Welcome HTP's Newest Contributor: Bia Assevero

Be the Change

We live in a world that faces a great many challenges. Some of those challenges are economic, others are social and others still are political. To complicate matters even further, they are all interlinked; poverty leads to crime leads to the deterioration of social structures, which leads to political instability, which leads to economic instability, which leads to environmental damage and so it goes but not necessarily in that order.

For me, the difficulty was in knowing where to begin. People were always telling me to “be the change you want to see in the world”. I thought that was a lovely sentiment. My only problem was that I want to see a lot of change in the world and it seemed slightly unrealistic that I could incarnate all of it at once.

And then an extraordinary thing happened on a very ordinary evening in New York City.

I attended a book signing by Benjamin Skinner, the author of A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern Day Slavery. If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend reading it.

What Skinner achieved both in his book and in his speech at the signing was to find hope in an apparently hopeless context. In the course of his research, Skinner literally did come face to face with horrific examples of enslavement and abuse. And yet despite the toll that it undoubtedly took on him, he emerged from the experience more determined than ever to combat trafficking and slavery.

But what really flipped the switch in my head was when Skinner quoted Stalin and said, “the death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.”

The words resonated with me but more than that, they challenged me and they defied me. The death of millions should never be only a statistic. In order to effectively combat human trafficking among the many other ills in the world, we have to always be aware of our common humanity.

If we seek too much comfort in the sterility of statistics, we run the risk of forgetting that every victim of human trafficking has a life story; one that in the end isn’t so different from our own.

I’m sitting here writing this on a cold day in Central London. Somewhere in the world another young woman, the same age as me, has been trafficked and is experiencing horrors that I probably can’t even imagine.

But how different is she from me, really? If she’d had access to the same education and the same health care and the same family support as I had, who is to say what she might have accomplished?

Maybe she’d be a writer like me. Maybe she’d be a doctor or an artist or an astrophysicist.

It is the circumstances of the world that we live in, and accidents of birth that provide some of us with more security than others. But fundamentally, no one human life is worth more than another.

I left the tiny Asian restaurant where the book signing was held with a sense of purpose unlike any I’d known before. People choose different avenues to become the change that they want to see. Some join the Peace Corp or they become diplomats or advocates. Others volunteer locally or internationally.

Me, I’m a writer and I believe in the ability and the responsibility of writers and journalists to use their words to affect positive change. Before we even get down to the nuts and bolts of how to end human trafficking, we have to get people to pay attention and we have to get them to care.

There is a tendency – particularly in the Western world – to ignore things that happen “over there” or to “other people”. But when it comes to human trafficking, there is no “over there” or “other people.” It can happen in your back yard to you or some one that you know.

And even if it doesn’t – even does happen to a total stranger half way across the world – look in the mirror and ask yourself if that is justification enough to turn away and do nothing.

I can’t do nothing.

And I’m aware that I can’t end human trafficking by sheer force of will alone but I believe that there is transformational value in the process.

My goal is to tell the stories of the victims of human trafficking and of the people who dedicate their time and their lives to fighting against it. If I can do this in ways that move people to empathy and better still to action, I will have become one tiny piece of the change that I want to see.

Welcome HTP's Newest Contributor: Annie Durkin

Slavery in 2010 Been there; done that, got the T-shirt; but then…

As someone who spent four years of her undergrad education studying history, I put a lot of faith in the fact that we learn from the errors of our past. We make progress and we move forward - well, at least one would hope.

What have we learned from slavery throughout the years? That we can change the technique, nomenclature, or hide behind technology and pretend that it no longer exists? But there it is…like a bad penny. Always finding a way into our lives.

There are more people enslaved today than at any other time in history. Domestic labor and sex trafficking thrives right under our noses. This exists in the restaurants we eat, the housekeepers we employ, the laborers who build our homes. This is not progress. How can it possibly be that, at this very moment, throughout the world, there are six-year-old girls being sold as sex slaves? How can it be that people don’t know this is an issue that permeates our world?

As Americans, the list of problems we have to face is daunting. Yet we still have so much to be grateful for. We have important issues to stand up and fight for---national security, health care, the economy and the list goes on and on. What I am asking you is this. When will we put human beings first? When will we all be brave enough to stand up to the cowards who take part in the enslavement of men, women and children?

When will our sense of decency and human compassion override our willingness to make a good deal on cheap labor be a reason to turn our backs on human suffering? The reality is that if it seems like a deal “too good to be true,” then somebody else – not you - is paying the difference. You should be aware that human slavery and the exploitation of people seeking a better life, is a prime source of the “good deal” you seek.

It’s not my place to judge or scold others, but I also have no plans to turn a blind eye; we’ve been there and done that. Let’s try something new. The truth is, we can still play a role in fixing something that is terribly wrong and the first step is to acknowledge that there is still a problem. After that, you can listen to people who are paying attention.

The Human Trafficking Project and Human Trafficking Students

The Human Trafficking Project (HTP) and Human Trafficking Students (HTS) are partnering to help increase student engagement in raising awareness of modern slavery by jointly publishing the HTS Series as regular contributions on the HTP site. Moving beyond the horror of the story of modern slaves, the HTS Series publishes critical engagement pieces that emanate first and foremost from student interest.

The Series is peer reviewed in a way that supports new writers, posts high quality submissions, and enables the creation of a disciplined and diverse community-of-practice. Posts will range from creative writing and poetry to policy reviews and quantitative assessments.

HTS exists to advocate for further academic take-up of the topics of modern slavery and human trafficking. We also believe that students are and will be playing a central role in bringing these topics to light. To that end, we work hard and engage our network to support students in conceiving of, developing, editing and sharing their blog posts.

The first HTS piece will be published on 8/18/2010.

Molly Bryant, Introductory Post

The issues of human trafficking and modern day slavery are dirty and uncomfortable. There are few appropriate responses to, “I’d like to work with women who are forced into prostitution.” Thus, I am often met with blank stares and seemingly insensitive questions about why I would ever want to surround myself with prostitutes; however, I have seen too much now, and at this point, there is no turning back. I cannot erase the images of the women in the windows that line the Red Light District of Amsterdam. Their bodies clad in next to nothing, their faces caked in make-up to hide their tired eyes and beaten cheeks.

Amsterdam, the European hub for prostitution and sexual services, has made a fortune on providing tourists with countless opportunities for sexual exploration. Everything from live sex shows to strips clubs to the infamous women in the windows. Ironically, the Red Light District became a temporary home for me during the summer of 2009. The streets were both full of life and excitement and also hopelessness and despair. Men briskly walked out of the rooms into the narrow cobblestone alleys after paying 50 Euros for an insatiable and unattainable satisfaction. Uneducated tourists gawked at the women and laugh at their pitiable situations. A teenage girl stopped to fix her mascara in the reflection of an occupied window never noticing the woman inside.

It is easy to see the women as bodies. As prostitutes. As purchases. As anything but complete humans full of beauty and potential. But throughout my time in Europe I listened to their stories, I heard their woes, danced salsa and sang out of tune with them. And I hate to admit that even with what I would consider a decent awareness and compassion for these women, I was still surprised at how similar they are to me. Music. Laughter. Dreams. Aspirations. They transcended our differences in lifestyles to forge unlikely friendships. Ultimately, we are the same. We are all searching for worth, value, meaning and love.

Throughout my posts, I will focus on sexual slavery, forced prostitution and trafficking. I hope to bring a very real and human aspect to an issue that oftentimes appears distant and impersonal, because yes, it is undoubtedly uncomfortable and dirty but it is happening and should no longer be ignored.

Welcome to HTP's Newest Team Member: Lauren Hutton

Lauren Hutton is currently a senior in New York University’s College of Arts and Sciences where she is double-majoring in Journalism, and American and British Literature. Her journalistic emphasis is in general and investigative print journalism, largely focusing on foreign reporting and more specifically topics and issues surrounding the Middle East.

Lauren hopes that her work with HTP will give her the first hand experience needed to later work for non-profit organizations that focus on public health and infrastructure of third-world countries and tackle issues like human trafficking.

As HTP's Social Media Strategy and Outreach Intern, Lauren will be building and managing HTP's Facebook and Twitter presence, and assisting with outreach to other bloggers. Lauren will also be a contributing writer for HTP.

Welcome HTP's Newest Contributor: Amanda Gould

Although my first introduction to human trafficking was through reading an article on youth temple prostitution in India, years later I became fascinated by the economics of human trafficking. By focusing on economics during my graduate degree, I began to see the problem of human trafficking in a new light, which ultimately unleashed a Pandora’s box of issues. Everyday products, including clothing and cell phones, became suspect because of their potential contamination through slave labor; something I realized only in part before. Conversations with friends and classmates turned to questions of ethics. Do we boycott stores for selling items that use slave labor? Would such a boycott lead to an increase in human trafficking and slave labor through the unemployment of innocent parties? As a person who did not want to benefit from slave labor, I was overwhelmed. I could not inspect every factory or field to ensure my purchases were slave free but I had another important tool that I could use, my demand. It became clear that if enough customers demanded slave free products and increased corporate accountability they would get it. Suddenly, I realized that our community has so many tools to fight human trafficking and modern slavery right at our fingertips. Through my blogs, I will study some of the products we come in to contact with that might contain slave labor in the production process and what the community can do to fight it. This is meant to empower us as a community and not as a tool for guilt (few people would willingly give up their cell phones). I am convinced that an informed community of consumers (whether students, factory workers, teachers or CEOs) armed with practical ideas can hold companies accountable and fight for a more just, slave free world.

Getting to know you: Megan McGill

I am a recent graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, and have had a growing interest in human rights for several years. I have been impressed by the Human Trafficking Project, and am excited for the opportunity to be involved. The more I learn about human trafficking specifically, the more I am struck by the enormity and frequently horrific nature of the problem, and the more I feel compelled to do something.

I think I first began to pay attention to the human trafficking problem in 2006, when I was studying public international law in Geneva. It was during the World Cup, and I met someone who worked for the British government in anti-human trafficking. He told me how tens of thousands of females were expected to be trafficked into Germany for the games. Referring to the huge number of sex trafficking “patrons” that number implied, he said that “people assume that it isn’t their husband or it isn’t their brother, but with that many females being trafficked into the country, it IS somebody’s husband and it IS somebody’s brother.”

I was stunned—I'd had no clue what a vast problem human trafficking is before that conversation. But I think that he struck on an important point—the sheer numbers expected for that event alone is just one example which makes me suspect that one reason the human trafficking industry, in particular the sex trafficking industry, is so successful is that those spending the money that support it may not always realize that there is a chance that the person with whom they are engaging is a less-than-willing victim. For this reason, I think that promoting education and awareness is a vital first step in fighting human trafficking, and I believe that HTP can play an important role.

I am very excited to be joining HTP as a contributor, and to take my first step into the world of blogging. I hope to learn a lot as part of this experience, and to contribute in some small way to raising awareness about this widespread and urgent problem.

Picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/letsbook/3826733702/

Newest Contributer to HTP!

My name is Gardner Mounce and I'm a creative writing and philosophy major at the University of Memphis. I first became interested in the subject of human trafficking when, like others, I began to research online and learned of human trafficking's global prevalence and, more recently, its local presence in Memphis. I immediately called together the members of the arts group I'm involved with (continuumarts.com) and began hosting a series of open mic benefits around the city to raise money and awareness. I have always been passionate about art and am a strong believer in its ability to unite people if beauty and truth are allowed to transcend it, especially in areas concerning human rights.

I hope to offer a new perspective to HTP that helps further enrich its terrific efforts. My posts will generally carry a photo and poem of mine, the photo reflecting some aspect of the poem. The poems will vary in their direct relation to human trafficking as a theme, and will likely explore subthemes such as childhood, lost innocence, human dignity, etc.

Welcome the Newest Contributor to HTP!

My name is Jennifer Kimball, and I am a recent graduate of the University of Missouri (May 16th!). I plan to pursue a career in public service working to fight human trafficking; Currently I am working in DC with the Truman Fellows Program, and I am a 2008 Harry S. Truman Scholar. I am the co-founder of Stop Traffic Now, a student anti-trafficking organization that started in April 2007. I am also the co-founder of the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition, which is a multi-sector, community-based coalition made up of law enforcement officials, social service providers, university professionals, members of faith communities, students and others.

I first studied human trafficking as a freshman in college; during my sophomore year, I met another student who was also passionate about this issue, and together we decided we wanted to do something to fight trafficking. When we learn that people were trafficked to our own, small college town, we became even more passionate. I helped lead the planning and hosting of an internationally attended human trafficking conference; more than one hundred people came from all over the country and some from outside of the US. The coalition grew out of this conference.

I am especially committed to raising awareness about trafficking within the US, especially domestic trafficking, since so many people (even those aware of human trafficking) do not know that it happens in the US and to US citizens. Raising awareness is particularly crucial right now; until people know about this crime and how to recognize it, nothing can be done to stop it. So many of the law enforcement officials that I work with have told me stories about how they came across trafficking victims before, but since they did not have training and awareness, they did not help these people.

My posts will focus on anti-trafficking efforts and awareness, as well as on human trafficking issues that are often ignored. While human trafficking is a horrific, daunting and massive human rights abuse that can be overwhelming at times, everyone has a role in working to stop slavery.

Getting to Know You: Jennifer Hollinger

My interest in human trafficking began with a graduate research assistantship at the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University. I have always been interested in the topic of international migration but I had very little idea that this assistantship would provoke me to action in an area where I will remain active for the rest of my life.

I knew very little about human trafficking before embarking on this project which examined the outcomes for minors who have been trafficked into the United States, mostly for the purposes of sex work but also for underage labor. I was shocked and horrified at the extent of this practice, not just in the United States but around the world. Perhaps I was naive but the young age of these trafficking survivors incited both outrage at their treatment and a deep sadness for their suffering.

Research was one thing, but traveling to Albania on an Advocacy Project Peace Fellowship to work with CHASTE (Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe) was quite another. Over the summer of 2007, I carried out research in Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo on human trafficking for sexual exploitation. I met trafficking survivors, advocates for survivors, amazing women who ran shelters with their own money, and a diverse array of people engaged in the fight to end human trafficking. I saw things that I would like to forget and learned things that I will never unlearn. It's one of those situations where, once your eyes are opened, they cannot be shut to the reality of human trafficking.

When I started my fellowship, I learned that I would have to write a blog (which you can view here) and I thought, me, write a blog?? It really was not my thing and I did not see the point. I learned that blogging was a wonderful way to communicate to my friends and family, a release valve for all of things that I was seeing and feeling.

More than anything, I learned that blogging was a way to spread knowledge, to raise awareness for human trafficking. The amount of people that reached out to me after I returned from my fellowship absolutely staggered me. It made me feel a part of something - a global movement, small but dedicated. A movement that would not give up, one that would not tire and would expose to the world the horror that is human trafficking. I am lucky and honored to be able to raise my voice against this modern day slavery and, for that reason, I am so happy to be a part of The Human Trafficking Project (HTP).

I currently work at the Academy for Educational Development (AED), which is at the forefront of utilizing media in new and innovative ways to strengthen civil society. I look forward to applying this knowledge to HTP and I really look forward to comments from readers. I hope you all will join me in learning and becoming a more educated advocate for human trafficking survivors.

Introduction

And so my first week in the Philippines comes to an end...

I arrived in Manila on Sunday, December 3rd at midnight, unpacked in my hotel room, was unable to sleep because of jet lag, and have been racing around the city looking at apartments (I found a nice studio in Quezon City and moved in on Wednesday), opening a bank account, grocery shopping, installing a phone and internet connection in my new place, studying maps, and gaining familiarity with the lay of the land. Needless to say it is a welcome reprieve to sit in an internet cafe and write the first entry of this blog.


My hotel room view in Makati, Manila's business district

My Work
For those who don't know, I am a U.S. Fulbright Scholar working on a research project that will examine non-governmental organizations (NGOs) combating human trafficking (trafficking) in the Philippines. In particular, I want to investigate how NGOs are addressing trafficking in terms of preventative measures and rehabilitative services offered to victims as well as explore opportunities for collaboration between NGOs and other stakeholders.

This project is being conducted to address the lack of research concerning NGO anti-trafficking practices in the Philippines as well as the need for cooperation and collaboration between stakeholders- governments, law enforcement, NGOs, international organizations, the private sector, and the media- to improve existing preventative and rehabilitative efforts.

Please download the following summary for further information:

Research Project Summary

The Human Trafficking Project
The Human Trafficking Project (HTP) is the umbrella name of various trafficking-related projects I am pursuing. From this blog to my research project to a music project to a fundraising project, HTP was created as a way to engage a wide audience on the subject of trafficking by presenting the issue in a fresh format.

The goal is to bring the issue of trafficking into the mainstream through a variety of media: research, music, film, blogging, clothing, and more. All profit will go towards maintaining HTP, creating new awareness projects, and funding educational scholarships for trafficking survivors.


My new apartment in Quezon City

And so my first week in Manila comes to an end...

I am excited and anxious about the challenges and opportunities that will arise from my 10-month stint in the Philippines and am happy that I am able to share my experience with you all.

Until next time!