Human Trafficking: Breaking the Chains
August 4, 2015
Seeds of Mission and Ministry
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to
proclaim release to the captives and
to let the prisoners go free. (Luke 4:)
This passage from Luke reflects the mission statement of Jesus. It is this reading, as well, that provides the focus for the realization of many of my dreams throughout my life's journey especially when I was a chaplain in a women's prison. I constantly heard stories of women beaten, battered and bruised by partners, johns or pimps.
No Longer Silent in the Horror
The first time I witnessed a woman in shackles and chains a cold chill ran down my spine. I felt paralyzed. The sight was an awakening for me. Someone had to be a voice for the voiceless. No longer could I remain silent about the conditions in this women's prison, situations like the one I encountered. I later learned that the woman was going to a dentist appointment and was stripped-searched before and after she left the prison.
How could I, as a woman, not respond to the degrading situation before me? I felt appalled that men had the right to buy us and turn our bodies into commodities and women were the ones imprisoned for the crime. How could I not respond as a Sister of Mercy knowing Catherine McAuley's vision was one based on freeing people from exploitation? How could I not respond when I heard story after story of this heinous crime known as Human Trafficking- Our Modern Day Slavery
Over time I witnessed the level of crime escalate in our province. Drugs became rampant, prostitution was growing and human trafficking began to rear its ugly head even more. Our university was displaying posters looking for "fresh flesh" in return for payment of tuition fees. Each night in our newspaper there were ads advertising the times when Korean and Asian women would be available in our province for sexual favors. Massage parlors were set up where naked women provided sexual favors to men. Clothes in some of our department stores were made in factories where child labour was a reality.
After a few years, I became a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition Against Human Trafficking with the hope that I could become an advocate, companion and teacher with the people I met in my different support groups. I was volunteering with a group known as Stella's Circle. Their vision was "to give a hand up, not a hand out." This was also so reflective of the vision of Catherine McAuley.
Promise in the Projects
As part of Stella's Circle, we undertook various projects. One was the production of a film, 'Not Every Sentence Ends With a Period' dealing with the needs of women when they are incarcerated. Another project recently initiated by Stella's Circle was one known as 'Through My Eyes.' This photography exhibition provided an understanding of stigma and other experiences in the lives of seven women. The women were unable to tell their story of abuse and human trafficking verbally so they utilized photographs. As I came to the end of one set of photos, I discovered a picture of myself with one of the women. Her picture was entitled "Lifesaver." The woman wrote a sentence explaining how I have been a lifesaver for her over the past ten years of her journey. Needless to say, I was very moved by the picture and her perception of me.
Patience in the Waiting
My ministry in the area of human trafficking has impacted my life in many ways. I have had to change the "moral tapes" in my head so I am not as judgmental as I was previously in my life. My heart has become softer, gentler, and more compassionate. A huge change of heart for me has been in the area of fear. My values seemed so different from the people I was meeting in various circles. Women told me they had sunk so low they were now stealing toilet tissue from various stores. Their whole philosophy was, 'Sister Margie, a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do."'These words continue to haunt me.
What Mercy People Need to Know
There is much Mercy people need to know about human trafficking. One frightening realization is that criminal organizations are increasingly attracted to human trafficking because, unlike drugs, humans can be sold repeatedly and thus become a renewable source of income. The root causes of trafficking include gender inequality, poverty, and lack of knowledge of the dangers of trafficking. The number of trafficked people is rising in staggering proportions. Between 21-30 million people are enslaved throughout the world and this degrading work generates almost $ 150 million dollars in illegal revenue annually.
Mercy people need to know the three elements that constitute human trafficking:
The Act (What is done):
Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons
The Means (How it is done):
Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments of benefits to a person in control of the victim
The Purposes: (Why it is done):
The why includes exploitation, which includes the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.
Human trafficking includes promises, money, seduction, intimidation, threats, exploitation, control, and pimps. These are sometimes referred to as the "PUSH" and "PULL" factors that contribute to trafficking in persons.
It is well documented that there is a connection between sporting events and human trafficking.
What Can Mercy People Do?
The reality is that most people do not know that human slavery still exists which is why raising awareness is an important piece in the fight against trafficking. Through education, awareness and activism we can hopefully end this slavery. One of the first initiatives is to recognize that every person has a basic human right to freedom and self-determination.
Canada focuses on four core areas, known as the 4-Pillars:
*The prevention of human trafficking
*The protection of victims
*The prosecution of offenders
*Working in partnership with others both domestically and internationally
In the event that a person comes forward, he/she must receive a sympathetic and compassionate response from all support services he/ she meets. These people need support services of counselling, employment and financial security to start rebuilding their lives. One of our problems here in Newfoundland and Labrador is that we do not have the availability of a safe house for trafficked people.
In terms of what we, as Mercy people, can do to stop this horrific form of modern day slavery, I like the manner in which one of our organizations in Newfoundland summarizes it:
Think before you buy.
Reach out to children, youth, women, men, Aboriginal people
Advocate for justice by petitions, letter writing, education, mentoring
Form relationships with the most vulnerable.
Fight injustice
Imagine a world without trafficking
Champion prevention by learning the red flags of HT
Keep praying
Brightness on the Horizon:
Why do I stay in this ministry? There are little glimmers of life, little sparks of hope, little moments of truth that become a life-giving experience for people I meet on the journey. I can bring Catherine McAuley's charism of mercy into the lives of those whom I meet. I can provide a listening ear, a compassionate heart, advice to people on various issues, advocate for the rights of women/men, find a teachable moment to assure them they do not deserve to be exploited. I feel inspired by the initiatives of various organizations involved in partnerships to combat this crime which robs its victims of their dignity and their most basic rights. I desire to be part of that system which will hopefully bring perpetrators to justice.
I'm Not For Sale
'I'm Not For Sale' is a tool kit designed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to raise awareness of one of the greatest atrocities of our time. Many of us are unaware of the scope and scale of this crime. It is one that strips people of their rights, ruins their dreams, and robs them of their dignity. It flourishes because there is a demand for the services trafficked people are forced to provide.
Today we live in a global community and thus we need to work in partnerships with organizations, communities, churches, police officials, legislators to empower women in our day to raise themselves out of the poverty and oppression which makes them vulnerable to sexual violence. We need to break the chains of bondage for children. women and men so they can proclaim, "''M NOT FOR SALE'.
- Margie Taylor rsm - Newfoundland
