspect that someone is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline on (1-888-373-7888). Multilingual call specialists are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential.