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.

Free Indeed: The Modern Church's Opportunity to End Slavery, Again

Free Indeed: The Modern Church's Opportunity to End Slavery, Again
Click on this link for a wonderful document on the church's responsibility related to the child slavery movement.

It states, "The transnational nature of the church is perfectly suited for the global engagement of this issue from the grass roots to the world stage. It also has access to vast economic and human resources and is able to mobilize extensive networks to affect government policies and social programs."

Anti-Slavery International

Friends,

I have been so deeply moved by the issue of child slavery - that I will do all in my power to raise awareness of this issue. Please take a look at the organization called "Free the Slaves." [Also known as Anti-Slavery International]

It is the coalition that "Stop the Traffik" is a part of.

Free the Slaves works to end slavery by:

1. Supporting grassroots anti-slavery organizations around the world who are literally kicking down doors, freeing slaves and helping them rebuild their lives; we provide funding and technical assistance and enable local movements to learn from each other.

2. Conducting social science-based research on the nature and scope of modern slavery in order to formulate targeted ways to combat it.

3. Increasing awareness of contemporary slavery to empower Americans and others to help. We utilize a video library, web site, educational materials for schools and community groups, and public presentations to engage thousands of people in the anti-slavery movement each year.

4. Working with businesses, labor unions, human rights and consumer organizations to eradicate slavery from product supply chains and building a consumer movement that chooses slave-free goods.

5. Working with governments to enforce effective anti-slavery and anti-trafficking laws, and where necessary, help create improved laws.

Mapping Out Modern Slavery

Videos on Ending Slavery

Important Research on Slavery

"What the Voice Said" - Poem on Slavery by John Greenleaf Whittier, 1847

Here is a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier who was a Christian poet and activist that helped to campaign against slavery. Early Salvationists used his work to help speak about child slavery.

"MADDENED by Earth's wrong and evil,
"Lord!" I cried in sudden ire,"
From Thy right hand, clothed with thunder,
Shake the bolted fire!

"Love is lost, and Faith is dying;
With the brute the man is sold;
And the dropping blood of labor
Hardens into gold.

"Here the dying wail of Famine,
There the battle's groan of pain;
And, in silence, smooth-faced Mammon
Reaping men like grain.

"'Where is God, that we should fear Him?
'Thus the earth-born Titans say'
God! if Thou art living, hear us!
'Thus the weak ones pray."

"Thou, the patient Heaven upbraiding,
"Spake a solemn Voice within;
"Weary of our Lord's forbearance,
Art thou free from sin?

"Fearless brow to Him uplifting,
Canst thou for His thunders call,
Knowing that to guilt's attraction
Evermore they fall?

"Know'st thou not all germs of evil
In thy heart await their time?
Not thyself, but God's restraining,
Stays their growth of crime.

"Couldst thou boast, O child of weakness!
O'er the sons of wrong and strife,
Were their strong temptations planted
In thy path of life?

"Thou hast seen two streamlets gushing
From one fountain, clear and free,
But by widely varying channels
Searching for the sea.

"Glideth one through greenest valleys,
Kissing them with lips still sweet;
One, mad roaring down the mountains,
Stagnates at their feet.

"Is it choice whereby the Parsee
Kneels before his mother's fire?
In his black tent did the Tartar
Choose his wandering sire?

"He alone, whose hand is bounding
Human power and human will,
Looking through each soul's surrounding,
Knows its good or ill.

"For thyself, while wrong and sorrow
Make to thee their strong appeal,
Coward wert thou not to utter
What the heart must feel.

"Earnest words must needs be spoken
When the warm heart bleeds or burns
With its scorn of wrong, or pity
For the wronged, by turns.

"But, by all thy nature's weakness,
Hidden faults and follies known,
Be thou, in rebuking evil,
Conscious of thine own.

"Not the less shall stern-eyed Duty
To thy lips her trumpet set,
But with harsher blasts shall mingle
Wailings of regret."

Cease not, Voice of holy speaking,
Teacher sent of God, be near,
Whispering through the day's cool silence,
Let my spirit hear!

So, when thoughts of evil-doers
Waken scorn, or hatred move,
Shall a mournful fellow-feeling
Temper all with love.

A World Fit for Childen - UN General Assembly Document

A World Fit for Children is a seminal document that continues to help us take steps towards protecting the rights on children. There is going to be a special session taking place on December 11 & 12, 2007 at the United Nations.

Please join me in praying that positive steps will be taken for us, as global citizens, towards protecting the rights of children.