However, from overlooked suspicious activity to the very food and clothing we purchase, human trafficking happens around us and affects us in a variety of ways. The good news is that we can take steps to stop modern-day slavery in those same areas and fight for freedom for all.
Read MoreIn a field with few written resources for survivors of human trafficking to help guide them on the journey of recovery, I have found a gem.
Read MoreMy parents were Hmong refugees who escaped Laos during the Vietnam War. They lived in refugee camps in Thailand before immigrating to the United States. During that time, they carried with them their only child, a son. Today, they have a total of six children, five of them being daughters. When my father reminisces of life back in Laos and the war, he often tells us of how lucky we are to be born and raised in America. His eyes become teary thinking about the struggle and danger of raising five girls in a war-torn country filled with poverty. So as I’m sitting here watching the documentary, Finding Home, I’m deeply emotional by how close the story hits to home.
In February 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, hosted one of the nation’s largest events - the Super Bowl. It took place in Downtown Minneapolis at the U.S. Bank Stadium, right next to the public hospital where I work. Every day, during my commute to and from work, I witnessed the construction, outdoor preparations, and festivities. But alongside the strategic planning and whirlwind of people and visitors was the constant need to be aware of my surroundings.
At Dressember, one of our main missions is to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking, because we know that a large component in the fight to end slavery is to know the signs of trafficking.
In the United States, there is the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and Hotline, but another resource to utilize is the CyberTipline, which aims to protect children from the risks that result from the exploitation that exists on the internet. This includes access to illegal content, chat room messages, or unwanted emails.
Read MoreJoy Collins Brodt first heard about human trafficking in college when a group hosted a showing of the documentary “Not My Life”.
“I went because I wasn’t sure what it was about”, Joy said, “and at the time they were calling it modern slavery and I was like, ‘Well what does that mean? I thought slavery was abolished years ago.’ So I went and I watched this film and my heart was torn wide open. At that moment, my heart was lit on fire and I knew I had to join the movement to combat this.”
Read MoreIn the past several years that I’ve been researching about human trafficking and working in the field with survivors, it’s been encouraging to find several organizations that prioritize space for survivors to express themselves and be actively involved in the fight for freedom. It’s critical that we recognize survivors holistically, acknowledging that they are multi-faceted individuals with more to offer than simply their first-hand knowledge of trafficking. Here are just a few organizations doing incredible work for and with survivors.
Read MoreWanna learn about space technology? Satiate your curiosity about curiosity (curious isn’t it)? Discover the science of flirting? Get a crash course on the power of vulnerability? Many of us have heard of or seen TED Talks on topics such as the above and on scores more (think gumballs to neuroscience to global issues). Perhaps you chanced on one while scrolling through social media or YouTube, or maybe a friend or family member told you about a TED Talk you absolutely-must-watch-if-it’s-the-last-thing-you-do (or, *cough* me *cough,* you’ve been that friend or family member). In any case, TED Talks often leave viewers with new insight and inspiration, and Richard Lee’s powerful TED Talk on ending slavery proves to be no exception.
Read More10 million. That's the average number of followers that a celebrity has on just one social media platform at any given time. How often do we look to our favourite actors and actresses, singers, and storytellers for insight into what's going on in the world, for cues and clues as to what we should be watching out for or taking a stand against? If you're like me then the answer is probably every time you scroll through Facebook or Instagram. We live in a socially charged world where people are beginning to say, “We've had enough; this has to stop!” in regards to many human rights issues. That's why it's so amazing to see so many influential people stepping up and speaking out about hard topics such as human trafficking and sexual assault and harassment. Below are 10 such celebrities who are using their voices and fame to bring attention to these issues:
Read MoreAwareness is the essential spark that has led to every good step in the fight for freedom. This is a central attitude driving End It Movement, a coalition of 16 anti-human trafficking organizations that strives to creatively “shine a light on slavery.” The idea is simple yet effective: activists take over the internet on February 22--which has been designated as “End It Day”--every year by drawing a red “x” on their hand, snapping a photo, and posting on social media with the simple message that slavery is real, and they are in the fight to end it.
Read MoreA new documentary, Stopping Traffic: the movement to end sex trafficking, defines a hero as, “a daring and inspiring soul who sees the tremendous pain of others and selflessly undergoes the ultimate challenge to help eliminate their suffering by taking action, never giving up, and making possible what seems impossible.”
Read More"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” -Helen Keller
These words echo in the minds of activists across the globe. They also resonate strongly with Empower Her Network (EHN). Sprawled across their website amidst pink and orange power colors, EHN not only identifies with these words but is living proof of the power they hold. EHN is a testimony that collaboration and heart can achieve the unachievable and ultimately empower the women we are working to liberate from modern-day slavery.
Read MoreAs I type these words, my daughter rests quietly in her room after a full, playful day at preschool. She comes home with colorful pictures to hang across our mantle and the knowledge of new letters and numbers to scribble on her chalkboard. She’s able to just be a kid, with room to learn and grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. It’s her right, yet for 152 million other children globally it’s not even a possibility.
Children have a natural curiosity and magic about them, because there is something special about the freedoms that come with growing up and learning about the world. Sadly, child labor is a very real global issue that’s hindering the life and positive outcomes for so many. The International Labor Organization estimates that of the 152 million children laborers in 2016, 73 million of those are in hazardous work that is dangerously impacting their mental and physical development.
Read MoreDr. Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco has conducted over 2,000 qualitative interviews with human traffickers and victims, making her one of the few researchers with a background to qualify as an expert on human trafficking in criminal and civil court. Her new book, Hidden in Plain Sight, aims to shed a light on the reality of human trafficking in our world and provide resources to prevent the spread of trafficking. Hidden in Plain Sight releases today and we strongly believe that this is an essential resource for anyone eager to spread awareness and take action. Below is our review of Hidden in Plain Sight. Read to the end for a chance to win a copy of your own!
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