Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000

Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000

Here is a fact sheet based on this Act.

I am happy to say that The Salvation Army has endorsed this act. Here's a quote from our US National website:

The Salvation Army (TSA) endorsed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a law which passed the U.S. Congress in October of 2000. TSA was among a coalition of faith-based and other organizations which worked zealously to obtain its passage. TSA's role in the effort to pass TVPA has been highlighted in the book Freeing God's Children by Dr. Allen Hertzke.

The Salvation Army has also taken a strong, leadership position, along with other allied groups and individuals, in efforts to shift U.S. policy on sexual trafficking.

This includes:

• maintaining the link between sexual trafficking and prostitution;
• emphasizing strategies that reduce demand;
• emphasizing the link between sexual trafficking and HIV/AIDS;
• opposing efforts to legalize prostitution in the U.S. and abroad;
• affirming a "report and rescue" strategy in humanitarian efforts to assist women and children in brothels;
• support for the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005;
• support for a sufficiently strong Reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2005.

In regard to these issues, TSA has participated in and initiated letters to prominent political and faith leaders outlining numerous policy concerns and appealing for their help. These efforts are meeting with success, as illustrated by a National Security Presidential Directive linking sexual trafficking and prostitution issued by President George W. Bush, a new policy announced by the U.S. Agency for International Development which rules that nongovernmental organizations that support legalized prostitution are not eligible for federal anti-trafficking funds, as well as increased attention to human trafficking pledged by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Work is also underway on an internal Salvation Army position statement on human trafficking.

W.T. Stead on "The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon" - The Story that Awoke the Giant of The Salvation Army to the Injustice of Child Slavery

W.T. Stead, the famous journalist, was a great friend to The Salvation Army. In 1885, he wrote in The Pall Gazette an incredible (and scandalous) expose of child prostitution in Victorian England.

The W.T. Stead Resource Site has republished these articles - which I link here:

The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon (Introduction)

Part One
Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Also to situate it in the context of The Salvation Army's reforms:

The Salvation Army's History in Fighting Sexual Trafficking

I would encourage all to take courage from the daring spirit and determination of these 19th century reformers as we seek to tackle similar issues in the 21st century - unfortunately living in a future day sadly does not ensure that progress has been made in this regard...

I hope that we all will do our part in helping to rid this world of the curse of human trafficking.