“A Vulnerable World: The High Price of Human Trafficking”
“A
Vulnerable World: The High Price of Human Trafficking” is a beautifully written
and powerful journey through the world of human trafficking. Within its pages,
Elise Graveline Hilton incorporates a wealth of knowledge and insight earned
through her tireless work battling the scourge of human trafficking to expose
the dark underbelly of a silent plague on humanity. She leaves no stone
unturned in exposing the darkness that ravages the innocence of our children
and leaves them helplessly adrift in a world of broken hopes and dreams. From
the age of five, I was trafficked by a pedophile ring and for seven years I
suffered in a chaotic nightmare as a slave to the darkest depths of depravity.
Elise Graveline Hilton has dedicated her life to saving the next child from the
nightmare that I endured and she has been a source of unbridled hope and
inspiration not only for me but also for all victims and survivors. She is a
tireless advocate for the voiceless and forgotten of this world and I am
honored to have my story included in her book.
“A Vulnerable World: The High Price of Human Trafficking” is imbued with
the knowledge and the passion of a true hero for those caught in an inescapable
web of darkness. God Bless you Elise Graveline Hilton, you have made the world
is a better place with your passion and dedication to making a difference. “A
Vulnerable World: The High Price of Human Trafficking” is a guide to a better
tomorrow as it both heralds the plight of the suffering and empowers us with
the knowledge to bring about the eradication of the scourge of human
trafficking!
Warmest
Regards,
Jerome
Elam
“A Vulnerable World: The High Price of Human
Trafficking” can be purchased on Amazon.com by clicking here:
Financial and Legal Resources for Victims of Sex Trafficking
Abolitionist William Wilberforce said, “You can choose to look the other way, but you can never say again you did not know.”
For Victims of Sex Trafficking:
Thistle Farms
Thistle Farms employs almost 60 Magdalene
residents or graduates. While working at Thistle Farms, women learn skills in
manufacturing, packaging, marketing and sales, and administration. It is a
supportive workplace where women acquire the skills they need to earn a living
wage. Employees have the opportunity to put a percentage of their earnings in a
matched savings account provided by Magdalene. Through Thistle Farms, the women
of Magdalene gain much needed job skills, and learn responsibility and
cooperation. Thistle Farms is housed in an 11,000 square feet sales and
manufacturing facility. Thistle Stop Cafe, and the paper and sewing studios are
also in the same building. We are committed to growing in order to employ more
women and have greater opportunities to share our stories of healing on a
larger scale.
Issues Affecting Women Programme (IAW)
In the Issues Affecting Women Programme (IAW),
we fund two priority areas (pillars): movement building and ending violence
against women. Within the first pillar, we fund initiatives that promote
movement building through women's funds, "anchor” women’s organisations
and networks. Within the second pillar, we focus more specifically on: human
trafficking and exploitation; intra-familial violence; and violence against
women that takes place in situations of crisis.
FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP FOR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN THE WORKS AT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Sabre sets up first-ever educational scholarship program for human trafficking survivors -
See more at: http://www.sabre.com/newsroom/sabre-sets-up-first-ever-educational-scholarship-program-for-human-trafficking-survivors/#sthash.qssMsbwW.dpuf
University of Michigan Free Legal Services for Human Trafficking Victims:
The
HTC is the first legal clinic solely dedicated to human trafficking in
the United States. It offers students at the University of Michigan Law
School the opportunity to gain practical skills in the legal fields
related to helping victims of human trafficking. The students in the
clinic also run community outreach and education initiatives and conduct
research about the state of laws relating to human trafficking. Not
only do the students gain valuable advocacy skills, they have been and
will continue to be instrumental in protecting victims' rights, in
shaping the policy conversation, and in drafting the language used in
amendments to trafficking laws.
http://www.law.umich.edu/clinical/humantraffickingclinicalprogram/Pages/default.aspx
THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
In the United States, the average age of entry into sexual slavery is 13, and about 80% of sex buyers do so for the first time before age 25.
NEST equips teachers and youth leaders with age-appropriate curriculum and resources to educate and empower youth – teaching them how to avoid being trafficked, how to stand up for victims of trafficking, and how to spread the word in their communities so that sexual exploitation and human trafficking become a thing of the past.
http://nesteducators.org
National Educators to Stop Trafficking
THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
In the United States, the average age of entry into sexual slavery is 13, and about 80% of sex buyers do so for the first time before age 25.
NEST equips teachers and youth leaders with age-appropriate curriculum and resources to educate and empower youth – teaching them how to avoid being trafficked, how to stand up for victims of trafficking, and how to spread the word in their communities so that sexual exploitation and human trafficking become a thing of the past.
http://nesteducators.org
How To Identify A Human Trafficking Victim
• Seems anxious, fearful or paranoid. Avoids eye contact.• Tearfulness or signs of depression.
• Unexplained bruises or cuts or other signs of physical abuse.
• Appears to be in a relationship with someone who is dominating.
• Never is alone and/or always has someone translating or answering questions on their behalf.
• Not in control of their own finances.
• Presents with secrecy or unable to answer questions about where they live.
• Inconsistent details when telling their story.
• Has no identification such as a license, passport or other ID documents.
Inability to leave their job or residence. Says they cannot schedule appointments.
Being a recent arrival to the United States and does not speak English.
Is under 18 and providing commercial sex acts. Or at any age unwillingly providing commercial sex acts.
Is afraid of law enforcement or receiving help from an outside entity.
If you can find an opportunity to get he/she alone, ask him/her the following screening questions:
Can you leave your job or house when you want?
Where did you get those bruises or is anyone hurting you?
Do you get paid for your employment? Is it fair? How many hours do you work?
(If foreign national) How did you get to the U.S. and is it what you expected? Are you being forced to do anything you don't want to do?
Are you or your family being threatened?
Do you live with or near your employer? Does your employer provide you housing? Are there locks on doors or windows from outside?
Do you owe debt to anyone?
If you suspect they are a victim of human trafficking,take the following actions:
Ask the person if you can help them find a safe place to go immediately.
If they need time, create an action plan with them to get to a safe place when they are ready.
Call and make a report to the human trafficking hotline at 1.888.3737.888. The hotline has language capabilities, so any individual can call directly if they choose.
The Department of Homeland Security online training about how to spot the signs of and report suspected human trafficking:
The Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign is now offering online training about how to spot the signs of and report suspected human trafficking. The training is aimed at the general public, the Federal workforce, first responders, and airline employees and focuses on:• Defining human trafficking
• Differentiating between human trafficking and human smuggling
• Recognizing populations vulnerable to human trafficking
• Recognizing indicators of human trafficking
A glossary and additional resources also are provided. View the Human Trafficking Awareness Training on the Department of Homeland Security's website:
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/training/dhs_awareness_training_fy12/launchPage.htm
Jerome Elam
Staff Writer and Columnist for Communities Digital News http://www.commdiginews.com
Read my column here:
A Heart Without Compromise; Advocating for Children:
http://www.commdiginews.com/column/a-heart-without-compromise-advocating-for-children-2/
Follow me on Social Media:
Stories by Jerome Elam : Contently
jeromeelam.contently.com
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An end to silence blog by Jerome Elam :http://bit.ly/J17wWz
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein
Always remember that you are never alone and that others have walked the healing path before you and are here to lift you up! Also remember that as survivors and victims, alone we may be strong but together we are unbeatable!
