Justice For Youth

150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, buying and selling people into forced labor is bigger than ever. Slavery–“the total control of one person by another or the purpose of economic exploitation”—is a global epidemic, driven by the same political, technological, and economic forces as globalization itself.

There are now twice as many people enslaved in the world as there were in the 350 years of the transatlantic slave trade. Here is an article that tries to define  “human trafficking” really means, and a lot more– by Atlantic Weeky’s J.J. Gould.

[button link=”http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/12/slaverys-global-comeback/266354/#.UOX76dI8C_E.mailto” newwindow=”yes”] Read More: Slavery’s Global Comeback[/button]

The Prostitution Myth Exposed

Prostitution is an issue that has been greatly misunderstood over the years by most people. This is why I refer to the  “prostitution myth.”

The classical conventional wisdom is that prostitutes sell their bodies for sex because (1) they can make good money doing so, and (2) they are “that kind of girl”—–in other words, they enjoy doing what they do. Popular books like “The Happy Hooker,” written in the early 70’s and re-published in 2002, give the impression that sex for money is fun—and good business, and just another example of  “life, liberty and the the pursuit of happiness.” Thankfully, this is a MYTH that has begun to fade in recent years.

The fact is, only a very small percentage of prostitutes are voluntary, and most of those were initially forced into the sex trade either by abduction, bait and switch, or some other ploy used by traffickers. Justice For Youth is focused on human trafficking in Moldova and Ukraine, where young people are being sold wholesale, by force, into the sex trade. Lured with promises of a good job, they are systematically screened, abducted, drugged and sold on the black market.

Some statistics: Every year, 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders–and the majority of those victims come from Eastern Europe. If that number doesn’t grab you, 27 million people are enslaved across the world in this vicious enterprise.  Human trafficking rakes in 32 billion dollars a year in revenue, placing it in a virtual tie with arms dealing as the second most profitable criminal enterprise in the world.

GREAT! It’s a competition between those who hope for more wars to break out and those who see our schools as money farms!

It has become very clear, as we launch into the new millennium, that though the sexual revolution of the 60’s is over, and many mature baby boomers laugh as they look back, years removed, on their escapades, sexual exploitation is alive and well and has reached epidemic proportions. Like a raging fire on an open dry field with the wind blowing, the trafficking of people for the purpose of sex is spreading out of control.

[quote type=”center”] After three decades of slowly transforming prime time television from a G-rated to an R-rated enterprise, we find many in Hollywood becoming active in human trafficking awareness programs. It is like the baby alligator in the pond in the backyard that grew up—and now it is time to do something about it. [/quote]

It is encouraging to see so many news organizations and NGO’s raising the red flag on human trafficking in general and sex trafficking in particular. Yet the unspoken question is:

Why now? Why, after all these years of ignoring it and even feeding the fire, is sex trafficking a red flag issue? After three decades of slowly transforming prime time television from a G-rated to an R-rated enterprise, we find many in Hollywood becoming active in human trafficking awareness programs. It is like the baby alligator in the pond in the backyard that grew up—and now it is time to do something about it.

What can we do? We can either invest our efforts in rescuing those who are already trapped or we can focus our energies on preventative measures. BOTH are crucial. We need more people on the ground and more strategies in place in both arena’s to stop the bleeding—and prevent further expansion of this wildfire.

Justice For Youth is engaged in reaching the schools of Moldova and Ukraine because these two countries are hot-beds for human trafficking in Eastern Europe, which is a leader in global sex trafficking.  Our strategy is to place 3 posters in each school and conduct seminars designed to educate and inform students of the dangers of modern day slavery and the human trafficking industry. You can be involved in this effort through our Adopt A School initiative. Why not kick off the New Year by kicking in $19 to reaching a whole school of “at risk” young people with the vital education and tools they need to avoid being trafficked? Find our more about JFY ADOPT A SCHOOL

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://advocacy.justiceforyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/John-Mugshot.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]John Nielsen is a social entrepreneur who, having served all of his adult life championing young people on four continents, is now speaking out passionately against global human trafficking. (Copyright 2013– Justice For Youth. All rights reserved.) [/author_info] [/author]

It isn’t what happens to you that counts, it’s how you respond to it. I have heard this many times, and believe it to be true. Crisis can hit any of us any time  but hope need not give way to fear. There is always a bright future for those who will carry the right lesson forward.

[quote type=”center”] The tiny country of Rwanda, situated like a pearl deep in the heart of Africa, stands as an example  to the world of great loss that can result when good people fail to act– as well as the great gains that can be made when concrete steps are taken to change course. [/quote]

Seventeen years ago last month the plane carrying Rwanda’s president Juvnal Habyarimana and Burundi’s president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down, and during the 100 days that followed, 800,000 people were murdered in what will go down in history as the Rwandan Genocide.

It inspired a critically acclaimed movie ‘Hotel Rwanda,” which was nominated for multiple awards in 1994, including  Academy Award nominations for best actor, best supporting actrsss and original screenplay.

When he visited Rwanda in the summer of 2005, former U.S. President Bill Clinton apologized for refusing to step  in, as the leader of the free world, to prevent the slaughter.

“I express regret for my personal failure,” he said before touring the museum commemorating victims of the 100-day massacre.

Whether or not you like Bill Clinton or agree with his ideology, you have to respect his willingness to come to grips with his mistake in Rwanda. He has backed it up with action, as well.  In a touching article written by Kate Snow on the Good Morning America website, Clinton’s visit to Rwanda in 2008 with his daughter Chelsea is highlighted. After describing their movements through the Rwandan countryside, the article ends with a sense of reflection on what happened in 1994:

[quote] Clinton says he doesn’t feel any “guilt” that the genocide occurred while he was president of the United States.

‘No, not guilt. I’ve atoned for that,’ Clinton said. ‘I’ve been here in 1998 and told them I was sorry. But I do feel a lifetime responsibility.

Clinton continued, ‘When I left the White House, I told [Rwandan] President [Reuben] Kigame that I felt I should do whatever I could for the rest of my life to help them become whole and make a new beginning.[/quote]

Today, Rwanda continues a remarkable recovery. Rwanda’s economy suffered heavily during the 1994 Genocide, but has since strengthened. It is now one of the safest and most orderly countries in Africa.

In an interview with NY Magazine, author and expert on the genocide, Philip Gourevitch, describes the incredible and inspiring leadership of president Kagame, who has brought Rwanda back to phenomenal recovery:

He’s become, probably Africa’s pre-eminent evangelist of entrepreneurship and freedom from foreign aid.

You can pull up the fascinating 12 minute audio of the interview HERE.

So many men were killed in the genocide of ’94 in Rwanda, that when the smoke cleared, the population was 70% female. This was a deeply wounded nation, where 200,000 people had HIV and 800,000 children were orphaned.

Kagame, whose personal friends includes people like Bill Clinton and Rick Warren, rolled with the punches, and began to champion women at every level of society.

‘You shut that population out of economic activity at your peril,’ he told an interviewer. ‘The decision to involve women, we did not leave it to chance,’  he added. ‘In the constitution, we said that women have to make up 30 percent of the parliament.’

The result has been a new Rwanda that has amazed outside observers. It has one of the fastest growing economies on Africa and also one of the least corrupt and best-governed countries in Africa.

Rwanda has proven on the macro level what can happen if the right lesson is carried forward and if women are given a platform to make a difference in every level of life. Gendercide can be answered with gender empowerment.

So the question must be asked: can women who are rescued from human trafficking and the slave trade find their place as healers and world changers? Why not?

Opening Eyes and Changing Minds

The human trafficking epidemic is something that most of us have very little understanding of. We read an article or see a news clip, and our curiosity is piqued. Then we watch a movie like “Trade” or read a book like “Not For Sale,” and we make the transition from bystander to abolitionist. Yet the question we all face is “now what?” The fact is, the process has only begun within us. The ripple has just begun. It will grow into a wave as we discover more people like ourselves, who feel a fire emerging in our belly and are intent on doing something about the truth we have encountered.

[quote type=”center”] Human trafficking statistics are just numbers until we connect the stories and the faces to them [/quote]

Human trafficking statistics are just numbers until we connect the stories and the faces to them. Human trafficking solutions seem impotent as we ask ourselves “What can be done? What can I do?” Human trafficking in Moldova, for example, is so deeply embedded in the psyche of that country that only a militant fight to turn the hearts and minds of this generation—in the schools, in the neighborhoods, in the family gatherings—will turn the tide. Sure, addressing poverty is a big art of the solution, as is passing laws. But we must be reminded that human trafficking is a big money proposition for all parties involved, including parents and relatives who sell their children to address their “poverty.” So too, corrupt officials, feeling overworked and underpaid, are everywhere in every country, lining their pockets and reaching for the fringe benefits of their position. At JFY, we are presently investing our efforts in an all out strategy to place into the hearts and minds of the youth of Eastern Europe a desire and determination to stand up for themselves.

For the rest of the world who have not heard the penny drop, we continue to reach out and spread the word. Human trafficking—the brutal exploitation of this generation of at risk youth– is more real and more pervasive than any of us dare to admit or believe. In many ways we are only beginning to scratch the surface.

Undercover Abolitionist

There are people out there—fellow abolitionists— who inspire, encourage and propel all us to open our eyes, get involved and make a difference. One such person is Mimi Chakarova. This daring young lady decided to enter the world of human trafficking as a photo journalist, undercover. She exposed herself to the culture so she could bring to us all a vivid and heart rending view of the real story on the ground. She has produced some excellent documentaries, including Sex Trafficking Documentary “The Price of Sex.” She explains her plight below in this short video clip…

The movie Trade, starring Kevin Kline (2007), is a riveting, true to life depiction of the human trafficking industry no holds barred. On a number of occasions during my viewing I struggled to contain my emotions and wondered if I could continue watching without taking a break to absorb it all. The movie is that good, that authentic. And human trafficking is that disturbing.

The story opens in the barrios of Mexico City, with an all-Spanish dialogue. I was instantly reminded of City of Joy,  in that this movie, too, unashamedly immersed me the third world and placed me at the ground level, in the culture, from start to finish. There is no glamor here. There are no special effects or edited content to dramatize or soften the story.

The characters are unforgettable. There’s the 18 year old maverick son who, himself involved in street crime, discovers that his thirteen year old sister has been kidnapped and does not rest until he finds her. There are the trafficking victims, looking heavenward in hopes of survival. There is the Russian mafia and the Mexican mafia and the smaller players who play their part in this tale of terror. There’s an American man, played by Kevin Kline, who is on a search for his missing daughter. There are the corrupt officials, the border crossings and the weeping parents.

[quote type=”center”] The sense of loss. The loss of innocence. The despair of the trapped. The passionate desperation of the hero to save the lost. [/quote]

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. But I am warning you: it is graphic. It is disturbing. But it is real. If you watch it, you will be moved. I promise.

Human trafficking of girls is a global epidemic. International human trafficking is a very lucrative business and attracts a very sordid group of organized criminals. This movie will introduce you to an inside look at the modern day slave trade and the plight of at risk youth.

Find it, rent it, watch it. If you can’t find it at the video store, do what I did. If you don’t already have an account, take Netflix (or Amazon Prime) up on their free trial offer and watch it on-line. And when you’ve finished watching come back here and drop us a comment. We would love to have your in-put, and better yet, we would love to have you join us as we seek to stop this vicious attack on our youth.

Sex Trafficking Examined

Dateline November 5, 2012–the Associated Press

“Experts testifying before a new Alaska task force on sex trafficking said Monday the teenage victims often are too afraid and embarrassed, and sometimes too addicted to drugs, to come forward…”

[button link=”http://news.yahoo.com/alaska-sex-trafficking-task-force-holds-hearing-012326877.html” color=”lightblue” newwindow=”yes”] Read More: Sex Trafficking Under The Magnifying Glass[/button]

[quote type=”center”] Justice For Orphans exists to rally people for the cause of the fatherless by bringing awareness of the global orphan crisis and championing hope and purpose for the orphan. [/quote]

A homeschooling mom in upstate New York has launched an initiative to help orphans and raise awareness on human trafficking, and is inviting you to get involved!

[button link=”http://advocacy.justiceforyouth.org/human-trafficking-solutions/justice-for-orphans/” color=”lightblue” newwindow=”yes”] Find Out More About JFO[/button]

Born Into Brothels

In the critically acclaimed brothel documentary “Born Into Brothels,” photographer Zana Briski goes to a red light district in Calcutta to see for herself what life is like there. Not able to get a genuine glimpse of what was really going on was a tad frustrating at first.

[quote type=”center”]”It’s almost impossible to photograph in the red light district,” she explains. “It’s a whole separate society within itself. I mean, you just walk down that one lane and it’s another world.”[/quote]

But something happened that took her venture down a whole new path:

“As soon as I enter the brothels I met the children…”

These remarkable little people swept her off her feet and she decided to try and see the world through their eyes. The documentary is the chronicle of eight children that she worked with and what she discovered as they opened up to her. A moment of truth arrives when one of the young girls confides

“The women ask me, ‘When are you going to join the line?’ The say it won’t be long.”

Zana realizes she needs to do something to try and get these children out of the brothels and into a safe place where they can thrive. Her response, and the adventures in photography and life that she experienced in Calcutta, are captured in this remarkable 2004 film.

Jyoti Kalash: Bringing Hope To Brothel Children

In west India, a group of dedicated people are have made it their life goal to reach the brothel kids and offer them hope. “Jyoti Kalash” is committed long term to making a real difference in the lives of  these brothel children of Mumbai, India’s largest city. These are children of trafficked women–commercial sex workers–and this NGO is committed to providing them a “safe place” to grow up.  Justice For Youth made contact with Vera Fernandes who works with JK. You can read more about Vera and what she is doing to help these kids by clicking the link below:

[button link=”http://advocacy.justiceforyouth.org/reaching-the-brothel-children/” newwindow=”yes”] Reaching The Brothel Children[/button]

We have been informed by JFY Advocate Dipa Vaya that a brand new group has formed on the campus of the University of Kent in London. This group has participated in the very same Stop The Traffik UN Gift Box campaign that we engaged in during the Olympics. It is great to see another group of young abolitionists making waves!

[button link=”http://advocacy.justiceforyouth.org/ukc-against-human-trafficking/” color=”lightblue” newwindow=”yes”] Read More: UKC Against Human Trafficking[/button]