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POST Graduates

It’s not everyday that one sees the fruits of their labor—especially in the non-profit world but more
importantly, in the anti-human trafficking realm. iSanctuary believes little steps are what it takes to
reach big goals. We are so proud of the ladies who have come through our doors and have achieved
a sense of self-improvement and independence. Our most recent POST (Professional Opportunities
for Survivors of Trafficking) “graduate” gave us a glimpse of why we do what we do here at iSanctuary.
During a recent exit interview with “Angie,” she gave us the biggest compliment without her even
realizing it. She said, “I no more crying because I’m not scared!” As simply as she put it, that small
sentence gives us the hope and encouragement we need to continue the fight against human trafficking.
Since entering our program, she has learned valuable computer skills while working in our shipping and
ordering department. Her favorite part of the job was reading all the positive comments that customers
wrote as she processed orders. Come this Monday, “Angie” will start her new job with an international
company with amazing opportunities for growth. She may even be able to transfer back to the home
she left under such unspeakable circumstances. As she said in her own words, “I’m a new woman!”

“Mary” is another participant who went through a life-changing transformation after completing our
program. Barely speaking English, she started training in inventory, was helping out and learning clerical
skills such as, processing orders and greeting customers in our boutique. She eventually took on a
leadership role as she supervised new incoming participants. “My English is so much better and I am so
happy to be able to learn so much for my next job.”

Recently we ran into another graduate of our program at an anti-human trafficking seminar in Los
Angeles. “Emily” had a table set up, selling her own jewelry line at the event. It was amazing to see
her and how she was able to promote and market her own designs. She absorbed skills we weren’t
even aware of by working within iSanctuary’s jewelry business. The evidence reflected in the way she
presented her own handmade jewelry.

We are incredibly fortunate to have been able to work with such remarkable women. It is our strong
desire to continue our POST program and enrich and improve each survivor’s life. The reality is that
in order to continue our mission of reintegration, we need your help. We appreciate your donations
as they are critical in funding the program. Spreading the word about what we do is also important
in championing our cause. Also, we ask that everyone support the new human trafficking initiative
measure that would increase the penalties for human trafficking–including extending prison sentences,
require convicted persons to register as sex offenders and increase fines that would help fund services
for victims. California registered voters are welcome to stop by our office and sign up if you haven’t
done so already.

We thank you for all your support and donations as we continue to develop and learn new methods for
our POST program participants. We are grateful to be able to change the lives of everyone who walks
through our doors. As “Angie” so eloquently said, “I am a new woman!” –this is what iSanctuary is all
about—enriching, improving and serving survivors of human trafficking one life at a time.

Super Bowl and Human Trafficking

Tomorrow is one of the biggest days in football culminating in the Super Bowl game. But this event also attracts a much more grim side that many people may  not ever see or hear about that day. This big football event is also a magnet for the throngs of prostitution activity, with many coming from all over the country. Not all of these prostitutes that travel to Indianapolis willingly came into the trade, many having been forced into the industry from an early age. This week the FBI and local authorities made their first human trafficking-related apprehensions during Super Bowl week on Thursday. Two women ages 21 and 19 were taken in after authorities perused websites that offered escort and massage services in Indianapolis; the red flag was similar ads that had many different pictures of women featured on them. Police have found out that these two women from had been forced into the trade at the age 16. Authorities have determined that the women were part of a human trafficking operation and has gathered more information about those that were involved with this operation.

 

To read more about this human trafficking case during Super Bowl Week, please click on the link below:

 

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/30371575/detail.html

 

Hundreds Charged with Child-Selling

Last month upwards of 600 people were arrested in China in suspicion relating to the act of selling children. Throughout the year of 2011, much more light was being shed on the issue of trafficking children which brought to light more news reports about children who were being abducted and then sold. Due to the country’s one-child policy and the culture’s preference for boys to carry on the family line, the issue of selling children comes in a different form as well, with parents willing to sell their girls so that they can keep trying for a boy. 

To read more on this article, please click on the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/world/asia/china-hundreds-arrested-on-child-selling-charges.html?_r=1&ref=humantrafficking

January Declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

President Barack Obama has now declared January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In doing so, he has noted that 1/1/12 is the 148th anniversary since the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. Human trafficking is a crime that knows no borders. Human trafficking operates across domestic and transnational networks with victims being men, women and children of all ages. During this month, President Obama proclaims that as one we will stand by and recognize those people, organizations and governmental entities that are working towards combatting human trafficking and more importantly, recommitting ourselves to bring an end to this inexcusable human rights abuse.

It is estimated that 17,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year. Please be aware.
Call and report suspicious activity to the Human Trafficking Hotline 888-3737-888

Looking to fight human trafficking? Become an advocate today! Email info@isanctuary.org to get involved.

To read more about this proclamation by President Barack Obama, please click on the links below:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/12/obama-declares-human-trafficking-prevention-month/1

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/30/january-declared-u-s-anti-trafficking-month/

Illinois is ahead in handling human trafficking

A national study has given a report card for each state on their handling of human trafficking cases and Illinois leaps ahead with a “B” grade. Shared Hope International, an advocacy group, reported that states have taken aggressive steps to strengthen their laws, but there are 41 states that have apparently failed to adopt strong penalties against human trafficking. With the Trafficking Victims Protections act, federal authorities can prosecute traffickers with stiff penalties, but with limited resources, federal prosecutors often times have to rely on the states themselves to crack down on the heinous crime of human trafficking.

 

To read more on this article, please click on the link below:

http://www.nwherald.com/2011/12/02/illinois-trends-ahead-in-cracking-down-on-sex-trafficking/apmxuvd/?page=1

Lawrence Taylor Sued

Former U.S. football star Lawrence Taylor is being sued by now 18 year old, Cristina Fierro under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Taylor had admitted that he had indeed paid Fierro $300 for sex in 2010 and was sentenced to six years probation and had to register as a sex offender. Fierro is being represented by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred and states that her impetus to suing Taylor is due to the fact that he had never apologized to her and that she was angry he had avoided jail. States Fierro, “I believe that buyers should have the same penalty as the pimp.”

 

To read more about this case, please click on the link below:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-nfl-taylor-idUSTRE7AR1R920111129

Collective Shout calls out Corporate Offenders

During this holiday season, a grassroots campaign movement, Collective Shout, is calling out a number of corporate brands who are deemed offenders. This group has published a list of corporations that have objectified women and sexualized girls in their advertising and marketing during this past year. An example of one is a jewelry and accessories retail chain, Diva, which actually tops the list of offenders. Diva most recently was on the hot seat for selling Playboy branded products next to Winnie the Pooh and Disney princess necklaces which sparked a petition by Collective Shout on Change.org.

To see the full list of brands, head to:

www.collectiveshout.org

Sunita: Our Angel (Part Two of Three)

The way Su and I were brought together is pretty amazing when you look back on the chess boards of our lives and see how many strategic moves had to be made to get us ready for our lives to intersect. Then when we finally got together we had to build iSanctuary and all those adventures played out like a combination of a comedy of errors and a coming of age movie rolled into one.

Su and my interest in aftercare started to converge long before we ever met each other.  And at the same time that I began talks with International Justice Mission (IJM) about economic self-sufficiency Sunita’s heart was moved to work with girls in aftercare and she began volunteer for IJM.  She enjoyed spending time sitting and talking with the girls in the government homes and began to pray that God would use her in a bigger way.

And so He did….

My idea to start a social enterprise to help the girls in aftercare homes earn money for their futures was met with great anticipation by IJM leadership.  When they asked me what I needed from IJM, I simply requested a translator and so Sunita was assigned to me.  Little did I know…Sunita barely knew English and had never translated before. Actually, it was only a couple years ago that Su revealed to me that she didn’t have a clue what I was saying for the first two weeks we taught together.  But through repetition, patience, and hard work Sunita not only learned English but she also learned how to make jewelry.

Sunita quickly grew from translator to assistant and from assistant to partner.  Her responsibilities were many and she took them on with a cheerful spirit.  With no previous experience in manufacturing, talking with vendors, or teaching Sunita performed her duties remarkably well.  Working side by side with me 6 days a week, slogging it out in the markets and searching for vendors that would take a young village girl and a white lady seriously was no small task.  In the exhausting heat, lugging kilos upon kilos on our backs through the crowded market

and then onto the trains was hard for us but we often found ourselves laughing at the absurdity of the scene.

(Oh, and I forgot to mention that at this point Sunita still hadn’t been released from her previous employment.  So Su was up early morning preparing tea, breakfast and lunch for the household and when Su got back from her day with me she had to do her housecleaning, their laundry, and prepare the dinner).

After a few months Sunita’s employer decided to move across the state and expected Sunita to accompany her.  Su, for the first time ever, had the opportunity to choose what she should do with her life.  Stay with the security of the familiar; even if it was a new town the work would be the same, the employer would be the same—life for all practical purposes would be the same. Or, take a chance on this crazy foreigner and the US-based organization which she is trying to start; which would mean she would have to leave the only home she ever knew in Mumbai, find a new home, and provide for herself. All of Sunita’s friends, even those in the anti-trafficking community, advised her against staying with iSanctuary, stating that iSanctuary wouldn’t last another six months.  Thankfully, for iSanctuary and the 150+ ladies we’ve helped, Sunita is a faithful and loyal person and she believed in what iSanctuary could do in the lives of rescued ladies including her own.

This decision to step out from the norm and into the world, led to many difficult obstacles and realizations about life that challenged the way Sunita saw others and the world.  She started to learn that she had opinions, likes and dislikes, and the right to take care of and stand up for herself.  Sunita has learned a lot about the human spirit and the harsh truths of life and uses these lessons every day as she talks and advises the iSanctuary staff.  Though she is not much older than the other women working for iSanctuary, Sunita’s experiences and how she has so wisely learned from them, makes her a mentor and a compassionate leader…A leader who sacrificed all for iSanctuary.

 

Truth T.I.P. 2011

Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large at the Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons spoke about the fight against human trafficking, the United States stance, and the truth behind the T.I.P. (Trafficking in Persons report). The basis of this T.I.P. Report is to assess actions taken by governments around the world in working against trafficking of persons. The United States is also included in this report as Secretary Clinton stated, “we should hold ourselves to the same standards as we hold everyone else”. There are governments that are weak or nonexistent which provides an arena for victims to be even more at risk of modern slavery, there are governments that just go through the motions or even do nothing at all. In these societies, hope for victims is found in groups such as non-governmental organizations, international organizations, faith community and advocacy groups. Such groups are actually the front line in the battle against modern slavery and trafficking of peoples and thus, the tiers of each country is utilized to allocate funding. The turth behind this T.I.P. report is that it dictates American leadership around the world in the fight against human trafficking. “Human trafficking is a threat to our security and an offense to our most important values. But more importantly, as Secretary Clinton has said, “fighting slavery is part of who we are as a nation.” We have a responsibility to act against this crime. We must not—will not—shrink from that responsibility,” stated CdeBaca.

To learn more about the T.I.P. Report and human trafficking, please click on the link below:
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/