Action Alert August 2010
Human Trafficking: Linking to Resources and Best Practices
As an SCN Family who continues to educate ourselves and others on the issue of human trafficking, it is imperative to network and collaborate with others. While this occurs most often when confronted with a situation of human trafficking, it is essential as individuals who have made a corporate stand on human trafficking to know where good resources exist. While there are many as indicated in this list, a few are highlighted below.
A website entitled, Free the Slaves located at www.freetheslaves.netcontains many practical resources including an interactive slavery map, useful downloads, success stories, films, videos and book suggestions. While international in its scope of stories and information, most advocacy is focused on the United States.
A second website, United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking is located at http://www.ungift.org/ This site is mostly informative with its highlights of conventions and protocols, publications, and best practices.
The last website is the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime located atwww.unodc.org Along the left margin are the words, “Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling.” Clicking on these words will relocate you to a web page emphasizing the work the United Nations has done to prevent human trafficking including toolkits, manuals and the Blue Heart Campaign website.
With regard to audio-visual materials in the form of DVD’s, there are three located in the SCN Media Center on Nazareth campus. These include:
- Lives for Sale—A documentary on immigration and human trafficking and why immigrants are willing to risk everything for the American Dream
- Losing Maria – A story of a young woman who has been trafficked, geared toward high school students with preview recommended. Includes facilitator guide
- The Jammed – A story of trafficking of adults made in Australia. (A copy of this is also available in the Eastern Province)
Reflection/Action: “... We commit to educate ourselves and others about the inherent violence involved in the buying, selling, and transporting of human beings ..." (SCN Corpate Stand Opposing Human Trafficking)
How have I made efforts to educate myself and others with regard to human trafficking? What steps do I plan to take if confronted with a potential situation of human trafficking? What other resources, especially those at the local level, do you have/know of that you would be willing to share with others through the Office of Global Ministries?
U.S. Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act
In late June, The Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010 (H.R. 5575 / S.2925) was introduced in the House. This bipartisan bill is currently in need of co-sponsors. According to Catholic Charities this legislation “would create up to 6 grants of $2 million to $2.5 million with the goal to prevent the sex trafficking of minors, treat child victims of human trafficking and prosecute offenders. The grants could be used for a variety of activities with at least 50 percent going to services and shelter for victims.”
Action: In keeping with our corporate stand against human trafficking that advocates for policies and programs that prevent human trafficking, members of the SCN Family are invited to contact U.S. Senators and Representatives (202.224.3121) urging them to co-sponsor and support this legislation.
International Day of the World's Indigenous People August 9
In September 2007, the United Nations adopted a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the time, four countries voted against the declaration and eleven countries abstained. Those countries opposing included Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Since 2007, Australia and New Zealand have reversed their decision and now support the declaration. In March 2010, Canada made the announcement that it will endorse the declaration. The United States stated in April 2010 that it will review its position. On this day, it is appropriate to pause and reflect upon those indigenous in our own countries, states, and locales.
- What gifts are present within the indigenous and what resources do they possess that will carry them into the future?
- In what ways have the indigenous in my country/state been oppressed, exploited and discriminated against?
- What recent actions have I taken to promote solidarity with the indigenous people?
Energy Legislation Update
Last year the U.S. House passed a comprehensive climate-energy bill. As the Senate nears the August recess, it is highly unlikely that such a bill will be produced in the Senate. Gone are renewable energy and carbon cap-and-trade provisions. It appears that the bill supports some aspects of the oil spill and land conservation. According to Kevin Book, an energy analyst with ClearView Energy Partners, the bill apparently includes:- “An oil spill liability cap for oil companies up to $10 billion from $75 million currently
- A $5 billion home energy efficiency incentives package to encourage retrofits called HomeStar
- Natural gas vehicle incentives of about $4.1 billion
- Expanded land and water conservation”
Human Trafficking Resources
Anti Slavery International
Canadian Religious Conference (Human Trafficking under CRC Priorities)
Child Trafficking Digital Library (Nepal, South Asia and others)
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
** Combating human trafficking
http://www.humantrafficking.org/
* Free the Slaves
www.freetheslaves.net (Useful Downloads, Interactive Slavery Map, success stories, books)
The Future Group (Canadian NGO)
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (look to right sidebar for country)
Global Alliance Against Traffic in women (Justice Information Section and Resource hub)
International Center for Migration Policy Development (Search geographic-oriented resources)
* Intercommunity Peace and Justice center –(trafficking section, scroll down for resources)
http://www.ipjc.org/links/trafficking.htm
International Organization for Migration
International Union of Superior Generals
www.csjorange.org (look under Justice Office / Resources/Issues)
List of Goods produced by Child and Forced Labor
http://tiny.cc/dolreport or http://www.dol.gov/ilab/programs/ocft/PDF/2009TVPRA.pdf
National Multicultural Institute
http://www.nmci.org/news/news_items/trafficking.html
Nepal Institute of Peace (Internally Displaced Persons)
Polaris Project: For a World without Slavery
Rescue and Restore Victims of Trafficking - Free outreach materials, posters, screening tools, fact sheets at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking
* Stop Trafficking Newsletter
http://homepage.mac.com/srjeanschafersds/stoptraffic/
UNANIMA International (Stop the Demand campaign resources)
* United Nations Blue Heart Campaign Against Human Trafficking
** Best Practices in Human Trafficking and Africa
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001384/138447e.pdf
UN Development Fund for Women, Human Trafficking Briefing Kit www.unifem.org/attachments/products/traffkit_eng.pdf
* United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
** http://www.ungift.org/ungift/knowledge/practices.html contains Best Practices
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling)
** Click here (Produced by Government of India)
U.S. Catholic Conference of bishops
www.usccb.org/mrs/trafficking/index.shtml
U.S. State Department (2010 Trafficking in Persons Report)
U.S. Dept. of Education (Human Trafficking of Children in U.S.: A Fact Sheet for Schools)
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.html
Action: Request U.S. Congress to stop demand of products made by child and slave labor http://capwiz.com/ipjc/go/childlabor
Action: Ask your favorite brands to ensure their products are slave-free
DVDs
Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids—Explores the lives of the sons and daughters of prostitutes in Calcutta, India. 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. $20 from www.kids-with-cameras.org. 83 minutes.
The Day My God Died—About young girls whose lives have been shattered by the child sex trade in Nepal and India. $30 from Andrew Levine Productions. 70 minutes.
Dreams Die Hard: Survivors of Slavery in America Tell Their Stories—Documentary profiling several people trapped in different kinds of human slavery across the United States. $10 from Free the Slaves. A study guide is available for this movie. 36 minutes.
Human Trafficking—This drama exposes the ugly world of human trafficking. Donald Sutherland and Mira Sorvino received Golden Globe Nominations for their performances in this 2005 Lifetime television mini-series. $6.99 from Amazon.com. 180 minutes.
I Just Keep Quiet: Voices of Human Trafficking—Produced by the Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWA) and the Seattle Police Department, 2006. DVD Available for $20 by calling ReWA: (206) 721-8448. 20 minutes.
* Lives for Sale—A joint production between Maryknoll, Lightfoot Films, Inc. and PBS. $19.95 from Orbis Books. 60 minutes. (SCN Media Center has a copy)
* Losing Maria – story of a young adult who has been trafficked, geared toward high school students with preview recommended (SCN Media Center has a copy)
So Great a Violence: Prostitution, Trafficking and the Global Sex Industry—Attempts to debunk myths of prostitution and spotlights the men who create the demand for the sexual exploitation of women and girls. $29.95 from the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. 29 minutes.
* The Jammed – Story of trafficking of adults made in Australia (SCN Media Center has a copy) or visit www.thejammed.com
The Oldest Lie – 30-minute documentary and guide produced by filmmaker Eve Lamont that debunks the myth of that prostitution is the “oldest profession.” This documentary can be used with girls age 14 and up. Cost is $69.95 and can be ordered from info@lacles.org or call 514.750.4535
United States Trafficking Hotline (information and referral)
1.888.3737.888
* recommended resources
** Best Practices websites
Weekly Justice Highlights
Two bills can help this situation. Call or write senators asking to sign on as co-sponsors of
S. 3533, the Responsible Estate Tax Act, introduced by Sens. Sanders, Sherrod Brown, Franken, Harkin, and Whitehouse – Act here
S. 3500, the Local Jobs for America Act, introduced by Sens. Sherrod Brown, Begich and Franken. Act here
Right to Water: As early as the last week of July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly may be voting on a Resolution to support the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. However, the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada are blocking this resolution. Visit http://www.blueplanetproject.net/ to urge ambassadors from as many countries as you wish to support the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a universal human right.
Immigration: Urge U.S. legislators to pass the DREAM Act as a step toward comprehensive immigration reform here.
Other Potential Actions:
Nurserymen’s exchange is one of the nation’s largest wholesalers of nursery plants. In July, nearly half of their employees were laid off after working decades with the company. The company wanted to hire out of town labor contractor workers so they could pay cheap wages and no benefits with the option later of rehiring with payment of minimum wage and no benefits. Act to hold corporations accountable here
As people of faith, we are called to stand by those suffering from the oil disaster. Call or email U.S. Senators and Representatives urging them to work with stakeholders, hold responsible parties accountable, ensure help reaches those in need, commit to long-term recovery and take steps to prevent future disasters here
Urge U.S. Senators to support the START Treaty that brings us one step closer to a world free of nuclear weapons here (Senate action pending, act this week)
Support the International Violence Against Women Act here
Write the EPA expressing your concern to the proposed Solid Waste Definition Rule that will allow untold numbers of facilities across the United States to burn scrap plastics, used chemicals, and other industrial wastes without emission controls, air monitoring, or reporting requirements here
On July 29 (New AZ law (SB1070) takes effect), individuals and groups around the United States will be praying and participating in acts of resistance to show support for the Immigrants and the need for comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration laws. A prayer service from the Interfaith Worker Justice is located at http://www.iwj.org/doc/rem_immigrant.pdf
Quarterly Summary of Accomplishments on Legislation
