As published by CNN World

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) — “People see me as a strong woman,” Sunarsih says, “but I was broken inside. I was always crying but I don’t want other people to see my cry.”

Sunarsih is not this woman’s real name. She doesn’t want her identity revealed. No one, not even her family, knows what happened to her.

Her story starts 15 years ago, when she was just 17 years old.

“My family was very poor, I had to drop out of school,” she explains. “Then I met many successful migrant workers and their stories enticed me.”

Sunarsih’s situation is not uncommon. Across impoverished villages in Indonesia, becoming a migrant worker is a woman’s only chance for a better life.

But for some, the pursuit of their dreams quickly becomes a nightmare.

Sunarsih went to what she thought was a legitimate company. She received training in the basics of housekeeping, a passport for the first time.

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As published by CNN Justice

Who killed 5-year-old Shaniya Davis? Her mother is charged with human trafficking, and many questions remain about what happened. Watch “Nancy Grace” as she digs deeper, tonight at 8 on HLN.

(CNN) — It sounds like the plot of a crime drama or the scourge of a developing country, but human trafficking is a serious problem in the U.S. and America’s children are frequent pawns, experts say.

The case of Antoinette Nicole Davis, a North Carolina mother accused of selling her 5-year-old daughter, Shaniya, into prostitution, highlights one of the most heinous — albeit rare — forms of trafficking within the U.S.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

As published by OC Register

Stephanie Pollaro looks a lot like celeb beauty Liv Tyler and has the heart of Mother Teresa. She had just gotten her master’s from Long Beach State when,  while lazing by the pool at her parent’s home in Fountain Valley, she spotted an article about the hundreds of thousands of children sold into sexual slavery in India. Long story short: Stephanie sold all her worldly possessions in a garage sale to move to Mumbai, 8 miles from the recent attacks, where she lives on $200 a month that her mom sends her. She spends her days teaching girls, 13 to 15 years old, how to make jewelry and then selling it for them, filling their bank accounts with money and their lives with hope. The girls were either sold by their parents or stolen from their homes, and then beaten, starved and bullied into prostitution.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

As published by change.org

In celebration of End Human Trafficking’s 500th blog post this week, I’ve complied a list of End Human Trafficking’s Top 10 Greatest Hits — the ten most popular posts. It’s interesting for me to see what you, the readers, have enjoyed engaging in the most. I hope to provide you with more of what you like. I would love your thoughts on this list and any suggestions you have for making the next 500 posts on the End Human Trafficking blog even better.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

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.