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C sistersagainsttrafficking.org a t h o l ic

Si st er s A gainst Human Trafficking Human Trafficking and Children

Awareness country in the world is guilty of reports that at least 100,000 children human trafficking, whether it is a in the USA are sexually exploited. Human trafficking (Modern Slavery) country where trafficked people “Pimps market and sell children for involves the use of force or fraud to originate, or through which they are sex—openly—at popular online control another person for purposes transported, or whether it serves as classified sites. They sell them at truck of exploitation. Human trafficking their destination. stops. They sell them on streets in is a global problem—and one of the Those most likely to be trafficked are every city in America.” —National Center fastest growing types of crime in the for Missing and Exploited Children) world. Statistics vary widely from women and children; 98% of those The definition of a child varies; different sources, but the Secretary trafficked for sex and 55% trafficked according to the UN Convention General of the United Nations (July for labor are women and girls. International Labor Organization on the Rights of the Child, s/he is a 23, 2012, report) says 20.9 million — person below the age of 18. However, persons have been trafficked into Since the trafficking of children is some cultures consider a person an forced labor, with 43% of those often more hidden, this crime actually adult after a rite of passage, which trafficked for sexual exploitation. may be under-reported. The majority may or may not correspond to the The United Nations’ Global Initiative of trafficked children are sexually time of puberty. to Fight Human Trafficking and the exploited, but other ways in which UN Office of Drugs and Crime trafficked children are exploited are Why is this happening? report that people are trafficked from for forced labor, service as child Trafficking has become the most 127 countries and exploited in 137 soldiers, begging, drug smuggling, lucrative crime business after drugs countries, affecting every continent forced marriage, as domestic servants, (US State Department), because the and every type of economy. It has for illegal adoptions or for the merchandise can be sold over and been estimated that almost every removal of their organs. ECPAT-USA over again. According to UNICEF, the global market for child trafficking alone brings in over 12 billion dollars per year, with over 1-2 million child victims. Girls are especially vulnerable to the danger of being trafficked for the following reasons: Alamy / Creative Commons / Creative Alamy © Gender Inequity: Girls are the most powerless of all vulnerable populations because of social and cultural factors that devalue women and girls. Girls often have no control over their destiny, and their lower status makes them more likely to be voluntarily sold by their families. Poverty: Parents who voluntarily sell their children to traffickers often do so because they are living in poverty and cannot afford to feed their children, or think that Children at work in Cotonou's Dantokpa market, one of Benin's key commercial areas. it represents an opportunity for a better life for the child. Girls usually have fewer prospects for employment--with lower potential salary contributions- -or require dowries which the family cannot afford. Gender Imbalance: Abduction is another source of trafficked children. Countries with extreme gender imbalances have a high number of kidnappings, mostly from poor areas and from neighboring countries. Given a cultural preference for male children, families may buy a son; or given a gender ratio distortion and shortage of brides, women and girls become commodities in countries with strong preferences for male and more degrading, and the internet sale of, or traffic in children.” (Art. children. has made it ever more accessible to 35) That document also promotes Indeed, any factor that increases teens and young adults. In an analysis measures that contribute to the the supply of vulnerable people, of a number of internet pornography “physical and psychological recovery such as natural disasters, migration, sites, 88% depicted physical and social reintegration” of the child unemployment, lack of educationor aggression, 94% of which was (Art. 39), preventing re-victimization. domestic violence, will tend to directed against women or children. ƒƒ Find out which countries have increase the incidence of trafficking What Can We Do? Action! ratified internationally-agreed in all people, including children. commitments designed to prevent No cultural excuses can justify the human trafficking, protect Both boys and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation of children, victims and prosecute traffickers, forced labor. The mineral tantalum in resulting as it does in long-lasting particularly the United Nations your cell phone may have come from physical and psychological trauma, Palermo Protocol, the Protocol an artisanal mine in Africa, dug out of disease, drug addiction, pregnancy, to Prevent, Suppress and Punish the ground as coltan ore by a child. It malnutrition, social ostracism and Trafficking in Persons, Especially probably financed serious conflict in death. (US Department of State: Trafficking in Persons Women and Children. the DR Congo in which child soldiers Report 2012) fought, died or served as sex toys for ƒƒ Has your country ratified the full Trafficking in children is child slavery their fellow soldiers. Boys especially UN Convention on the Rights of the and a gross violation of human are in high demand for the fishing Child? The United States has not rights. The prostitution of children industry in Asia. After carrying heavy ratified it. is prohibited in most countries boxes of fish and pulling out loaded around the world. United Nations See how the factors that increase nets from dawn to dusk, seven days documents such as the Convention demand for trafficked persons fit into a week, the boys may collapse from on the Rights of the Child forbid the your life. exhaustion and be thrown overboard exploitative use of children for ƒƒ You can check with suppliers to like broken tools. labor, armed conflict, prostitution, see if the things you buy (clothing Sex trafficking in children has or pornography (Art.31)and in or food) are made/gathered by many complex causes but perhaps pornography performances and child slaves. the greatest single factor in the materials. (Art.34) ƒƒ Hold the stores from which you increasing demand is the production They urge nations to “take all… purchase goods accountable for of pornography. Pornography is measures to prevent abduction of, all steps of their supply chain. becoming more explicit, more violent Ask the manager: clubs, and in street prostitution. promote media campaigns dealing ŠŠ Did the cheap shrimp at your ƒƒ Promote sanctions against law with human rights for children. grocery come from a child enforcement agencies that refuse ƒƒ Provide gender-centered slave ship in Thailand? to enforce laws against trafficking education and information/ ŠŠ Were the cocoa beans in your and dismantle criminal networks awareness campaigns to warn Easter chocolate candy picked that profit from the sale of children about the dangers by child slaves? human beings. of trafficking and campaigns targeting males. This strikes at the ŠŠ Insist on Fair Trade ƒƒ Recommend more stringent demand side of the issue. (United or certified Slave Free sanctions on the publication or Nations Population Fund) merchandise. transmission of pornography in electronic or paper form. ƒƒ Support the provision of safe ƒƒ See if local publications which ƒƒ See if your country or state has places and treatment for child advertise adult entertainment victims/survivors of trafficking, feature child porn. a Safe Harbor Law that exempts children from prosecution for as well as programs to reintegrate ƒ ƒ Ask airline employees, hotel prostitution, provides training for them into their society. As of workers, policemen or taxi drivers those assisting victims, provides 2012, there were fewer than 250 if they have been trained to consistent guidance/monitoring shelter beds for commercially recognize the signs that children by professionals and provides exploited children in the US. are being trafficked. Legislation financing for the development of (ECPAT-USA) that requires comprehensive programs. ƒƒ Increase development aid to Victim Identification Training ƒƒ Work for the passage of a organizations that target the for these professionals would creation of legitimate income- empower them to do so. national Safe Harbor Law and a nation-wide system of care for generating possibilities for women ƒ ƒ Intensify efforts to prosecute children. and families with children and people who exploit children in those that educate/ empower ƒ brothels, massage parlors, strip ƒ Publicize the illegal nature and girls. penalties for trafficking and

Reflection

How do my actions contribute to the international slave trade in Vision World children? © What are the sources of our values and hope for a better world? Scripture ƒƒ Psalm 10: 12-18—Do not forget the helpless, defend the oppressed… ƒƒ Psalm 72:4-5, 12-14—May God defend the afflicted and save the children of the needy… ƒƒ Micah 6: 6-8—God requires that you act justly, love mercy, and walk…with your God… ƒƒ Amos 5: 21-24—Let justice roll like a river… ƒƒ Proverbs 31: 8-9—Speak up for those who cannot speak, defend the poor and needy… ƒƒ Matthew 25: 34-40—Whatever you did for one of these least, you did for me… ƒƒ Luke 10: 25-37—Love for those in need… ƒƒ John 3: 19-21—People loved darkness instead of light… Resources Prayer Services

WW Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center: Prayer Service for an End to Human Trafficking www.ipjc.org/links/TraffickingPrayer.pdf

WW School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND): Prayer for an End to Trafficking www.csjstpaul.org/files/csjstpaul/files/JusticeDocs/AHTWG%20Prayer_Prayer%20for%20an%20End%20to%20 Trafficking.pdf

WW A Heart for Justice: 72 Daily Prayer Points aheartforjustice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/72DailyPrayerPoints.pdf

Informational Websites Slavery Footprint Bakhita Initiative www.slaveryfootprint.org/survey bakhitainitiative.org

“13 Products Most Likely Made by Child Labor” World Crafts has gifts from artisans who escaped slavery www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/18/child-labor- worldcrafts.org products_n_798601.html#s211000&title=2_Cotton ECPAT International Polaris Project ecpat.net polarisproject.org ECPAT USA Just Faith ecpatusa.org www.justfaith.org Shared Hope US Conference of Catholic Bishops sharedhope.org USCCB.org

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking is a collaborative, faith-based network that offers educational programs and materials, supports access to survivor services, and engages in legislative advocacy to eradicate modern-day slavery.