A Tale of Shandra Woworuntu

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

The common conception of human trafficking as a rare occurrence, and the image of its victims being uneducated, weak women is grossly outdated, as Shandra Woworuntu’s story would tell you. The true horrors of human trafficking lie in the fact that it can occur to anyone, and at the most unexpected moment that catches its target off guard. No one is truly safe from human trafficking, and only constant vigilance may reduce one’s risk. 

Bursting the bubble of the American Dream

In an intimate interview with RealWomen/RealStories, Shandra, the founder of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, revealed the horrors of sex trafficking from a first-hand account. Describing her excitement after landing a job in the United States after losing her job as a financial analyst in her home country of Indonesia, Shandra’s life would forever change when she accepted the offer to work in a Chicago-based hotel for six months. Upon arriving at the New York airport, Shandra was informed that she would have to stay overnight in New York rather than transferring flights to Chicago. Thereafter, she was promptly whisked away with two underage girls to a hotel where she recalled being exchanged for a large envelope of money. The following months would be gruelling, traumatic, and degrading for Shandra who was sold as a sex slave to sex buyers. 

She escaped through a window many months later, but the pain it inflicted on her would last for a lifetime. Sex trafficking and abuse robs its victims of their freedom and violates their right to autonomy. With no control over their bodies, many victims of sex trafficking later report persistent feelings of helplessness, isolation, depression, and anxiety. 

Risk factors

Sitting before the camera, Shandra is intelligent, articulate, and untimid, shattering our ideas of how we think human trafficking looks like to expose its cruel reality. Shandra’s experience also highlights how political and social instability may increase risk of human trafficking. Destabilization and displacement of populations during periods of unrest may force individuals to migrate or seek opportunities abroad. This desperation for money and a new life encourages risk-taking, which may lead to many potential victims overlooking red flags or ignoring them totally. 

Organised crime may be a cause and consequence of political and social instability. Predators may take advantage of the situation to target vulnerable individuals and communities by winning their short-term trust only to abuse them in the long-term. Authorities and lawmakers may also be too preoccupied with other pressing issues or be part of the corruption, which results in criminals of human trafficking escaping with little to no consequences. 

Moving forward

Ending with a hopeful note, Shandra Woworuntu turned her devastating experience into a meaningful one by founding the Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, an initiative that aims to provide rehabilitation, advocacy, and empowerment programs for survivors of sex trafficking and abuse. What kept Shandra going during the most difficult of times was her family, and even so, many victims of sex trafficking still face difficulty finding closure and living their life as normally as possible afterwards.

Some tips that may be gleaned from Shandra’ sex trafficking experience are (i) being alert and having healthy suspicions, be it about the credibility of employment agencies or other potential touch points where predators may infiltrate; another being (ii) the value of speaking up and raising awareness about human trafficking and sexual exploitation, which may provide comfort to other survivors that they are not alone, and plant a seed of caution in others which may prevent an unfortunate incident.

Women and girls make up 71% of human trafficking victims, according to the International Labour Organization and Walk Free Foundation. As we near the end of Women’s History Month, let’s get involved in the fight to stop human trafficking and ensure that other women and girls don’t have to experience the atrocities that Shandra survived.

References and further reading/viewing: 

YouTube – REALWOMEN/REALSTORIES – I was trafficked in the MIDDLE of New York City.

International Labour Organisation and Walk Free Foundation – Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

Women’s History Month: A time to keep fighting for freedom

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

Women’s History Month, as the History channel states, acknowledges the “often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history.” During this month we remember the powerful influences of women on important movements throughout history. Women bravely fought for an end to slavery, the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Movement to name a few important contributions. These women knew the value of their contributions and fought for others to see and recognize it. They acknowledged the freedom they all deserved and the dignity with which they should all be treated. Women and girls have never been and never will be commodities or products to be sold and used. This Women’s History Month let’s advocate for the freedom of the women who are suffering in human trafficking. Let’s care about the plight of all women, even those we do not personally know.

Although human trafficking can affect any person regardless of gender or age, according to a United Nations report, women and children make up approximately 71% of all human trafficking victims. There are several pathways that can lead to a woman being trafficked. Some young girls are sold by their own families. Some women find themselves being trafficked by their own significant others. Others are desperate for escape or transport out of their home country and are taken advantage of while in this vulnerable situation. Women and girls can be trafficked for sex or work. Sadly, the American Psychological Association tells us that “Trafficked women and girls encounter high rates of physical and sexual violence, including homicide and torture, psychological abuse, horrific work and living conditions, and extreme deprivation while in transit.”

Unfortunately, the hardships faced by these survivors may not end as soon as a person is removed from a trafficking situation. There are many challenges for survivors even after they are rescued. This is because there are psychological impacts associated with trafficking. Even after someone is rescued, they may still experience Stockholm syndrome. This can result in survivors returning to their abusers, even after they’re rescued. In addition, they may be conditioned to believe that they need their trafficker. Other survivors may be treated as criminals and punished rather than receive support and resources for change and healing. The American Psychological Association recommends the use of Safe Harbor legislation to “provide provisions that conceptualize trafficked persons involved in illegal activities as victims rather than criminals, and support funding for legal protection and psychosocial safeguards for victims.”

What can you do to help solve this problem? Listen to the stories of the women in your life, be aware of their life situations, learn how to notice the signs of trafficking, advocate for Safe Harbor legislation, and do something. Treat women with respect everyday not just during Women’s History Month. The way we talk about women matters. How we treat our daughters, nieces, and cousins matters. The little ones are watching how we treat their mothers, older sisters, grandmothers and aunts. The way you speak about women on a regular basis may affect how comfortable someone feels sharing their experience with you. If you are kind, respectful, and understanding of women, someone may feel safe sharing their story of past trafficking or current trafficking with you. A Chicago Tribune article on what to say when someone shares a sexual assault story with you suggests being prepared to listen, and letting someone share at their own pace, rather than asking them numerous questions right away. Human trafficking is going on whether or not we notice it in our everyday lives. Let’s see the women and men in our lives as people uniquely created in the image of God and fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who loves them. We are responsible to God for how we treat each other. Let’s treat each other with respect, acknowledging the worth that our God has created us with. Let’s love. Let’s show compassion. Let’s fight for justice.

You can make a difference in your community. We invite you to join One Bread Foundation in our fight to abolish child sex trafficking. One way you can help is through your regular online shopping. One Bread Foundation is a charity affiliate of Amazon, Goodshop, Groupon and eBay. Visit onebread.org/shop-now to learn more.

References and further reading:

Women’s History Month

United Nations: Report: Majority of trafficking victims are women and girls; one-third children

American Psychological Association: Facts About Trafficking of Women and Girls

Chicago Tribune: What to say to someone who shares a sexual assault story with you

A21: Human Trafficking 

Polaris Project: Vulnerabilities & Signs of Recruitment

Difference Between Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are both important issues that should receive due attention. There were an estimated 109,216 human trafficking victims identified worldwide in 2020 alone, and 2.5 million migrants smuggled worldwide in 2016. However, this number is likely to be much higher than official figures given the secretive nature of both industries. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are crucial differences in their definitions, causes, legal status and treatment, and solutions undertaken. 

Trafficking in persons is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, and harbouring of persons through illegal means of coercion such as fraud and force for the purpose of exploitation. This may include prostitution, forced labour, slavery, servitude, and organ removal. In contrast, smuggling of migrants refers to the facilitation of an individual’s illegal entry or stay in a country for financial or other material benefit. Trafficking can occur both domestically and internationally, while smuggling of migrants occurs across borders. Another related distinction between trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants is consent. There is no consent in trafficking since traffickers either forcefully abduct victims, deceive, or coerce individuals into making decisions they would otherwise not make. On the other hand, most migrants consent to smuggling for reasons such as lack of legal migration avenues, despite potentially being put in precarious situations by smugglers.

The differences in definition thus draw attention to deeper underlying causes of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Trafficking in persons may occur when there is insufficient socio-political protection given to vulnerable groups such as women, minorities, and less privileged individuals, which puts them in a precarious position for exploitation by predators and traffickers. For the smuggling of migrants, the issue is most prevalent in times of economic, political, and/or social unrest, uncertainty, and deprivation that “pushes” migrants to seek a life abroad. This may work in tandem with pull factors like greater economic opportunities and socio-political stability overseas, for smugglers to entice migrants with illegal pathways of entry. Nonetheless, there may be overlapping root causes or factors that contribute to both trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. 

The definition and “motivations” of trafficked persons and smuggled migrants may in turn affect their legal status and respective treatment. Trafficked persons receive greater protection from the law with anti-trafficking laws or rehabilitation programmes. In contrast, smuggled migrants may face issues with legality and risk deportation. Smuggled migrants may even face discrimination, stigma, and a curtailment of rights if they are caught. 

To address trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, different solutions may be undertaken. For both issues, preventative measures like raising awareness and more stringent checks could be undertaken. Interviews with smuggled migrants also revealed that smugglers may exploit asylum loopholes by smuggling caught migrants to a third country instead of their country of origin before returning to the host country as an asylum seeker. Therefore, smuggling of migrants should be managed through increasing accessibility to legal migration channels and improving living conditions in the home countries of migrants which is often the main motivation for moving overseas. In addition, corrective measures like rehabilitation services should be offered to both trafficked victims and smuggled migrants with traumatic experiences. Greater penalties could also be given to traffickers and smugglers to discourage such behaviour in the future. 

Ultimately, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are issues that we should care about because they occur out of vulnerability, desperation and a desire for a better life. These are emotions most of us can relate to, and thus we should treat victims of trafficking and smuggling with empathy and dignity.  

References and further reading:

• Total Number of Human Trafficking Victims Identified Worldwide from 2008 to 2020

• At Least 2.5 million migrants smuggled worldwide in 2016, Says UNODC study

• Introducing Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants

• Human trafficking and migrant smuggling

• Illegal immigrants smuggled out of UK and back again

Technology Can Help Stop Human Trafficking

By Ann Christina Peterpaul, Contributing Writer

According to the International Labour Organization, approximately 40.3 million people are victims of human trafficking at any given moment, and one fourth of the victims are children. This appalling number is highlighted by the fact that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) affirms that the dark web is growing and traffickers are becoming more expert in their internet methods.

In the United States, about 40% of trafficking victims are recruited online. Traffickers use live chat scams, location trafficking applications and other sophisticated web means to entrap their victims. Victims are threatened with release of intimate photos to friends and family if they do not comply with trafficker demands.

Modern technology is fighting back. Marinus Analytics is developing technology that will disrupt internet human trafficking by using artificial intelligence (AI). In 2019 Marinus Analytics identified 3,800 victims using their software Traffic Jam. 

Another group, Anti Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) is working with law enforcement and private sector companies to use software to fight human trafficking. Their AI follows suspicious money trails like late night ATM use, expensive makeover purchases and cash deposits in short amounts of time in several locations, in order to pass on this information to police.

Marinus Analytics has said that they’re developing more technology focusing on child protection. CEO Cara Jones said, “Trafficking is not an amateur problem.” In reference to public safety spaces she said, “These are very sophisticated establishments that have a value chain to conduct their business in these spaces, and the more we can start to reveal the business practices to the right law enforcement audience, the better.”

References and further reading:

• International Labour Organization: Forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking

• Can Technology Stop Human Trafficking?

• UNODC report: darknet cybercrime is on the rise in Southeast Asia

In the Name of Modelling: Sex Trafficking and Abuse in the Modelling Industry

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Despite more people coming to discover the dark reality of the glitz and glam world we call show business, being an actor, musician, and YouTuber rank as the top ten dream jobs of children in recent polls. This desire has been compounded by the lavish lifestyles of celebrities and influencers showcased on social media where many impressionable and ambitious young women and girls aspire to emulate the successes of these famous figures and are unaware or disregard the potential risks to pursue a modelling career. Among a slew of issues like eating disorders, discrimination, low wages for starting or less famous models, and mistreatment, another major issue that has surfaced is sex trafficking and sexual abuse in the modelling industry. The glamorous illusion of modelling is not only deceptive, but can potentially be dangerous for young women and girls who are incapable of defending and protecting themselves against sexual predators. 

Famous models and fashion brands with their highly viewed fashion shows are frequently discussed among young girls and women. To perceive these shows or celebrity followings as mere entertainment and trivial, harmless pastimes would be naive. Girls may be lured into the trap of sex trafficking under the guise of modelling and the prospect for fame and fortune. According to Stop the Traffik, exploitation in the fashion industry is a common occurrence and some modelling agencies in reality serve as trafficking rings. In a harrowing 2017 report of a near sex trafficking incident of British model Chloe Ayling, she described being offered as a sex slave on the dark web and being held hostage for six days. Ayling believed that she was hired by a professional modelling agency for a high profile gig in Milan, Italy, but was allegedly kidnapped upon reaching the studio. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram may be a way in which sketchy modelling agencies and agents recruit large numbers of young women and girls, yet verifying the authenticity of the company and the exact nature of the job may be difficult especially in the digital sphere. 

Perpetrators of sexual abuse in the modelling industry may include clients, colleagues, bosses, and other models. Modelling agencies may pimp their models out to rich clients, in turn being enablers to sexual predators and their lecherous ways. A prominent example may be Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of underage girls, some of which may have been aspiring or working models, who were introduced to him by Jean Luc Brunel, the founder of MC2 Model Management. The girls reported unconsented touching, and were even made to perform sexual acts on Epstein. Other incidents involving Brunel’s misconduct include Thysia Huisman, then an eighteen-year-old Dutch model, who was sexually assaulted in September 1991. In other cases, colleagues such as hair stylists, clothes designers, managers, and other models who work with models on an intimate basis may also engage in sexual violence and molestation. In some cases, there may be blurred boundaries in terms of what constitutes inappropriate behaviour or speech that may make complaints by victims and even awareness or acceptance that their personal space has been violated difficult.

The prevalence of sexual abuse in the modelling industry closely relates to power dynamics that places many models in a disadvantaged position. Young women and girls may feel pressured to provide sexual favours for career advancement or out of economic desperation. The fear of speaking out because of disbelief, stigmatisation, ostracization from other models, and retaliation by powerful figures in the form of loss of future modelling opportunities, loss of job, and blacklisting also contribute to the silence after models face sexual abuse. Power imbalance with one party dominating over the other allows for coercion and threats to take place with little to no consequence and models may be forced to accept illicit or immoral deals.

Another troubling issue within the modelling industry is that of paedophilia. Young girls may be identified and targeted as sexual prey on social media and during auditions, as in the case of Daniel Berry, a fake casting agent who groomed young girls aged twelve to fifteen on Facebook. Within the modelling industry, regulations also tend to be lax with no restrictions placed on the minimum age of child models or rules to prevent the exploitation of children and young people. The sexualisation of underage individuals who pose in explicit positions or are made to wear extremely revealing clothing raises eyebrows for concerned adults. As many young women and girls are often unable to grasp the complexities and nuances of issues like exploitation, an important question then emerges on how we should draw the line between the young woman or child’s own choice in their clothing style and inappropriate behaviour or attire that is imposed on young women and girls for modelling.

With the #MeToo movement in late 2017, progress has been made towards greater gender equality and transparency within the workforce that may reduce the opportunities for sex trafficking and tolerance towards sexual abuse in the modelling industry. With large numbers of victims from diverse backgrounds coming forward to share their stories, they have helped uncover workplace sexual abuse and the power dynamics that put vulnerable women (and men) at risk. In light of greater preventive measures taken to protect such individuals and corrective measures implemented to punish sexual predators, is there reason to be optimistic about sexual abuse and trafficking cases disappearing or falling to low numbers in the modelling industry? Without being cynical, where there is a dominant party that wields disproportionate power in any relationship, there is a chance for abuse of authority and status. In addition, parents and even young women and girls may continue to put themselves in precarious situations because they are tempted by the potentially lucrative nature of the modelling business. The impact of recent progressive movements on the modelling industry and on the future of sexual abuse and trafficking thus remains undetermined. Ultimately, whether the #MeToo movement represents a dent to the misconduct and exploitation within the modelling industry or whether it represents a watershed moment that pushes the industry towards a brighter future depends on constant vigilance and persistent action taken towards safeguarding the wellbeing of young women and girls by all stakeholders.

References

Fake casting agent Daniel Berry groomed young girls on Facebook

Jean-Luc Brunel: three former models say they were sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein friend

Modeling Agencies Enabled Sexual Predators For Years, Former Agent Says

Model Put Up For Sale on Dark Web for $300,000: 'I Would Be Killed If I Escaped'

Trafficking in the Name of Modelling

It’s National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Human trafficking often seems like a remote concept removed from our daily lives, a cautious tale that may terrify us but ultimately has the unrealistic quality of fictional stories. Yet, human trafficking is more common than we expect with 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally according to H.E.A.T. (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Watch - that is around five individuals per thousand people. 81% of them are trapped in forced labor. 75% are women and girls. 1 in 4 victims of human trafficking are children. Human trafficking affects people from all different walks of life and through many different ways. To commemorate National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month celebrated since 2010, we hope to raise awareness about different forms of human trafficking and how this modern slavery has impacted the lives of many. 

While the modelling industry may appear glamorous and a desirable career aspiration to many, there have been innumerable reports of sexual abuse behind the scenes. A notable example is Jeffrey Epstein’s connection with Jean Luc Brunel, the founder of MC2 Model management, who introduced Epstein to several underage girls who were later abused. Brunel’s other misconducts included the sexual assault of eighteen-year-old Dutch model, Thysia Huisman, in 1991. Clients, hair stylists, clothes designers, bosses and managers of modelling agencies, and other models may partake in the perpetuation of sexual abuse in the modelling industry. Paedophilia is also a major issue in the child modelling industry as adults with dubious intentions may have close contact with vulnerable children under little to no parental supervision.

Indigenous people are another group of individuals who are susceptible to human trafficking due to their marginalised position in society. Despite making up 11% of the American population, Native Americans account for a quarter of trafficked victims. Lack of resources, inadequate law enforcement training, poverty, violence, and fetishes are among the many factors contributing to the trafficking of Native Americans, especially women. These injustices compound multigenerational hardships and loss from the legacy of colonialism, and continue to generate indigenous historical trauma. To protect minorities, trafficking of indigenous people is an issue that must be addressed.

Individuals close to us, such as domestic workers who live and work in residential areas to provide useful housekeeping services and even perform critical care work, may also be victims of human trafficking. Domestic work can be considered as trafficking when force, fraud, or coercion is used by the employer to control the worker. Related to this is physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that may be another issue domestic workers, who invest emotional labour alongside expending physical energy, have to deal with. 

Other examples of everyday people with harrowing experiences may be found on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram where courageous victims share their stories to educate others. More importantly, these incidents feature a recurring theme of power imbalance that creates conditions for domination and exploitation whereby authoritative and powerful figures may prey upon weaker individuals. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we celebrate individuals, businesses, institutions and organisations that actively champion the rights of victims of human trafficking. Everyone can and should play a part in ending human trafficking. Even a simple repost to spread awareness may create a ripple effect of change.  

If you would like to know more about One Bread Foundation and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims. 

Sources

1. H.E.A.T.Watch Statistics

2. National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

3. 'Nobody saw me': why are so many Native American women and girls trafficked?

4. Domestic Work

5. Jean-Luc Brunel: three former models say they were sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein friend

6. Modeling Agencies Enabled Sexual Predators For Years, Former Agent Says

Power in our words: Empowering human trafficking survivors

By Elizabeth Gilreath, Contributing Writer

Our words have power. We can all think of a time when words have put a giant smile on our face or made our eyes well up with tears. In the same way that we may have been hurt or encouraged by the words of others, we can use our words to empower those around us, particularly survivors of human trafficking! Ephesians 4:29 tells us “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Let’s make it one of our New Year’s resolutions to use our words in a way that will empower the people around us.

Can you imagine enduring the pain and horrid nature of human trafficking and then reentering a society that judges or looks down on you because of what you have gone through? You may not know someone who has been trafficked, or at least you think you do not. In reality, you never know what those around you are going through or have been through. According to the National Sexual Assault Violence Resource Center, in the United States 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual assault or harassment during their life. This tells us that you likely know someone or may yourself have experienced sexual trauma. 

What if we listened before assuming we understand someone’s story or judging them? The Bible tells us in the book of James that we should be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” On the Inspire Counseling Center website, Cyndi Benner shares some practical ways to respond when someone shares their trauma. A few of these are described below. If someone bravely shares their story, even though you may be curious to hear the details, it is more important for the person to be believed and listened to. You could be the first person to believe them. After we listen, the way we respond can have a big impact on their healing process. In addition, validate the person’s feelings. Sit with them in the anger, grief, and sadness. Choose to respond with empathy and compassion the same way Jesus does to us! It is also important to empower your friends to share things at their own pace and with whom they would like. Understand that when someone shares their experiences with you this is no small feat. You have likely garnered their trust as a safe person to share with, so respond with compassion and love. 

Whether or not someone directly tells us about their personal experiences, we need to be mindful of what we say on a regular basis. You never know who is listening. So, let’s be people who do not joke about sexual abuse, sexual assault or trafficking. In doing so, we can show that we take sexual abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking seriously.

We can further empower others through prayer for those impacted by sex trafficking. Finally, let’s educate ourselves on human trafficking, get involved in fighting it, and championing survivors in our own communities and nationally! You could look into the legislature in your area regarding human trafficking and how it is impacting survivors. You can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause. Please forward this email to friends or family members and encourage them to subscribe to our mailing list at onebread.org.

Truly we are better together, so let’s walk with our brothers and sisters who have gone through trafficking and seek the best for them.

Resources and further reading

How to Respond When Someone Shares their Trauma Story with you

NSVRC: 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime

Ephesians 4:29

James 1:19

‘Tis the season to be careful: Sex trafficking during the holidays

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

The holiday season is a time to get together and celebrate with loved ones. However, sex trafficking does not stop during the festivities and vulnerable communities, including children and young people, may even face an increased risk. Crowded malls, restaurants, hang-out spaces and celebratory events may make adult supervision difficult or encourage adults to become complacent due to the presence of other parents. Sex traffickers and predators may also blend into the crowd and go undetected until it is too late. Strangers with ill intentions may approach children and young people under the guise of earning quick money during the holiday season or lure them with special treats. Another reason that sex trafficking may increase during the holiday season is that welfare facilities and help hotlines may be closed, operate at limited capacity or be especially busy at peak periods. This makes sounding the alarm about suspicious situations difficult.

The risk of sex trafficking and violence also remains in families who celebrate the holidays at home. Family tensions from living and working together in a confined space for an extended period may erupt into conflict and physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Lisa Rowe, director of programming for Selah Freedom, noted that about 92% of sex trafficking victims in the United States were sexually abused as children. Livelihood pressures may also push parents into making unethical decisions such as pimping out children for quick cash. Parents may take advantage of their children’s trust and place them in precarious situations for their self-interest. In a 2020 paper, it was revealed that 44% of trafficked samples included survivors who have been pimped by family members, mainly parents and most often mothers. However, such cases may fly under the radar as children may fear to speak out or think that such behaviour is normal. 

On the bright side, the festivities can be a time for self-renewal, empowerment and hope for victims of trafficking. The holidays may serve as a reminder of the potential for moving forward in life and reasons to stay positive. Volunteers, charities, and foundations may provide utilities, gifts, donations, and food to shelters or centres that house victims of trafficking. Trafficked victims may also bond and connect with survivors on shared experiences that may promote healing and closure. 

If you would like to know more about One Bread Foundation and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of child sex trafficking victims.  

References and further reading

For sex trafficking survivors, this Christmas offers a real life miracle

Parents As Pimps: Survivor Accounts of Trafficking of Children in the United States

Giving Tuesday: The Concept of Radical Generosity

By Elesha Pimentel, Contributing Writer

Happy Giving Tuesday from your friends at One Bread Foundation! 

The holidays are all about giving back to the community and Giving Tuesday full-heartedly builds upon this tradition with its own concept: radical generosity. Radical generosity is defined as “the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable as the suffering of our own.” It’s a day that pushes people outside of the comfortable realm of “bystander.” It’s a worldwide movement celebrated in 70 countries. Anyone can participate in Giving Tuesday, and there are so many different ways to get involved. Here at One Bread Foundation, we invite you to do something good with us. 

One Bread Foundation strives to advocate, raise awareness, and provide monetary support for the rehabilitation of child victims of sex trafficking in the United States. Though child sex trafficking is a tragedy that seems distant and small, it is growing larger each day. According to Liberate the Children, 25% of the 40 million people sex-trafficked globally are children. However, only 1-2% of these children are rescued from these sickly bonds of captivity. The children who are rescued are met with limited resources for rehabilitation. Every year many of us do little to help rehabilitate these children and simply continue on with our lives. Oblivious to this large statistic until it claims one of our own. 

Today, we invite you to spend your Giving Tuesday with us. There are a variety of ways that we can work together to help these children. You can donate to our organization to help us financially support the rehabilitation of these children. Every dollar helps, and we appreciate donations of all sizes. You can share our posts and newsletters with friends and family members to spread awareness. A simple Facebook post or message to a friend does wonders to help us advocate for our cause and spread our reach.

Together we will embrace the concept of radical generosity and fight for the lost rights of these children. In the name of Giving Tuesday, the suffering of others is as intolerable as the suffering of our own. 

Resources and Further Reading

https://www.givingtuesday.org/

https://liberatechildren.org/child-trafficking-statistics 

Power in Our Words: Empowering Human Trafficking Survivors

By Elizabeth Gilreath

Our words have power. We can all think of a time when words have put a giant smile on our face or made our eyes well up with tears. In the same way that we may have been hurt or encouraged by the words of others, we can use our words to empower those around us, particularly survivors of human trafficking! Ephesians 4:29 tells us “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Can you imagine enduring the pain and horrid nature of human trafficking and then reentering a society that judges or looks down on you because of what you have gone through? You may not know someone who has been trafficked, or at least you think you do not. In reality, you never know what those around you are going through or have been through. According to the National Sexual Assault Violence Resource Center, in the United States 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual assault or harassment during their life. This tells us that you likely know someone or may yourself have experienced sexual trauma. 

What if we listened before assuming we understand someone’s story or judging them? The Bible tells us in the book of James that we should be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” On the Inspire Counseling Center website, Cyndi Benner shares some practical ways to respond when someone shares their trauma. A few of these are described below. If someone bravely shares their story, even though you may be curious to hear the details, it is more important for the person to be believed and listened to. You could be the first person to believe them. After we listen, the way we respond can have a big impact on their healing process. In addition, validate the person’s feelings. Sit with them in the anger, grief, and sadness. Choose to respond with empathy and compassion the same way Jesus does to us! It is also important to empower your friend to share things at their own pace and with whom they would like. Understand that when someone shares their experiences with you this is no small feat. You have likely garnered their trust as a safe person to share with, so respond with compassion and love. 

Whether or not someone directly tells us about their personal experiences, we need to be mindful of what we say on a regular basis. You never know who is listening. So, let’s be people who do not joke about sexual abuse, sexual assault, or trafficking. In doing so, we can show that we take sexual abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking seriously.

We can further empower others through prayer for those impacted by sex trafficking. Finally, let’s educate ourselves on human trafficking, get involved in fighting it, and championing survivors in our own communities and nationally! You could look into the legislature in your area regarding human trafficking and how it is impacting survivors. You can help child sex trafficking victims by sharing One Bread Foundation’s mission and cause. Please forward this email to friends or family members and encourage them to subscribe to our mailing list at onebread.org.

Truly we are better together, so let’s walk with our brothers and sisters who have gone through trafficking and seek the best for them.

Citations

How to Respond When Someone Shares their Trauma Story with you

NSVRC: 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime

Ephesians 4:29

James 1:19