The Human Trafficking Epidemic:Keep Children Safe

Rev. Larrin RobertsonFacilitator

Objectives

Define human trafficking Discuss biblical principles for prevention Outline measures for prevention Identify those who do the work of prevention Present reporting resources

#StopChildTrafficking What can we do to stop child trafficking? How can we keep our children from becoming victims of child

trafficking?

Human Trafficking defined

Trafficking in persons is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring 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 labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs

Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Human Trafficking defined (cont’d.) What are the elements?

Recruitment Transportation Transfer Harboring Receiving

How is it accomplished? Force/coercion Abduction Fraud Deceipt Abuse of power Taking advantage of vulnerability

For what purpose? the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual

exploitation forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery servitude the removal of organs

Biblical principles for prevention

Tamar (Genesis 38) Exposed by cultural norms Sought to secure her future Viewed as shameful while Judah viewed as blameless Proclamation of righteousness The “prostitute” protects the patriarch

Source: Carson, Marion L.S. “Setting the Captives Free: The Bible and Human Trafficking”, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015.

Biblical principles for prevention (cont’d.)

Boaz (Ruth chapter 2) Aware of the plight of Naomi and Ruth Had opportunity to help Naomi and Ruth Responded by taking definite steps to provide for Naomi and Ruth Protected Ruth from other workers

Source: Christian Medical & Dental Associations – cdma.org

Preventative measures Know the signs

Living with employer Poor living conditions Multiple people in cramped space Inability to speak to individual alone Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed Employer is holding identity documents Signs of physical abuse Submissive or fearful Unpaid or paid very little Under 18 and in prostitution

Source: U.S. Department of State – state.gov/j/tip/id/index.htm

Preventative measures (cont’d.) Pray before something happens

…for God’s protection …for God’s transformation …for wholistic health – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual

Speak well of our children to our children They are created in God’s image – Genesis 1:26 They are loved by God

Talk about human trafficking Raises awareness Creates a safe place for conversation

Preventative measures (cont’d.)

Take action Mentor at-risk children Ask your state and federal-level legislators: “How are you working to

stop human trafficking in (your state)?”

Support financially those who are doing the work

Any responses to the #StopHumanTrafficking question?

Doing the work

Courtney’s House (DC) – courtneyshouse.org Covenant House (DC) – covenanthouse.org I Just Believe Ministries (DC) – ijustbelievegod.org Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention – lottcary.org Rapha House – raphahouse.org The Polaris Project – polarisproject.org

Reporting resources and registries National Human Trafficking Resource Center

1-800-373-7888 Traffickingresourcecenter.org

District of Columbia – Metropolitan Police Department Sexoffender.dc.org

Maryland – Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/socem/default.shtml

Virginia – Virginia State Police Sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/