Human Trafficking In The News 12-09-2012

Stories of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, modern slavery and human rights abuse in the news. Click the bold titles for a link to the complete story. And as always thank you for caring about justice, for being a voice for the voiceless, for not ignoring the great evils of our day and doing something about it. Thank you!

My current home state of Mississippi received an embarrassing and unacceptable "D" in their efforts (or apparently lack there of) in combatting human trafficking. 17 other states failed. See how your state did below. A special thanks to Shared Hope International for their tireless efforts to call the US to accountability bout this crime of crimes.

Shared Hope International has released their 2012 State by State report card grading each state on their commitment and accomplishments in fighting human trafficking within their borders. Follow the link and click on your state to see the grade they received.

Music and entertainment icon MTV is training young people in Southeast Asia to use social media to raise awareness about human trafficking.  It is part of a global campaign to end the practice and event organizers and participants say social media amplifies the message. 

Actress Mira Sorvino (below) on Thursday called upon a crowd of 200 state legislators to take the lead in battling human trafficking, telling them they were on the front lines of the fight against “modern-day slavery” and repeatedly singling out Wyoming as the only state in the country that has failed to tackle the issue.

Friday President Obama signed Senator John Cornyn's Child Protection Act of 2012 into law. The aim is to take a more aggressive stance against sexual exploitation and human trafficking. In a press release from the attorney general's office, Senator Cornyn is quoted as saying, "We need to provide law enforcement with every tool they need to crack down on the most vile criminals ... And protect the innocent young people who fall victim to these heinous crimes."

President Obama today signing into law the Child Protection Act of 2012 (H.R. 6063), a bipartisan, bicameral bill authored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) to better protect children from sexual predators. Chairman Smith, along with other supporters of the bill, joined the President at a signing ceremony at the White House.

From the Washington Times: some visible signs that may be used to help identify victims of human trafficking and questions that law enforcement, medical personnel, school and shelter personnel, and even the general public can use to help to identify victims of human trafficking.  Recognizing that someone has been trafficked can be the first step in saving their life.

And finally, last but not least, a great way for you to turn your passion for justice into the reality of freedom this Holiday Season!!

International Justice Mission's 2012 Gift catalog. For just a few dollars you can help give a child or a whole family the gift of freedom. Please let your generosity match the horror that you feel that these evils can even exist in today's society. Thank you!

Human Trafficking Awareness Day 1-11-2012

Human Trafficking Awareness day is today. A day when we as a nation stand in solidarity with the 2 million people sold into slavery each year. With the 27 million people enslaved in the world today. A day when our national conscience is once again offended by such a great evil. A day when we say no more!


This past year has seen an unprecedented reaction against the demonic plague of trafficking. I would like to take a few moments to encourage you with how far we've come, to show you what we can accomplish with first world resources and the resolve to never tolerate this madness on our watch. These stories and links are in no order of importance. Nor are these the most important stories of the year. Every single act of anti-slavery is ever important, every voice of every abolitionist is ever powerful to bring about change. No one should ever feel that their accomplishments are less than anothers, it WILL take us all to win this fight. 

Sex trafficking victim Dai gives a fellow resident a tearful hug goodbye as she graduates from her year-long stay with the Transitions Global victim aftercare program. Dai is returning home to her family.

Click on the bold headers for links to the entire story!


CNN Freedom Project: One year of anti-trafficking features by one of the largest News channels in the world. From their site "This year CNN will join the fight to end modern-day slavery and shine a spotlight on the horrors of modern-day slavery, amplify the voices of the victims, highlight success stories and help unravel the complicated tangle of criminal enterprises trading in human life. A PROBLEM THAT CAN'T BE IGNORED!"


Nefarious: Merchant Of Souls: A big budget, big production documentary about sex-trafficking. From their website: "Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, exposes the disturbing trends in modern sex slavery. From the very first scene, Nefarious ushers you into the nightmare of sex slavery that hundreds of thousands experience daily. You’ll see where slaves are sold (often in developed, affluent countries), where they work and are confined. You’ll hear first-hand interviews with real victims and traffickers, along with expert analysis from international humanitarian leaders. From initial recruitment to victim liberation––and everything between––the previously veiled underworld of sex slavery is uncovered in the groundbreaking, tell-all Nefarious: Merchant of Souls." Trailer below.





Google donates 11.5 million dollars to combat Human Trafficking: PCmag.com reports about the search engine mega-brand's donation: "The money will go toward the creation of a coalition between various advocacy groups, led by International Justice Mission (IJM), a group that works around the world to rescue people from forced labor and sexual exploitation. IJM will partner with other groups like Polaris Project, Slavery Footprint, and others for a multi-year project, beginning in 2012. Funds will be used to improve the infrastructure and resources that enforce anti-slavery legislation overseas, promote awareness of the problem domestically, and help push for laws against it in other countries."


42,000 college kids unite to end sex-trafficking: a Christian Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center has drawn 42,000 students from all 50 states and 30 countries.

The 42k college kids at Passion 2012

"There's 27 million slaves in the world today, that's men women and children forced to work," said Bryson Vogeltanz with Passion 2012. "The sex trafficking issue is here in Atlanta and all over the world."


In lines that snaked down the hallways of the Georgia World Congress Center, students waited their turn to give their own money that will go toward organizations working to prevent, rescue and restore those who've suffered. The goal was a million dollars.  By 3:30 Wednesday afternoon the goal had already been reached with thousands still in line to give. Total donations reached the 3 million dollar mark!!!


New California anti-trafficking law: From the Law.com story: "The new California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, effective as of Jan. 1, applies to any company with $100 million in worldwide sales and some connection to California — which could be a statewide chain of stores or a single processing and distribution plant. The law commands businesses to make full disclosure about their supply chains and whether they regularly check them for possible slavery or trafficking conditions — and if so, what they do about it." 


How California and the rest of the US states are performing based on Shared Hope International's report card.

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Thank you for taking a moment to look back on 2011 with us, at what we've accomplished as a nation. And thank you for joining the fight to end this evil in our lifetime. From all of us at Conspiracy Of Hope, thank you for caring about justice, thank you for being a voice for the voiceless victims of human trafficking. Thank you.

Human Trafficking In The News: December 12, 2011

Homeless girl on the streets in the US.

Human trafficking, modern slavery and child exploitation in the news. Click the bold headings to link to the full stories. As always thank you for caring about justice and for being a voice for the voiceless.


Homelessness in the US on the rise: According to the National Center on Family Homelessness the amount of homeless children in the US has risen 33 percent to 1.6 million children compared to 1.2 million in 2007.

Missing children in China

Gendercide in India: Watch the 2 part video by ABC about the rise of infanticide and gendercide in India. As modern technology collides with Indian tradition it is girls that pay the ultimate price. A sonogram to determine a child's sex is much cheaper than the dowry a girl's parents will have to pay to her future groom. 


178 kids rescued in huge anti-trafficking sting in China: BEIJING - "Chinese police arrested 608 suspects and rescued 178 children in busts of two separate child trafficking networks, authorities said Wednesday. 5,000 police across 10 provinces cooperated for six months on the investigation and moved in to arrest the suspects last week. Child trafficking is big problem in China, where traditional preference for male heirs and a restrictive one-child policy has driven a thriving market in baby boys, who fetch a considerably higher price than girls. Girls and women also are abducted and used as laborers or as brides for unwed sons." CBS/AP


Shared Hope International releases state by state report card on anti-human trafficking: The state of Maine has been given an F by the national advocacy group for its laws dealing with sex trafficking of minors. Mississippi got a "D".