Compilation of Resources on Opposing Human Trafficking

'Supply chain management (SCM) continues to evolve. Yes, there’s yet another new dimension to the space that is grabbing everyone’s attention. Corporate responsibility is being redefined. Governments are no longer asking global companies to avoid irresponsible sources of supply, they’re insisting on it. .. See: Governments Take Aim At Human Trafficking -- A New Dimension In Supply Chain Management. Read it here

The Church of England is setting up a network of champions to work alongside police forces and statutory and non-statutory agencies to support victims of human trafficking. See: New network of champions to combat human trafficking. Read it here

Caritas and partners to advance fight against Human Trafficking. Read the article here

Pope Francis message to the Santa Marta Group (a global alliance of international police chiefs and bishops working together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking) which has been meeting in Spain that 'Combating human trafficking is moral imperative' can be read here

An article in the latest issue of US Catholic proposes seven simple steps you can take to make a difference in the lives of trafficking victims. Read the article here

The Pontifical Council of Migrant and Itinerant People's has issued a final document following an international symposium on the Pastoral Care of the Road. The document and plan of action offers reflections and recommendations highlighting the scurge of human trafficking and calls on states and governments to "protect with all legal measures children and women earning a living or living on roads and streets, who are often victims of socio-economic inconsistencies and/or human trafficking..'. Read the document here

'Human trafficking in the US: Sisters' networks and ministries break the cycle one life at a time' looks specifically at the efforts of Benedictines in South Dakota, whose education and other ministry centers on the I-29 corridor and the particular vulnerability of Native American young women living there. Read the article here

 JULY -SEPTEMBER

'Difret' is based on a real-life story. Hirut aged 14, faced a possible 25-year prison sentence for killing a man who had abducted and raped her in order to marry her. In her village, the practice of abduction into marriage is common and one of Ethiopia’s oldest traditions. Due for release in the US in fall 2015. Watch the trailer here (02:12)

'Holy See condemns human trafficking as “crime against humanity”‎' Msgr. Janusz Urbanczyk, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations in Vienna, used the strong words to condemn the practice on Monday in an address to the ‎15th  conference of the ‘Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons’, ‎convoked by the Organization for Security ‎and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). A report on the conference can be found here

'How Pimps in Mexico's Smallest State Trick Young Girls Into the World of Sex Trafficking'. Read the report here

New research just launched by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirms that trafficking in persons and other forms of exploitation occur in times of crisis yet remain largely overlooked in the context of humanitarian response. The press release can be read here. The full briefing document  'Addressing Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Times of Crisis' can be read here (14pps; PDF).

United Way Worldwide, the world's largest charity, has launched a center to combat modern-day slavery and is pushing to make the eradication of human trafficking a priority for the next U.S. president', reports Thomson Reuters Foundation. Read the article here. Visit the center here

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Microsoft on Tuesday launched 6degree.org, a crowdfunding portal that allows people to directly support survivors through online donations.

'Ending Human Trafficking: Building a Better World and Partnerships for Sustainable Security and Human Dignity'. Remarks by David M. Luna at the OECD-APEC Roundtable on Combating Corruption Related to Human Trafficking. Read the article here

In India, 'Trafficking of minor girls – the second-most prevalent trafficking crime – surged 14 times over the last decade and increased 65% in 2014, according to new data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)'.  Read the article here

'Putting slavery firmly on development agenda is just the beginning' writes Kevin Hyland, the UK’s first independent anti-slavery commissioner. Read the article here

'Source Intelligence: New Provisions to the Modern Day Slavery Act to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery in Global Supply Chains' Read the article here

'Amnesty International Turns Its Back on Women'. Report from the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International (CATW). Read it here

The 2015 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has been released. It can be read here in a variety of formats

The SDGS have been adopted by consensus. Read: 'Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development' (finalised text for adoption, 1 August) available online here (29pps; PDF).

Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets announced in this document is that of 8.7:  'Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms'.

JUNE

'Number of Displaced People Hits Record High, Fuels Boom in Human Trafficking' reports The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Read the article here

'USF For Freedom Symposium Tackles Human Trafficking and Slavery'. Read the article here

The International Labour Organization (ILO) - the UN agency for the world of work, and its partners - has launched the '50 for freedom' campaign to help influence at least 50 countries to ratify the ILO Protocol by 2018.The Protocol requires countries to take extra measures to combat modern slavery while helping the survivors get their lives back.* Read more and sign up here * Acerca de Nosotros

A specialised centre for women and children victims of human trafficking in Vietnam, built in the framework of a project launched in 2007 with the support of The Spanish Cooperation, has become a reference model for the local system for the protection of victims. Read the article here. The handbook which describes the journey of clients, from the initial contact and arrival at the Peace House Shelter and the process of recovery and reintegration, can be downloaded here (72 pps; PDF)

'European banks join drive to combat human trafficking using data' Read the article here

'U.S. flight attendants seek mandatory training to spot human trafficking'. Read the article here The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union.Their statement can be read here. The website 'Hidden in plane sight' can be found here

-Zainab Hawa Bangura, the United Nations special representative of the secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, recently completed a 12-day trip to assess the use of rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage as a strategy of war and tactic of terror in the Middle East, particularly by the Islamic State. A video interview can be seen here (02:12). A report in theguardian online can be read here

Conference organised by Thomas Reuters Foundation in London, 17-18 November. Agenda: 'Empower women worldwide and fight modern-day slavery'. Details here. Details about scholarships to attend can be found here

'U.S. flight attendants seek mandatory training to spot human trafficking'. Read the article here The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union.Their statement can be read here. The website 'Hidden in plane sight' can be found here

-Zainab Hawa Bangura, the United Nations special representative of the secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, recently completed a 12-day trip to assess the use of rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage as a strategy of war and tactic of terror in the Middle East, particularly by the Islamic State. A video interview can be seen here (02:12). A report in theguardian online can be read here

COATNET - Christian Organisations Against Trafficking in Human Beings is a network coordinated by Caritas. Their video 'Crossing continents, breaking chains' can be viewed here (02:31)

MAY

A tool that will automatically trawl the internet for escort ads and sort them into a searchable database could be a transformative new weapon in the fight against human trafficking. Read the article here

House Passes Legislation to Increase Services for Victims of Human Trafficking. Read the article here

In a new report, UNODC warns the smuggling of migrants poses a significant threat to Asia, generating an annual value of $2 billion for criminal groups and leading to deaths and human rights abuses.The report also stresses that a significant number of migrants use smugglers to cross borders in order to seek a better life, but end up in human trafficking situations. Read the report here (341 pps; PDF)

'Opportunists are pouncing on the chaos in Nepal to force vulnerable people into slavery. It's not a new problem – but one we urgently need to address.' Read the article here

The Vatican and COATNET (Christian Organizations Against Trafficking in Human Beings) have teamed up against human trafficking. Read the article here

'Nuns Intercede for Victims of Sex Trafficking in Italy.' Read the article here

APRIL

On 22 April, representatives of several Catholic groups, including the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and Mercy International, met with members of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The meeting was arranged by Ryan Murphy, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas justice team member. 

Sisters of Mercy representatives were Jeanne Christensen rsm, Ryan Murphy and  Denise Boyle fmdm (Mercy International, via phone from Ireland). 

Read the Report on the State Department briefing here (PDF)

That same day Sister Jeanne Christensen, Justice Advocate – Human Trafficking and Marlyn Capio Richter, a trafficking survivor who shared her story, met with Congressional staff members to share with them the Catholic response to the tragedy of human trafficking. Ryan Murphy, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas justice team member, arranged and facilitated the briefing.

Read the Report on the meeting with Congressional Staff here (PDF)

In the wake of the latest tragedy over the weekend in which up to 900 refugees fleeing war and persecution drowned in the Mediterranean, 'The EU has set out a package of measures to try to ease the migrant boat crisis in the Mediterranean.The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the 10-point package set out at talks in Luxembourg was a "strong reaction from the EU to the tragedies" and "shows a new sense of urgency and political will. We are developing a truly European sense of solidarity in fighting human trafficking - finally so."' Read the article here

A report on Pope Francis' meeting on 18 April with the members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences,  in Rome for their plenary session to discuss ways to combat human trafficking, can be found here

'Famed economist Jeffrey Sachs, who is now a special advisor to the secretary general of the United Nations, has called on Pope Francis to press the global body to include the fight against human trafficking among its 17 new sustainable development goals'. The article 'Pope urged to press UN on fight against human slavery' can be read here.

The Philippines and the Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a more thorough partnership in battling cross-border human trafficking. Read the article here

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 [United Kingdom],  the first of its kind in Europe, and one of the first in the world, to specifically address slavery and trafficking in the 21st century, received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015. Details of the Act can be read here

'Human Trafficking: African Perspective'. JURIST Guest Columnist Tseliso Thipanyane, of Safer South Africa Foundation and Columbia University Law School, discusses human trafficking and slavery issues in Africa and the causes ... Read the article here

MARCH

“We can change all the laws we want—but until we change the attitudes and respect for human beings, all this work is for nothing,” said Cindy McCain, head of the McCain Institute’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council, at a panel discussion on 3 March at The Heritage Foundation. Watch Combating Human Trafficking: Evaluating the Roles of Government and Civil Society (1:47:26). Read the backgrounder: Combating Human Trafficking in Asia Requires U.S. Leadership

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered last week’s Republican address on bipartisan legislation to curb domestic human trafficking.  The legislation passed in the committee by a unanimous vote. The U.S. Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of human trafficking legislation this week. Watch/listen/read his address here (04:47)

Human Trafficking | Anne Victory | TEDxYoungstown

A discussion on slavery and the many types of slavery going on today. An introduction to the topic.
Anne Victory, HM, currently serves as Education Coordinator for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. Recorded 5 February 2015. Watch it here (14:20)

Men, women and children who are trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation experience high levels of abuse and severe physical and mental health problems, researchers have reported in a new study published in The Lancet Global Health. Read the article in Medical News Today. Read the study 'Health of men, women, and children in post-trafficking services in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam: an observational cross-sectional study' in The Lancet (8pps; PDF)

FEBRUARY

'Hedging Risk by Combatting Human Trafficking: Insights from the Private Sector'. This report, released on 18 February from the World Economic Forum, has been prepared by the Network of Global Agenda Councils task force on human trafficking. It looks at how sectors such as finance and technology are using big data to find patterns in human trafficking. Read the report here (24pps; PDF)

The International Anglican Family Network (IAFN) and the International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN) have produced a joint newsletter for January 2015 on the subject of human trafficking which  looks at how churches can partner each other and with other agencies to prevent human trafficking; how they are supporting survivors in very different contexts, and how they are raising awareness in their communities. Read the newsletter here (12 pps; PDF)

'On Social Justice Day [20 February], UN spotlights human trafficking, modern slavery'.

“New instruments such as the ILO (International Labour Organization) Protocol and Recommendation on forced labour and human trafficking are helping to strengthen global efforts to punish perpetrators and end impunity,” said Ban Ki-moon in a message marking the Day. “We must continue to do more. We simply cannot achieve development for all if we leave behind those who are socially and economically exploited.” Read the article here.

The New Colossus, a Non Profit focused on education and awareness of Sex Trafficking in South Dakota and the Midwest USA has recently released a video clip "The Sky Is Falling (Patti Jo's Prayer)" - Steve Azar (04:42). Play/watch it here Second Level (Secondary) Teachers this could be a suitable resource for your classes on this subject.

Editor: In preparation for the first World Day of Prayer..., the Mercy Global Action Working Group Opposing Human Trafficking has prepared a prayer service which you are invited to use, in whole or in part, on 8 February, on any of the other significant dates in 2015, or at another awareness raising event.

Remaining key dates for 2015 include:
20 February: World Day of Social Justice
8 March: UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
25 March: International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade
12 April: International Day for Street Children
12 June: World Day Against Child Labour
20 June: World Refugee Day
26 June: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
30 July: UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
23 August: International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
11 October: International Day of the Girl Child
17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18 October: EU Anti-Trafficking Day
25 November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
2 December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
10 December: Human Rights Day
Fair trade Fortnight (local timing)

Download the Prayer Service here: A4 paper size (8pps; PDF); US Letter Size (8 pps; PDF)

Additional resources to support the prayer service are linked to this item.

The Super Bowl took place last Sunday, 1 February. Among the articles published in the lead up to this major sporting event was this article in the Huffington Post: 'Amid Super Bowl Human Trafficking Hype, A Reminder That 70% Of Victims Are Sold Online Year-Round'. Read the article here

Last Friday, 30 January, 2015, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, in a statement read by the Chargé d'Affaires of the Mission, Mgr Janusz Urbanczyk, spoke to  the UN Security Council about the dangers posed to innocent civilians, especially women and girls, in armed conflicts. Among the points he made was that 'reports of violence committed against women in the most brutal and horrific forms, including sexual slavery, rape and trafficking are increasing'. Read the statement here

'Bringing Human Trafficking to Justice: The Civil Rights Division's Pursuit of Freedom, Rights, and Dignity For Victims of Human Trafficking'. Article by Mark Kappelhoff , Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice. Read the article here

JANUARY

The American Psychological Association’s report on The Trafficking of Women and Girls has now been released. The Executive Summary can be downloaded here (38 pps; PDF). The Report can be downloaded here (91 pps; PDF). The report can be read in sections here

'Migrants dreaming of Europe have their pick of social media sites that work like an online travel agent, advertising fares and offering tips on secure payments. Meanwhile, the traffickers who send them floating across the Mediterranean are buying scrapyard cargo ships over the Internet,' according to a report on CBS News. Read the report here

'A recent article published in The Australian [newspaper] examined a reported increase in human trafficking and slavery in Australia, with the exploitation of trafficked people working in industries such as agriculture, construction and hospitality on the rise.' Read the article in 'Red Cross' Support for Trafficked People Program has almost doubled since 2009.' here

UNODC Supports Sudanese Efforts to Curb Human Trafficking. 'As one of the largest countries in Africa, Sudan has become a transit hub of mixed migration flows from the Horn of Africa to North Africa and Europe. The irregular nature of many of these migrants often puts them in a very vulnerable position as they lack protection and are thus susceptible to being victimised through kidnapping, extortion and human trafficking.

In response, the Sudanese Government adopted a law to combat human trafficking on 3 March 2014, and on 2 December 2014 acceded to the United Nations  Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children supplementing the  United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.  Furthermore, Sudan recently established  a National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking.' Read the article here.

'Battle Heats Up Over Legalisation of Sex Work in India'.

A recent study conducted by the Indian philanthropic non-profit Dasra found that roughly half of trafficking victims in India are adolescent girls, while the average age of sex workers has dropped from 14-16, to 10-14, “because young girls are believed to have a lower risk of carrying a sexually transmitted disease”.

“Most victims come from rural areas, over 70 percent are illiterate, and almost half reported that their families earned just about one dollar [per day],” the report stated. Read the article here

Messages to: the Editor

2014

2013 -14