Women's Ministries Joins Fight Against Human Trafficking
Blog post by Beth Larkin, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries
Human trafficking is slavery. It’s the illegal trade of human beings. It’s the recruitment, control and use of people for their bodies and for their labor, through force, fraud and coercion. People everywhere are being bought and sold against their will-right now in the 21st century. Human trafficking can take different forms, such as forced labor, sex trafficking, organ trafficking, child soldier, child marriage and debt bondage. There are 40.3 million people currently enslaved around the world. Statistics say that 71% of them are women, 29% men, and 25% are children. It is a $150 billion dollar industry and is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. Traffickers don’t fit just one stereotype and aren’t necessarily strangers to their victims. These exploiters have been found to be family members, peers, romantic partners, educators, employers, community leaders and clergy. (Statistics from www.A21.org)
ACGC’s Department of Women’s Ministries is looking to raise awareness and encourage our people to get involved in the fight against human trafficking. Engaging in education, supporting prevention initiatives and victim care can bring hope and relief. Over the past few months, we have sought out information from many of you about organizations and resources in your area that might be helpful in these efforts. We have had a great response to this and have been reviewing all of the information we have received. Thank you!
We are currently working to provide education and material with pertinent information, facts and statistics about human trafficking. We have compiled a list of reputable organizations in the U.S. that are making an on-going and positive impact nationally and globally and that have been found to be fiscally responsible. Included also is a list of books and movies on this topic. The information we have gathered so far has been published in this online resource guide.
Please contact me at blarkin@acgc.us if you have any questions or information on good resources. Thank you!