Human Trafficking

i got the great opportunity to share last night on the tough subject of Human Trafficking. i hope that i got to shed the light on a truly evil thing that is going on in today's world. human trafficking effects 27 million people around the world. there is more slaves today than there ever has been in the history of the world. we are to be a light to these people. there are some ways to combat this right now, even if its just a little.

START NOW!

Human Trafficking Stats

•27 million- Number of people in modern-­day slavery across the world.
•It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the 21st century - a nine billion dollar industry.
•1.2 million children are trafficked every year
•600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors.
•Human trafficking in the second largest source of illegal income worldwide exceeded only by drugs trafficking.
•Types of recruitment; include abduction, false agreement with parents, sold by parents, runaways, travel with family, orphans sold from street or institutions
•161 Countries identified as affected by human trafficking: 127 countries of origin; 98 transit countries; 137 destination countries.

Not just in European Countries:
Human Trafficking of U.S. citizens within the U.S.:
•The United States is one of the top three destination points for trafficked victims, along with Japan and Australia. California, New York, Texas and Nevada are the top destination states in the country.
•244,000- Number of American children and youth estimated to be at risk of child sexual exploitation, including commercial sexual exploitation, in 2000.
•12-­14- Average age of entry into prostitution
•Los Angeles is one of the top three points of entry into this country for victims of slavery and trafficking. The diverse communities of this sprawling city make it easier to hide and move victims from place to place, making it very difficult for law enforcement to locate potential survivors.
•Immigration agents estimate that 10,000 women are being held in Los Angeles' underground brothels; this does not include the thousands of victims in domestic work, sweatshops or other informal industries.

Here are some great sources that i mentioned last night. get on there and get informed and create awareness!

HERE ARE SOME GREAT SITES THAT ARE ALL ABOUT STOPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING (click on them to view them). All of these sites have information on how you can create AWARENESS around you today:

STOP THE TRAFFIK
INVISIBLE CHILDREN
LOVE 146 (the shirt i was wearing last night)
A21 CAMPAIGN
OXFAM
NOT FOR SALE CAMPAIGN

HERE ARE SOME FAIR TRADE STORE SITES TO WATCH WHAT YOU BUY:

THE HUNGER SITE STORE
Fair Trade (Where to buy fair trade items)
Global Stewards

i hope this helps to start to spark the fire to start sharing what is going on around this world!

Psalm 82:3-4 (New International Version)

3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

4 Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.