Voice for the Voiceless

This month I had the privilege to participate in International Justice Mission's Advocacy Day where 125 individuals from 35 states met with 130 Congressional offices to build support for The Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA). The CPCA legislation aims to stop child labor and sex trafficking in target countries that have shown commitment in addressing the problem but lack adequate resources. According to UNICEF, there are almost two million children in the commercial sex trade worldwide and, accordingto the U.S. Department of State, 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girls, as many as 50% are minors.

Since I live in Virginia, I went to three representatives of Virginia with other Virginians. We spoke with the legislative aides of Congressman Tom Perriello, Congressman Frank Wolf (my representative), and Senator Mark Warner. We expressed our sincere gratitude to Congressman Perriello and Congressman Wolf for co-sponsoring and supporting the CPCA. We also encouraged them to ask other Member of Congress to co-sponsor CPCA and co-sign a letter to Secretary Clinton to support policies within the legislation such as increase funding State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office). We also asked both Congressmen to join the Anti- Trafficking Caucus so they can be aware of human trafficking issues happening in their State or in the U.S.

Senator Mark Warner has not co-sponsor the CPCA yet, so we ask for his support and explained to his legislative aide the problem and how CPCA is a solution to the problem. We also asked for Senator Warner to support section 308 of The Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, S 1631. Section 308 creates additional capacity for an existing law which prohibits importing goods made with forced or indentured labor or by benefit of human trafficking. In English, it means the U.S will deny imports from repeat violators of slave made goods.

We spend about 20 - 40 minutes with each representative's legislative aid and spoke up for 27 million voiceless and vulnerable men, women, children, and families around the world. You don't have to be an expert about human trafficking or any issue to speak up. A good ABC rule to meet with your representative are

Accurate- Provide information that is true. No exaggeration and please don't make things up. If you don't know something, say, "I don't know, but I can find out the information for you when I follow up with you."

Brief- Members and their staff are very busy and so are you. Choose your facts and stories carefully. Practice, Practice and Practice your presentation!

Courteous- Successful advocacy involves building long term relationships with policy makers. You are part of a long term effort in building a strong U.S support and commitment to have functional justice systems that protects the poor and vulnerable. Be respectful- You are building a relationship and stepping stone to end modern slavery.

I followed up with my representative legislative aid and she informed me Congressman Wolf is a member of Anti- Trafficking Caucus. (Thank you again Congressman Wolf for everything you are doing to eradicate human trafficking!)

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I believe we can end slavery in our lifetime and be history makers. We can turn this imagination of a slave free world to become a reality by the way we shop, speaking up about this issue to our representatives, raising awareness, starting a movement....

How can you end modern-day slavery?

*Some of the materials from this Blog was from IJM

Posted by Anna Leung

RIJI Green's holiday campaign sale- Freeing Families from Slavery

RIJI Green is having a holiday campaign for International Justice Mission (IJM). IJM is a non-profit organization combating modern-day slavery by prosecuting the perpetrators, providing aftercare for victims, and promoting functional justice systems. RIJI Green's holiday campaign goal is to raise $45,000 to fund IJM's 10 rescue operations freeing families from slavery. Its 21st century and slavery still exist victimizing men, women, children, and families.

How are families enslaved? When a family member such as a father, the head of the household gets sick and has no money to pay for a doctor, they would go to a loan shark. The family would ask for a small loan, which equates to $20.00US so the father could see the doctor. The family would sign a document promising they will repay the debt by working for the loan shark, but what they don't know from being illiterate is the interests and fees are so high, they could never repay their debt. Therefore generations of family members from grandmothers to granddaughters are enslaved. This is common in places like India, Pakistan, and others. In America, when we have debt, our credit scores goes down, but our livelihoods and freedom are not at risk.

In the spirit of justice and holiday giving, RIJI Green is starting our holiday campaign by donating 50% of our profits to IJM from now till November 22, 2009. RIJI Green will give 15% of our profits to IJM till the end of the year.

Will you please join RIJI Green's campaign to free families from slavery in 2010. Your purchase will have an echoing effect in creating a slave free tomorrow. At one point in America, one out of every eight Americans was a slave. History has shown we can overcome slavery. Will you join the movement to end 21st century slavery and make history? Shop and Empower survivors of human trafficking at www.RIJIgreen.com

The Hope of Healing and Restoration through Economic Empowerment

I met Victor Joseph, the president of Agape International Ministries at The Protection Project symposium. At the event, Dr. Joseph shared his research on human trafficking in India and the possibilities of survivors' lives restore. I invited him to be our guest blog to share his findings with you. I hope you will find his work insightful and encouraging. Enjoy.

"For many years, I have agonized over the human rights violations and suffering of young victims of sexual trafficking in India. Women and children are often victimized through corruption, abuse, and torture, making them the most neglected and vulnerable individuals in Indian society. At a young age, instead of playing with their peers, they are forced into sexual slavery and must experience severe brutality.

Vulnerability from economic desperation leads young girls into human trafficking. Girls are sold into brothels as early as the age of eight, with most of them coming from poor families. Traffickers approach their family and offer financial assistance to help get them out of debt. Parents are told by these abductors that their daughters are going to a rich family as housemaids or to the city to work in factories.

Trafficking of persons is a crime against humanity because each and every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and with a sense of self-worth. When that dignity is stolen, we must do more than protest – we must prevent that dignity from being stolen from others in the future. Self-worth and independence cannot be achieved if there is no serious attention given to economic self-sufficiency. Hope comes from a sense of self-worth and liberty. These victims need to experience freedom in their lives—freedom to be economically empowered, self-determined, and self-expressive in order to receive forgiveness and embrace the future-mindedness in their lives. During my research, I found that victims desire to stand on their own feet through financial independence. It is a part of regaining their lost self-worth, self-esteem, dignity, hope, and future mindedness. Many of these girls would say, “You can conquer my body, but you cannot conquer my mind.” Agape International Ministries is determined to help these girls regain what is stolen from their lives.

For more information on human trafficking in India, you can read my research publication, which is now available at www.agapeim.org. Please help AIM financially so that we can help rebuild the lives of these innocent girls whose lives are completely shattered and stolen at a very young age. You may make a tax-deductible contribution payable to Agape International Ministries, P.O. Box 221, Valley Forge, PA 19481-0221."

I hope you will read Dr. Joseph's excellent research publication and consider supporting Agape International Ministries. I hope you will also join RIJI Green to restore survivors' lives through economic empowerment. Please consider shopping and empowering survivors of human trafficking at www.RIJIgreen.com

RIJI Green Beginnings

RIJI Green was formed in response to the world's third largest crime - human trafficking / modern-day slavery. The concept of RIJI Green is 5 Ps.

PREVENT slavery through economic empowerment.

PROTECT survivors' dignity and help them

PROSPER with integrity.

PARTNERSHIPS to eradicate slavery

PROFESSIONAL sale representation for survivors' products.

Some people are trafficked due to poverty because of the lack of economic opportunities. RIJI Green is a solution to that problem, however due to the economy, sales are extremely low. Without sales, there is no work for these women, which puts them in danger of not being able to support themselves or their family. These women don't want donations, they want to work.

RIJI Green's logo is an olive branch a symbol of hope. It is also symbolic for growth and prosperity, which is what the survivors will experience in various areas of their lives. We hope you can be a part of this movement to eradicate slavery by purchasing RIJI Green's products to give human trafficking survivors a dignify life and future. Shop RIJI Green and give survivors a chance to succeed in life.