Catholic Group Dropped From U.S. Human Trafficking Aid Contract Linked to Abortion

From Bloomberg:

A Catholic group lost a bid to continue providing assistance to victims of human trafficking for what it says may be the Obama Administration’s support for abortion rights.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was awarded a five- year contract that paid it $19 million to coordinate the services during the administration of President George W. Bush.

The contract was extended briefly in March, and the group said it was informed recently that its grant request to continue the work was turned down. Starting today, three other non-profit groups will provide case-management services for victims such as helping them obtain food, clothing and access to medical care.

“We hope our religious beliefs didn’t come into play,” said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Bishops in an interview. “Abortion politics will not find homes for minors being sold into sex slavery.”

The organization, which does not refer clients for abortions or provide contraceptives, has helped more than 2,700 victims of human trafficking since the group was awarded the contract in 2006, Walsh said. She said group leaders told her they don’t know why they didn’t receive a grant. 

Read more
 

She's 10 and May Be Sold to a Brothel

Nicholas Kristof has been writing articles for The New York Times regarding human trafficking for years. His most recent article highlights the personal side of the internationally lucrative business.

From The New York Times on 1 June 2011:

M. is an ebullient girl, age 10, who ranks near the top of her fourth-grade class and dreams of being a doctor. Yet she, like all of India, is at a turning point, and it looks as if her family may instead sell her to a brothel.

Her mother is a prostitute here in Kolkata, the city better known to the world as Calcutta. Ruchira Gupta, who runs an organization called Apne Aap that fights human trafficking, estimates that 90 percent of the daughters of Indian prostitutes end up in the sex trade as well. And M. has the extra burden that she belongs to a subcaste whose girls are often expected to become prostitutes.

M. seemed poised to escape this fate with the help of one of my heroes, Urmi Basu, a social worker who in 2000 started the New Light shelter program for prostitutes and their children.

M., with her winning personality and keen mind, began to bloom with the help of New Light. Both her parents are illiterate, but she learned English and earned excellent grades in an English-language school for middle-class children outside the red-light district. I’m concealing her identity to protect her from gibes from schoolmates.

Unfortunately, brains and personality aren’t always enough, and India is the center of the 21st-century slave trade. This country almost certainly has the largest number of human-trafficking victims in the world today.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Kevin Bales on WGBH's One-on-One

From the WGBH program One-on-One:

In this One-on-One conversation, Bales discusses the realities of contemporary enslavement, the motivation behind his work, and how our generation can bring slavery to an end.

Keep Human Trafficking Victims in the Brothels to SAVE them? Who would have thought?

What is the first step to take in saving a victim of sex trafficking? My initial reaction, and I venture to say that many others share my view, that removing the individual from the brothel would be the most sensible first step. However, my logic went to hell after reading about a group named of Freeset.

Freeset, located in the Kolkata red light district, has a mission identical to hundreds of other anti-trafficking groups around the world. As stated on their website, they “… would like to see the 10,000 sex workers in our neighborhood empowered with the choice of leaving a profession they never chose in the first place.” From 2001, Freeset has helped workers leave the sex trade by offering the alternative livelihood of manufacturing bags for export. Freeset offers girls an alternative lifestyle while still remaining inside the brothels.

Of course when I learned about Freeset’s model, my mind raced with a million questions. Can a girl live in a brothel and not be part of the sex trade? Can they help to effect change from the inside? Is this a model that other groups should emulate? As we fight to end modern slavery, it is important to learn what all of us are doing to combat the evil. We learn from each other, good or bad. An educated anti trafficking group is by definition a better trafficking group.

Freeset’s model may be unappealing at first blush but it has a proven track record. Its success should teach us to learn so that we avoid the pitfalls of applying our experiences in a foreign land. How many of us have even been to Kolkata? How many of us can even understand how desperate a worker might be. Doesn’t Freeset teach us that even an ex-sex trade worker needs a livelihood? Isn’t that obvious?

For myself, I admit the Freeset model wouldn’t have been my first suggestion, and perhaps not even in my top 100. That failure of imagination reflects poorly on me. Now that I know of Freeset, I want to learn more, do more, and I never want to forget that real people need real help starting with food, shelter, and dignity. I will accomplish success before I ever give in, no matter the price or the time.

To learn more about Freeset and the work they do, please click here.

Image from freesetglobal.com

Polaris Project's Fellowship Program

Polaris Project's Fellowship Program is recognized as one of the premiere leadership development programs focused on the issues of human trafficking and modern day slavery. The program provides young adults with training and on-the-ground practical experience in the anti-trafficking movement.

Applicants range from undergraduate students to retired attorneys from around the world and throughout the United States. At the beginning of each session, Fellows receive more than 40 hours of intensive training on human trafficking as well as program-specific training related to their particular position. Once trained, Fellows are integrated into the daily operations of their program and engage in meaningful projects and continuing education activities within the anti-trafficking movement.

All fellowships are unpaid, and most are designed as full-time positions. Since the fellowship program's inception in Spring 2003, more than 400 Fellows have completed the Fellowship Program, many of whom have gone on to take prominent positions in the anti-trafficking movement.

Washington, DC
Executive Assistant Fellowship
Communications and Media Fellowship
Social Media Fellowship
Policy and Legal Fellowship
Training/Technical Assistance and Research Fellowship
National Human Trafficking Hotline Fellowship
Information Technology (IT) Fellowship
Operations and Non-Profit Management Development Fellowship
Policy Implementation and Coordination Fellowship
Japan Liaison Fellowship
Program Liaison Fellowship
Client Services Operations Fellowship
Foundation and Grants Fellowship

New Jersey
Public Outreach and Communications Fellowship
Client Services Fellowship T

he Fellowships run January 13-May 13. Early application deadline is December 10. and the final application deadline is January 10.

For answers to frequently asked questions, click here.

Final Two Days to Vote For Polaris Project in the Pepsi Refreash Contest

Currently, Polaris Project is number 6 in the September Pepsi Refreash contest, which ends in two days. The top ten organizations will receive $50,000. You can vote daily online and/or by texting your vote to Pepsi (73774) with Polaris Project’s number: 102318.

Pepsi Refresh is an online voting competition to give funds to good causes. Pepsi Refresh does a number of different voting competition each month to award different grant amounts. This month, from September 1st through September 30th, voting is open for the round of September grants. Polaris Project is part of this online voting competition, trying to raise $50K to support a number of its programs and anti-trafficking efforts, including its Fellowship program.

Polaris Project is one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the United States and Japan, with programs operating at international, national and local levels through our offices in Washington, DC; Newark, NJ; and Tokyo, Japan. Polaris Project is one of the few organizations working on all forms of trafficking and serving both citizen and foreign national victims of human trafficking.

Polaris Project's comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking includes conducting direct outreach and victim identification, providing social services and transitional housing to victims, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) serving as the central national hotline on human trafficking, advocating for stronger state and Federal anti-trafficking legislation, and engaging community members in local and national grassroots efforts.

Vote here.

Get Involved: HTP Content Contributors

Help build the Human Trafficking Project into an informational resource of news articles, analysis and insights for researchers and individuals interested in learning more about trafficking!

Are you a researcher? A student? A social worker? An advocate? A lawyer? A volunteer?

We are looking for gifted writers who are passionate about raising awareness of human trafficking and are ready and willing to provide analysis on current efforts to combat trafficking, report on new, innovative anti-trafficking strategies, interview organizations around the world that are making a difference, review trafficking news articles, attend and report on trafficking-related conferences and in general share their opinions and insights on everything that is trafficking (whew, that was a lot in one sentence).

We can't promise you fame and fortune (although site traffic is steadily growing, these are unpaid positions), but we can promise a forum where you can help raise awareness of trafficking and have your opinions heard.

Direct experience in the field is appreciated but by no means required. There is a lot of work to do and a lot of awareness to raise- together we can make a difference!

Time commitment is approximately 5 hours per week.

Please email a sample blog (e.g. what would you write for your first HTP post?) and a brief description of your experience and interest in trafficking to writers@traffickingproject.org.

Thank you for your continued support!

The HTP Team

Oklahomans Against the Trafficking of Humans

Mark Elam is quite open about the humble beginnings of Oklahomans Against the Trafficking of Humans (OATH), the grassroots anti-trafficking organization he started three years ago: “I knew nothing about human trafficking before I saw an investigative special on it about eight years ago,” he said. “I had done overseas travel through my faith community and through that I was introduced to the tragic stories of many victims of human trafficking. The idea of taking action on this crucial problem was exciting.” He was self-employed at the time of this revelation and realized he had an unusual flexibility to confront the problem head-on. He took several trips to India and Southeast Asia on his own, helping to start small orphanages as a refuge for vulnerable children who are often taken as slaves for the sex tourism industry.

Returning to his native Oklahoma, Elam soon realized that slavery is not at all simply a third-world problem and founded OATH, the first and only anti-human trafficking organization in Oklahoma. His research on international human trafficking led to speaking engagements at various colleges and universities, advocating for victims and urging others to get involved in the fight. Because there is very little public knowledge of human trafficking issues in Oklahoma, Elam said, “OATH has been focusing the majority of our efforts on educating the community and raising awareness about human trafficking within the state.” They continue to speak at public events, have monthly community meetings, and distribute frequent newsletters, among other activities.

As OATH continues to grow, Elam aims to educate law enforcement, non-profits and other sectors of the community who should have a working knowledge of human trafficking. Unfortunately, he said, many victims of human trafficking are not identified as such because the proper training to distinguish these cases has been almost non-existent in Oklahoma – until OATH. In order to help victims, agencies must be able to recognize indicators and direct them to the appropriate services.

The young organization also attempts to identify and fill in gaps in service. This means expanding services that already exist, such as domestic violence organizations and law enforcement agencies, and also creating needed services that have yet to be implemented, like safe houses for victims.

Elam’s long-term goal is to create a multiagency task force that includes law enforcement, faith communities, businesses and other sectors that is able to identify and combat human trafficking holistically. In essence, OATH believes that the solution for ending human trafficking lies in a collective knowledge and ability to tackle the problem in a comprehensive and cooperative manner.

How can you help OATH? They need grant writers! If you’d like to volunteer your time and talents to assist a great organization who is making a much needed change in Oklahoma, you can visit their website, give them a call or send them an email.

Free the Slaves: Development Director

From Idealist:

Free the Slaves: Development Director

Education: Bachelor (BA, BS, etc.)
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, 20036, United States
Posted by: Free the Slaves
Job Category: Fundraising & Development
Sector: Nonprofit
Last day to apply: November 2, 2010
Last updated: September 3, 2010
Type: Full time
Language(s): English
Job posted on: September 3, 2010
Area of Focus: Economic Development, Foundations, Fundraising, and Philanthropy, Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Description:
Free the Slaves is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to ending modern slavery worldwide. Founded in 2000, Free the Slaves is a dynamic, fast-growing organization that has its headquarters in Washington, DC and satellite offices in Los Angeles, Delhi, Accra and Kathmandu. It has programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, Ghana, Haiti, India, Nepal, Sudan and Uganda in addition to its work in the United States. Free the Slaves is regularly sought after by governments, civil society organizations, and national and international media to lend its expertise. The organization’s revenue has grown an average of about 40% each year over the past five years.

Free the Slaves is currently seeking a strong, creative leader to serve in the role of Development Director to lead all aspects of the development / fundraising function and take advantage of expanding opportunities. This position is ideal for an experienced development professional seeking to make a significant difference in an entrepreneurial organization. The Development Director will be able to see the tangible effect of their efforts through individuals being freed from slavery and systems being dismantled that allow slavery to exist.

In partnership with the CEO and Development Team—including the Major Gifts Director, the Development Associate and a cadre of organizational leaders and volunteers who are enthusiastic about raising funds—the Development Director will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan which may include major gifts, annual fund, on-line fundraising, foundations, government grants, special events, product sales and other components.

The Development Director will report to the CEO and will lead and manage the Development team. He or she will also work closely with the Executive Producer/Communications Director and the Communications team to integrate consistent fundraising messaging throughout the organization’s external communications. This position will be based in the DC headquarters of Free the Slaves. Flexible scheduling is possible. Domestic and some limited international travel will be required.

Responsibilities:
- Collaborating with Development Team, build and implement a comprehensive multi-year development plan including major gifts, annual fund, online fundraising, foundations, government grants, product sales and other components
- Lead and manage Development team of staff, organizational leaders and volunteers
- Serve as a key representative of the organization
- Manage relationships with institutional donors and work closely with the Major Gifts Director to manage relationships with major individual donors
- Design and write grant proposals and reports, working closely with other staff
- Manage fundraising aspects of special events
- Keep abreast of all programmatic initiatives to effectively communicate them verbally and in writing to a wide variety of constituents

Requirements:
• Demonstrated experience in identifying the uniqueness of an organization and its culture and creating a fundraising program tailored to that organization
• Is inspired by the challenge of working in a fast-growing organization
• Strong ethical background that values long-term relationships with donors
• Ability to successfully initiate and cultivate relationships with a wide variety of constituents in a number of geographical regions and cultures
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant development experience, including at least 3 years of experience in writing grant proposals and reports
• Demonstrated success in designing and executing successful fundraising strategies
• Experience managing a team of people, staff and volunteers, from a variety backgrounds
• Passion for ending slavery
• Experience in fundraising internationally a plus
• Enthusiasm for base-building, especially incorporating internet and social media strategies into development activities
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills; experience with Raiser’s Edge a plus
• Ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment while maintaining a sense of humor
• Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent experience

Benefits:
In order to attract and retain professionals at the top of their fields, Free the Slaves provides a generous compensation package, including competitive salaries, vacation, personal time and employer-paid health insurance for employees.
How to Apply:
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume and two writing samples (preferably fundraising-related, each under 3pp) to careers@freetheslaves.net with ‘Development Director Search’ in the subject line.

Free the Slaves is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity.

A Blight on the Nation: Slavery in Today’s America

By Ron Soodalter, co-author (w/ Kevin Bales) The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today

The American humorist Will Rogers once said, “It ain’t that we’re so dumb; it’s just that what we know ain’t so.”

Certain things we know to be true. We know that the South kept slaves, and the North fought a righteous war of liberation. We know that the slave trade was legal right up to the Civil War. We know that the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves, and that the United States has been slavery-free ever since. These things we know – and none of them are true.

On the other hand, most of us do not know that slavery not only exists throughout the world today; it flourishes. Slavery is legal nowhere, yet it is practiced everywhere. With an estimated 27 million people in bondage worldwide, this is twice as many people as were taken in chains from Africa during the entire 350 years of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. In seeking to place blame, we’re tempted to point to the “emerging nations” as the culprits, whereas in fact slavery exists in such “civilized” countries as England, France, Spain, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, China…and the United States. Most Americans are clueless that slavery is alive and flourishing right here, thriving in the dark, and practiced in many forms in places you’d least expect.

As a student of history, I’d always assumed that slavery ended with the Thirteenth Amendment. Some years back, I had written nearly an entire book on the pre-Civil War slave trade when I stumbled on an account of slavery – in present-day America! My first response - a common one, as it turns out - was denial: “No way. Slavery has had no place here since the time of Lincoln.”

Only after extensive research did I discover that slavery has always existed on this continent, from the days of its European discovery right up to the present day. Christopher Columbus enslaved the Taino Indians, setting a precedent that was followed by every European power to claim land in the New World. Slavery became the social and economic order. After the Civil War, and for decades right up to the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, planters practiced a form of debt bondage known as peonage, binding workers and their families to the land in an unending cycle of slavery. For over sixty years, our own government has enabled worker abuse and slavery through the mismanagement of its “guest worker” program. And now, with the global population more than tripled since World War II, and with national borders collapsing around the world, people - in their desperate quest for a way to survive – have become easy targets for human traffickers. And once again, America is a prime destination.

So how many slaves are we talking about? According to a U.S. State Department study, some 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States from at least 35 countries and enslaved each year. Some victims are smuggled into the United States across the Mexican and Canadian borders; others arrive at our major airports daily, carrying either real or forged papers. The old slave ship of the 1800s has been replaced by the Jumbo Jet. Victims come here from Africa, Asia, India, Latin America, and the former Soviet Republic. Overwhelmingly, they come on the promise of a better life, with the opportunity to work and prosper in America. Many come in the hope of earning enough money to support or send for their families. In order to afford the journey, they fork over their life savings, and go into debt to people who make promises they have no intention of keeping, and instead of opportunity, when they arrive they find bondage. They can be found – or more accurately, not found – in all 50 states, working as farmhands, domestics, sweatshop and factory laborers, gardeners, restaurant and construction workers, and victims of sexual exploitation. These people do not represent a class of poorly paid employees, working at jobs they might not like. They exist specifically to work, they are unable to leave, and are forced to live under the constant threat and reality of violence. By definition, they are slaves. Today, we may call it human trafficking, but make no mistake: It is the slave trade.

Nor are native-born Americans immune from slavers; many are stolen or enticed from the streets of their own cities and towns. Some sources, including the federal government, estimate in the hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens – primarily children – at risk of being caught in slavery annually. Although these figures may be uncertain, even inflated, the precise number of slaves in the United States, whether trafficked in from other countries or enslaved from our own population, is simply not known. The simple truth is, we’re looking at a crime that lives in the shadows; it’s hard to count what you can’t find.

What is particularly infuriating is the fact that this is a crime that, as a rule, goes unpunished. For the moment, let’s accept the government’s estimate of about 17,000 foreign nationals trafficked into slavery in the United States per year. Coincidentally there are also about 17,000 people murdered in the US each year. The national success rate in solving murder cases is about 70%; around 11,000 murders are “cleared” annually. But according to the US government’s own numbers, the annual percentage of trafficking and slavery cases solved is less than 1%. In 2007, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division obtained 103 convictions for human trafficking, with an average sentence of 9 years.

And to further complicate matters, when they are rescued, slavery survivors often deny their situation. There are several reasons for this: the language barrier, a deep sense of shame, fear for their lives and those of their families in their country of origin, and a sense of obligation to pay their debt. In addition, the traffickers work to brainwash them to fear the police and immigration officials. And in some instances, they come to identify with their keepers.

We don’t yet know how President Obama will respond to the human trafficking crisis; it’s too soon to tell. But we do know that the response under the Bush Administration was inadequate on any number of levels. In a speech on trafficking, Bush once stated, “We're beginning to make good, substantial progress. The message is getting out: We’re serious. And when we catch you, you’ll find out we’re serious. We’re staying on the hunt.” Strong words. But the unvarnished truth is, with less than 1% of the bad guys apprehended, and less than 1% of the victims freed, the flow of human “product” into America continues practically unchecked.

Finding out about the slave next door is the kind of knowledge you can’t “unlearn”; the only question is, what do you do with the information once you have it? It’s a question we must all answer for ourselves. We tend to think of our America as the country where slavery has no place; the dire truth is, we are pretty far from freedom, and it will take a lot of work and dedication – by the government, and by us - to make it so.

by Ron Soodalter, co-author (w/ Kevin Bales) The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today Websites: Ron: www.RonSoodalter.com Kevin: www.freetheslaves.net

Free the Slaves is very happy to announce the upcoming publication of the paperback edition "The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today."

Program Assistant - Safe Horizon's Anti-Trafficking Program

From Idealist:

Description:
Safe Horizon’s Anti-Trafficking Program (ATP) maintains a two-tiered approach to fighting the epidemic of human trafficking. First, we provide intensive case management and legal services to holistically meet the needs of trafficked persons. While recognizing that client services alone will not turn the tide on human trafficking, our Anti-Trafficking Program also offers a range of services including education, technical assistance, training and advocacy to foster systemic change.
Hours:
• This is a 60% of full time employment position: 9 - 5; Monday, Wednesday, Friday; with the possibility of becoming 100% full time. At least a one year commitment required.
Essential Job Functions:
• Provide backstopping for entire ATP team (staff of eight).
• Administer and reconcile petty cash and gift cards for clients.
• Undertake and complete research assignments as requested.
• Assist Intensive Case Managers by locating and coordinating services with external partners to provide a continuum of care for clients.
• Provide logistical support for ATP events including scheduling, registration management and printing materials for meetings, outreach activities, presentations, trainings and conferences.
• Compile and enter data for monthly funder reports and databases.
• Maintain office environment through ordering, stocking and keeping records on office supplies and other purchase orders.
• Liaise with Safe Horizon Training Department and assist with management of the Conference Center.
• Active participation in weekly staff meetings with a small and dynamic team.
• Participate in professional development activities and attend events relevant to human trafficking.
• Complete additional tasks as required by the Anti-Trafficking Program.
Additional Qualifications:
• High school diploma required; BA/BS and interest in the field of human trafficking desirable.
• Excellent and effective writing, organization and communication skills required.
• Exceptional attention to detail and highly organized.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.
• Computer skills. Experience with Access helpful.
• Second language highly desirable. Spanish a plus; Russian, Korean, French or Chinese helpful.

• Problem-solver and self-starter; able to meet deadlines; able to identify and report problems with completing assigned tasks; willing to ask for help when needed.

How to Apply:
Please email resume and letter of interest to Jennifer Dreher, Senior Director, Anti-Trafficking Program at:
atpjobs@safehorizon.org
Please include “Program Assistant” in the subject title. The letter of interest should address your interest in human trafficking issues and how you meet the job functions and KSAs. Resumes without a letter of interest will not be considered.

Executive Assistant Position Open at Tahirih Justice Center

From the Tahirih Justice Center:

Job Announcement

Executive Assistant

Location: Falls Church, VA

By providing holistic legal services and engaging in national public policy advocacy, the Tahirih Justice Center (Tahirih) works to promote access to justice in the United States for immigrant women and girls who are fleeing violence. Tahirih is a Bahá’í-inspired nonprofit organization that offers pro bono representation to women and girls seeking protection from such gender-based human rights abuses as domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, honor crimes, and forced marriage. Winner of the 2007 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, Tahirih has a staff of 28 with offices in Falls Church, VA; Houston, TX; and Baltimore, MD.

Position Summary: Tahirih is currently seeking to fill the position of Executive Assistant, which provides administrative support to the Executive Director. Additional support will be provided to the Development Department and Public Policy Director, and other areas as needed. The candidate must have superior organizational skills, excellent communication skills, a high level of maturity and sound judgment. S/he must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with highly motivated staff in a rapidly growing, mission-focused organization. The position reports to the Executive Director.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Respond to routine correspondence, including individual donor requests, and field variety of inquiries via e-mail and telephone

• Coordinate appointments and make travel arrangements for Executive Director

• Provide general administrative support to Executive Director

• Edit and format documents and presentations for the Executive Director, and for Development department, as needed

• Maintain contact lists for Executive Director and Public Policy Director

• Attend Board of Directors meetings and help manage Board relations

• Conduct background research and assist with preparation for presentations and media interviews

• Assist with strategic analysis of organizational goals, metrics, and growth

• Answer Tahirih’s primary phone line (2 hours per day); conduct phone-screenings of potential clients

• Process donor thank you letters and track and file donations

• Assist with maintenance of donor records and contact tracking using Convio and Salesforce’s Common Ground databases

• Work with Grants manager to draft grant requests and reports

• Assist Development Team in event execution and follow-up

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• A college degree

• Detail-oriented with superior problem-solving, decision-making, organizational, and time management skills

• Strong ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, organize work, and follow through independently

• Experience working in an office environment, preferably in a nonprofit setting

• Flexibility in adapting work capacity to the needs of the office

• Ability to establish administrative systems within the office

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher), knowledge of Internet research tools

• Candidates applying must have work authorization in the United States

• Candidates will be asked to make a two year commitment to the position

Annual salary and benefits: Salary ranges from $28,000 to $32,000, depending on experience.

Benefits include: 15 days of paid accrued vacation during the first year (20 days of vacation after thefirst year), additional week of vacation between Christmas and New Years, fully-paid health and dentalinsurance coverage, 403(b) plan, flex-spending account, in-house training programs, professionaldevelopment opportunities, and staff enrichment retreats.

Submissions:

Please email a cover letter, resume, and a list of 3 references to:

Human Resources Department

Tahirih Justice Center

6402 Arlington Blvd., Ste. 300

Falls Church, VA 22042

justice@tahirih.org

Fax: 571-282-6162

Please note: Candidates applying must have work authorization in the United States.

The Tahirih Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability or veteran's status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations. Tahirih’s policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

Ayuda Seeks New Executive Director

From Ayuda:

Organization Description

Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the legal and human rights of the immigrant community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area by providing direct legal and social services, referrals, education, and advocacy. Ayuda has a 36 year history of providing critical services on a wide range of issues. The organization has nationally recognized expertise in immigration law, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Ayuda’s core services include comprehensive legal and social services to foreign-born victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, as well as a general immigration practice. In addition, Ayuda continues to update and develop special programs to serve especially vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied immigrant children and asylum-seekers. Ayuda’s programs are designed to help its clients obtain lawful immigration status, including residency or U.S. citizenship, reunite with family members, and create a safe home for themselves and their children.

Ayuda has staff and offices in Washington D.C. and Sterling, VA. The annual budget for FY2010 ending September 30, 2010, is $1.6 million.

The Position
Ayuda is seeking an Executive Director to report to the Board of Directors, lead a staff of 19 full-time members and numerous volunteers and interns, and to seek, identify, and nurture relationships with the organization's donors and stakeholders. The Executive Director is charged with implementing the organization’s strategic vision; overseeing Ayuda's direct services, advocacy, and other programs; leading the fundraising process and donor relations; managing internal operations in collaboration with the management team; meeting the organization’s financial goals and assuring fiscal integrity; providing leadership in community affairs and collaborative initiatives; and serving as the public voice of the organization.

Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director
• Provide leadership on collaborative efforts in the legal, social service and immigrant communities
• Assure the financial integrity of the organization and work closely with the Finance Committee to monitor financial achievement against financial goals
• Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors and its committees: advise and report on the status of the organization’s activities, particularly on issues of strategic importance; cultivate positive relationships between the Board and staff; and assure support for the operations and development of the Board
• Sustain current and leverage new funding opportunities (national and local, private and public) through relationship-building, networking and increased public visibility
• Provide support to the management team (including the Legal Director, Social Service Director, Development Associate, and Interpreter Bank Director), including assisting them in the development of performance goals, setting benchmarks, and conducting evaluations
• Assess key needs of the organization such as facilities and technology infrastructure in partnership with the management team to promote highest levels of efficiency
• Develop an annual budget in conjunction with key staff and the Board, including mapping out projected expenses and revenue sources

Qualifications/Skills:

• Significant knowledge and experience in immigration, domestic violence, or human trafficking and related public policy issues
• Strong background in non-profit leadership and management
• Success in fundraising, including knowledge and experience with government funding
• Demonstrated success in driving growth and change
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking skills
• Demonstrated skills in advocacy, coalition-building and media relations
• Excellent reputation for integrity and high ethical standards
• Proven background in fiscal management and budgeting
• At least 5 years of relevant experience and 3 years of non-profit management experience
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred

Salary/Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package.

To Apply

Send cover letter (including salary requirements) and resume as attached Word or PDF documents to search@ayuda.com with "Executive Director Search" in the subject line.

Please direct all inquiries related to this position to the same email address.

Review of resumes will begin immediately upon receipt.

Trafficking of U.S. Children

From NPR, an advocate and survivor discuss sex trafficking of children within the U.S.:



According to Malika Saada Saar, co-founder of The Rebecca Project for Human Rights, "[T]he venue of Craigslist...is really evolving as almost a virtual slave market in which children are bought and sold over the internet."

Human Trafficking Fellowship: My Sister's Place, LexisNexis, and the Somaly Mam Foundation

From Idealist:

Human Trafficking Fellowship

Salary: $50,000 annually plus benefits
Education: JD
Location: White Plains, New York, 10601, United States
Last day to apply: July 8, 2010
Type: Full time
Language(s): English

Description:

Initiative Overview

The Human Trafficking Fellowship, a two year opportunity, represents the collaborative efforts of three organizations—My Sisters' Place, LexisNexis, and the Somaly Mam Foundation—that have come together to respond to the increased prevalence of human trafficking in the United States. The Human Trafficking Fellow, in conjunction with a Project Committee comprised of staff from each organization, will be coordinating this response, which includes ensuring that victims are assisted with a range of case management services, as well as providing technical assistance, researching and developing protocols, trainings, and best practice models for intake, case management and legal representation of victims of human trafficking. In addition, a strategic goal of the Initiative is to replicate this model of service delivery throughout the United States and to share best practices with international organizations serving victims of human trafficking.

The Fellow will join and be a member of a team of expert staff at My Sisters’ Place (MSP). MSP is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Westchester County, New York, that has grown from a grassroots task force and drop-in center formalized in 1978 into a cutting-edge leader and resource in the fields of domestic violence and human trafficking advocacy and services. MSP’s many programs include two emergency shelters, a 24/7 hotline, individual counseling and advocacy, children’s programs, support groups throughout Westchester, a legal center including family law, immigration and appellate divisions, life skills training, and extensive community education, training, and outreach programs.

Fellowship Description

• Oversee agency’s human trafficking project, including coordinating with local, state, and federal governmental and law enforcement agencies, other community partners, and agency staff to help victim’s access safety and services and to promote victim engagement with law enforcement.

• Provide technical assistance, training, and support to Legal Center Staff regarding legal representation and advocacy to victims of trafficking with Immigration and Family Law matters in the Westchester County Family Courts (Yonkers, New Rochelle, and White Plains) and the Integrated Domestic Violence Courts (Yonkers and White Plains) on a variety of legal matters including but not limited to: orders of protection, child support, paternity, custody and visitation matters.

• Together with guidance and assistance from the Project Committee (Somaly Mam Foundation, LexisNexis, MSP) research and create best practice model for human trafficking intervention, advocacy, legal representation and case management. Develop curricula to conduct peer training on best practices model throughout the United States and abroad.

• Provide technical assistance to law enforcement agencies and service providers working with potential trafficking victims to assess and identify victimization type and to begin to address victim needs.

• Work with the Project Committee to organize and conduct trainings, conference, and workshop presentations on human trafficking. Participate in media interviews to present MSP’s work and to discuss issues related to addressing the crime of human trafficking.

• Facilitate, organize and/or attend meetings and other events to advocate with local, state, and federal legislators for the drafting and passage of key legislation affecting the lives of victims and the agencies that serve them, in addition to accessing increased funding for services.

• Coordinate collaboration meetings with partner agencies to improve interagency communication and develop cross-training for staff.

• Oversee statistical data collection to ensure grant compliance, meet reporting deadlines, and identify/evaluate program needs.

• Assist with case management reimbursement contracts, including client spending limits, contract reports, and monthly billing.

• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Qualifications:

• J.D./M.S.W. joint degree preferred; however, J.D. or M.S.W. will be considered
• Some direct service experience with trafficking victims, immigrants/refugees, or other vulnerable or disenfranchised populations
• Experience in the areas of legislative change/public policy or human rights activism, preferably involving any of the above populations
• Strong project management or coordination skills, including ability to work independently, assess priorities, take initiative, handle multiple assignments, and meet deadlines
• Strong public speaking and written communication skills a must
• Team player who can work collaboratively with and serve as a liaison between the legal and social services departments of MSP
• Ability to network and maintain strong relationships with governmental and community partner agencies.

How to Apply:

Send resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample by mail, e-mail, or fax to:

Director of Programs
My Sisters’ Place
One Water Street
White Plains, NY 10601
asiniscalchi@mysistersplaceny.org
FAX: (914) 683-1412

Staff Attorney Position Open at CAST

Staff Attorney Position Open at CAST LA.

Summary of Position

Under the supervision of the Policy and Legal Services Director, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for providing comprehensive legal services to survivors of human trafficking including assisting clients seek immigration, criminal and civil relief with an emphasis on immigration assistance. The Staff Attorney will also be responsible for coordinating the legal program’s emergency response to breaking cases and developing and providing training on the issue of human trafficking to partner organizations, law firms, and law enforcement. This is a full- time, exempt position.

Essential Duties

• Assume caseload of trafficked clients;
• Develop and implement creative, alternate legal strategies to assist trafficked persons;
• Work collaboratively with social services and shelter staff
• Support advocacy work for policy reform that emphasizes the human rights of trafficked persons, migrants and low wage workers;
• Provide outreach and training to legal aid organizations, law firms, and law enforcement to assist trafficked clients;
• Recruit, supervise and train pro bono attorneys to assist trafficked clients;
• Recruit and supervise legal fellows or interns;
• Participate in LAPD task force for human trafficking victims;
• Coordinate legal emergency response efforts.

Requirements

• Active membership in the California State Bar required
• Fluency in Spanish required
• Experience in the practice of law, including two years immigration experience and competence in federal and/or state criminal law and procedure
• Commitment to serving the needs of trafficked persons, migrants and low wage workers
• Ability to develop cooperative relationships with other legal service providers in areas relevant to trafficked persons (includes immigration law and labor law)
• Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with trafficked persons, legal organizations, community based organizations, volunteer lawyers, and government agencies
• Ability to develop and implement effective systems for managing own case load, as well as supervising and monitoring legal caseloads handled by volunteer attorneys or other legal organizations
• Experience developing and providing trainings to diverse groups

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of trafficking and the issues affecting trafficked persons
• Experience in working with trafficked persons, migrants and low wage workers in the areas of immigration, labor and civil litigation
• Experience with criminal issues and experience in a legal services program
• Familiarity with the rights of victims of crime and resources
• Experience advocating for trafficked persons human rights in governmental and non-governmental contexts, preferably in California or at the federal level.

Compensation:

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits package includes medical, life, sick/vacation leave, and a 403(b) plan.

To Apply:
Email cover letter, resume, writing sample, law school transcript and list of references to info@castla.org. Due to the high volume of resumes received only qualified candidates will be contacted.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. CAST is an equal opportunity employer.

To learn more about CAST, please click here.

Polaris Project: The Importance of Social Media in the Anti-Human Trafficking Movement

Polaris Project New Media Fellow Vivian discusses the importance of social media in mobilizing a grassroots network.

Project Director - Human Trafficking, Freedom House, Guatemala

From Idealist:

Description: Through research, effective advocacy, and programs directly supporting frontline activists, Freedom House supports the spread of freedom and democracy throughout the world. Freedom House has been a leader in identifying threats to freedom through its highly regarded analytic reports, including Freedom in the World. Its diverse programs have supported the work of civic activists and human rights defenders in over 40 countries. Advocacy and outreach are aimed at encouraging democratic governments, including the United States, to adopt and implement policies that effectively advance human rights and democracy at home and abroad. Freedom House’s annual budget is $18 million, with 13 field offices, and two U.S. offices. Freedom House seeks a Director for its Human Trafficking project to be based on Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Essential Duties: The Project Director will take the lead role in directing and implementing the Anti-Human Trafficking Program in Guatemala. The Project Director will be responsible for program implementation and development, financial management, general oversight of daily office management, public relations, procuring technical assistance and training, developing partnerships with local counterparts, and assisting in all fundraising efforts. The Project involves some in-country travel.

Candidate Requirements: The appropriate candidate should have a minimum of seven years experience in human rights. Previous experience working on human trafficking or other human rights issues in Latin America is required. Project management and experience living and working in Latin America is a must. An advanced degree in, international relations, international development, political science, human rights, or related field, are highly desired. Spanish and English fluency are required.

How to Apply: Please submit resume, cover letter, and salary expectations by e-mail or fax to: Yolanda Abner Human Resources Manager humanresources@freedomhouse.org Fax: (202) 822-3893 Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If a candidate does not submit all required information, he or she will not be considered. Candidates are also requested to state where they viewed the job advertisement in their applications. Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be notified. No phone calls, please. EOE, M/F/D/V

'Little Treasures' Game Lifts Veil on Human Trafficking

From Saatchi & Saatchi:

Cape Town - The Salvation Army, together with Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town, has set out to lift the veil on child trafficking with an innovative outdoor campaign to inform the unknowing South African public about the severity of human trafficking, the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.

1.2 million children are trafficked each year and it's estimated that these numbers will rise dramatically in 2010. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) contends that globally human trafficking has an annual turnover of US$32 billion, making it the third most lucrative criminal activity after the narcotics and weapons trades, although in contrast to these other criminal activities, the penalties for human trafficking in most countries are much less severe, or non-existent.

Major Marieke Venter of The Salvation Army says, "Modern day slavery 'works' and thrives because of its great profitability. This industry is continuously growing because of the high demand, ease of supply and lack of awareness. That coupled with the absence of effective laws will allow this industry to continue without much resistance."

Ian Young, Managing Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town says, "We decided that an unusual approach would work in generating the much needed awareness around this issue," he adds. "We took an ordinary toy crane machine, gave it a sinister twist and created a new game called 'Little Treasures'."

He says that the machine was filled with cute dolls, wrapped in seemingly innocuous illustrations and then placed in a popular shopping mall on a busy morning. "People of all ages were instantly drawn to the innocent looking game and the treasures within. After playing and snatching a prize, the truth was revealed via a message attached, that each doll represented a child lost to the business of human trafficking."

He stresses that the media in South Africa is the most powerful medium of communication to the diverse cultural groups in SA. "With this in mind, this week we launch the mechanism of this campaign to the top media houses in South Africa to create the awareness right at the core of communication."

"We are excited that the media are willing to get involved in this campaign and trust that they will give this issue the presence it deserves," he adds.

Read the full article here.

This is interesting. I'm not familiar with what outreach and awareness activities would resonate with the South African audience, but the tactic is creative. Since games like that obviously target children, I'm not sure if children would understand the very deep and upsetting message attached to their dolls. Although hopefully parents could use it as a stepping point to either learn more themselves or start a conversation with their children about protecting themselves. My immediate reaction is conflicting - I'd be interested to see if the Salvation Army or Saatchi & Saatchi plan to do some sort of evaluation after they're done with this effort to see how effective it was.

Human Trafficking Case Manager Position in Buffalo, New York

From the International Institute of Buffalo:

Clients: Victims of Human Trafficking

Salary: $25,000 + benefits

Position Description:The International Institute of Buffalo is seeking an Advocate Case Manager within its Trafficking Victim Services Program (TVSP). Under the supervision of the Director of Victim Services, the Case Manager’s primary responsibilities will include direct victim advocacy, crisis intervention, general intake and coordination of support services both on-site and within the Western New York community. The Advocate Case Manager will also work within the Victim Services Department to creatively evaluate and improve the effectiveness of this project in order to more comprehensively meet the complicated needs of this emerging population. On-call responsibilities occur periodically.

Applicants must have a strong ethic of service and dedication, and should be committed to being available to program activities outside of the normal 9-5 hours. Flexibility, emotional maturity, and resilience are required, along with excellent social and organizational skills that facilitate empathetic and open communication. Applicants must enjoy working closely with a small team while exhibiting initiative and independence. Experience, comfort, and sensitivity working in multi-cultural environments are required. Applicants fluent in a second language and those with experience in victim and trauma-related fields preferred.

Client Population:Most clients will be survivors of sex and/or labor trafficking. Clients will include foreign national survivors, particularly Asian, Latino, and African. Clients will have experienced significant trauma and will require intensive victim services.

Application: Please send resume and cover letter to International Institute of Buffalo Human Trafficking Victim Services, 864 Delaware Ave, Buffalo 14209 or email to afleischauer@iibuff.org by April 5, 2010.

For more information about the International Institute of Buffalo, please click here.