As published by United Nations Radio

Ahead of a panel on human trafficking that will take place at the United Nations Headquarters on Thursday, the UN Human Rights Chief announced the participation of four courageous individuals who have survived the ordeal.

Human trafficking

Navi Pillay says she is honored to have these special guests who have come a long way from different countries.

“Each of their stories is different. Two of them have never told their stories in public before, and they include people who were trafficked for labor exploitation, child sex slavery during the armed conflict, the sex trade, and prostitution.”

Pillay says amongst the people coming to share their testimonies is Charlotte Owino from Uganda who was held as a sex slave for eight years in her own country, Nepalese born Budu Gurung who was forced to work in the US military base in Iraq for 15 months, Kika Serpa from Venezuela who was sold into prostitution, and the award winning journalist and recipient of the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award, Ruchira Gupta, who went underground to uncover child trafficking.

 To read the rest of the article, click here.

As published by the New York Times

ASHLAND, Ore. — She ran away from her group home in Medford, Ore., and spent weeks sleeping in parks and under bridges. Finally, Nicole Clark, 14 years old, grew so desperate that she accepted a young man’s offer of a place to stay. The price would come later.

She agreed, fearing she had no choice. “Where was I going to go?” said Nicole, now 17 and living here, just down the Interstate from Medford. That first exchange of money for sex led to a downward spiral of prostitution that lasted for 14 months, until she escaped last year from a pimp who she said often locked her in his garage apartment for months.

“I didn’t know the town, and the police would just send me back to the group home,” Nicole said, explaining why she did not cut off the relationship once her first boyfriend became a pimp and why she did not flee prostitution when she had the chance. “I’d also fallen for the guy. I felt trapped in a way I can’t really explain.”

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If you are in the Starkville, MI area December 5th, be sure to stop by for our coffee house event.

http://torihiga.blogspot.com/2009/10/isanctuary-event-at-little-building.html

As published by BBC News

Police in China say they have recovered more than 2,000 children in a six-month campaign against human trafficking.

The ministry of public security has set up a website with pictures of some of those kidnapped, in the hope of returning them to their families.

The ministry website has pictures of 60 children, ranging from babies to young adults, who were kidnapped from their families.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of children go missing in China each year.

Tragic trade

The 2,008 rescued children come from across China, and some have already been reunited with their parents.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

President Obama has challenged every American to commit themselves to public service as part of his “United We Serve” initiative.  Now is your chance to truly help make a difference in the lives of thousands of young women around the world who are the survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.  Please consider making a donation to iSanctuary, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering these survivors and helping them reintegrate into the community.

With its base in Mumbai , India,  iSanctuary works with international agencies that rescue the girls — ages 12 to 19 — and place them in rescue facilities where they receive counseling, educational services, spiritual guidance and vocational training.  In an effort to help the girls become self-sufficient, they are taught how to create handmade jewelry and other items that are sold in the U.S. through home parties, retail shops and community events.  In this manner, the girls establish individual bank accounts where their earnings are deposited and saved until their transition to independence at the age of 18.  Sales of the jewelry not only help support and empower these young survivors, but also serve as a vehicle for creating awareness for the plight of human trafficking victims. 

Funding is critically needed to help keep iSanctuary operational.  Your tax-deductible donation will help establish vocational centers for survivors of human trafficking in Mumbai, India, and Orange County, CA, where survivors will learn English, receive training in computer skills and have the opportunity to participate in on-the-job training and internships with iSanctuary partner companies.  iSanctuary’s future goal is to expand operations overseas, in an effort to assist as many young survivors as possible in healing, recovering, and reintegrating as valued members of the community.

We know these are difficult financial times, but we hope you will consider even a small donation.  iSanctuary offers three special giving opportunities for your convenience:

·         Your $15 donation will support educational services for young survivors. 

·         Your $25 donation will be earmarked for counseling and ongoing support.

·         Your $50 donation will help establish a vocational center in Mumbai, India and Orange County, CA, where survivors will receive ongoing counseling, support, and technical training in a variety of careers.

All donations are 100% tax deductible.  You will receive a tax receipt recognizing your generous donation, which will include verification of iSanctuary’s non-profit status.  Gift certificates are also available; consider making a donation in someone’s name, and giving it to them as a thoughtful gift.  Your family and friends will appreciate the opportunity to give back to such a worthy cause.

Again, thank you so much for your participation and consideration.   Together, we can make a difference in raising awareness for the plight of human trafficking victims and help survivors move beyond this horrific experience to a healthy, fulfilling life.

Should you have any questions or need additional information regarding iSanctuary, please visit our website www.isanctuary.org or www.info@isanctuary.org.  

As published by CNN Justice

(CNN) — Law enforcement authorities have recovered 52 children and arrested 60 pimps allegedly involved in child prostitution, the FBI announced Monday.

More than 690 people in all were arrested on state and local charges, the FBI stated.

The arrests were made over the past three days as part of a nationwide law enforcement initiative conducted on the federal, state and local levels, the bureau said.

“Child prostitution continues to be a significant problem in our country, as evidenced by the number of children rescued through the continued efforts of our crimes against children task forces,” Kevin Perkins, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, said in a written statement.

“There is no work more important than protecting America’s children and freeing them from the cycle of victimization.”

To read the rest of the article, click here.

As published by Eye Witness News

The Salvation Army has called for legislation on human trafficking to be passed as soon as possible.

The civil society NGO says there are concerns human trafficking will increase ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

It says traffickers are known to target international sporting events.

It is believed criminals exploit the situation by making young girls and women available for sexual favours.

“It is the law against human trafficking, it contains good background, good definitions, it contains different types of human trafficking and it needs to be passed,” said The Salvation Army’s Marieke Venter.

As published by thonline.com

Police arrested two northeast Iowa women on human trafficking charges Thursday, alleging they transported a 13-year-old Dubuque female to Chicago for prostitution.

Breanne M. Morgan, 18, of Dubuque, and Shelby R. Johnson, 18, of Postville, Iowa, were arrested on a warrant charging enticing away a minor.

Johnson and Morgan are accused of traveling to Chicago in November 2008 with a then-13-year-old runaway from a residential facility. A confidential informant told police of overhearing the women talking about the teen having sex with multiple men while drugged, according to court documents.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

As published by the apa

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. 71 human trafficking cases registered and 18 groups and one organized group neutralized as a result of preventive-operational measures and totally 65 criminals were unmasked in Azerbaijan in the past period of 2009.

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As published by Eye Witness News

The Salvation Army wants the spotlight to be on human trafficking ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The non-profit organisation says public awareness is increasing steadily but much more can be done.

Rights organisations say international sporting events like the soccer spectacle are draw cards for traffickers.

According to the Salvation Army, 450 000 of the two million people trafficked each year are in Africa.

The NGO says many rural women are lured with promises of work, education and a better life but are prostituted when they arrive in big cities.

To read the rest of the article, click here.