Thursday, January 20, 2011
In Your Neck of the Woods?
Sex Trafficking is Big Business in Texas
from It's Not My Fault. Org
The issues of human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children are receiving increased attention in North Texas as the area prepares for a massive influx of people coming to town for the big game. The ‘It’s Not My Fault’ campaign and others like it are beginning to get the word out that there is a dark side when large sporting events like this one come to a city. With many visitors in town away from their families and without accountability there is an increase in demand for prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation.
But it should be noted that the increase in demand that many experts are expecting surrounding this big event is only a magnification of a problem in the state of Texas that is already a problem of epic proportion.
According to the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot, Texas already sees 10,000 human trafficking victims a year. Dallas, Houston and El Paso are major national and international hubs for both labor and sex trafficking. According to the Polaris Project, Texas has the dubious distinction of having more calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline than any other state.
The ‘It’s Not My Fault’ campaign is trying to seize this important moment in North Texas to promote awareness and prevention. But when all the fanfare has ended and the visitors have all gone home, there will still be victims of human trafficking who need brave men and women who will take up their cause and bring them justice, love and hope.
Kim Jones
INMF Volunteer
Check out the work It's Not My Fault is doing. Sex trafficking is not a problem that merely exists on the other side of the world. It's real. It's right there under your nose. Promise.
For those of you who live in Houston check out Texas Monthly's article called The Lost Girls. It's eye-opening and shocking. When it first published I could not believe how "in the dark" I had been about these issues. Troubling.
And then go sign up for the give away of those conference tickets to attend Free the Captives.
Let's be informed. One way we live out the gospel is to declare freedom to the enslaved and the oppressed. It's right and good for the church to be known for being deeply involved in these issues. Let's be modern day abolitionists. You don't have to leave your country to be a present day Martin Luther King, Jr.
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8 comments:
I'm a lurker but I love your blog and really appreciate how honest you are and how you share about what God is doing in your life. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate that you post about these organizations. So often I hear about things that are happening but I don't know how to help. Because of you we are no longer buying chocolate that is not free trade and we also give to Heartline's Harbor House and to Love146. Thank you for pointing us in the direction of important ministries and causes.
Wow - I just read the whole post at Texas Monthly - and I'm wishing that Time, Newsweek, PBS, and NPR would jump on this story and others like it. Thank you for sharing it - and for reminding those of us here in the US what goes on. Before your post and another at sortacrunchy the other day I had NO idea that large events like the superbowl had any connection to human trafficking. My eyes are being opened...
HI Heather!!! I love reading your blog and keeping up with all that God is doing in yall's lives. I wish I could call and talk for hours....
I wanted to comment and let people know that if they are interested in becoming more involved in their city and community regarding sex and labor trafficking issues, to look at Polaris Project for more information:
http://www.polarisproject.org/
There is a wealth of information on their website about trafficking issues in the US. And, if you want to have general information about human trafficking in your state and city emailed to you, as well as a list of organizations you can volunteer with, you can call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-3737-888
I work as a call specialist for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, housed in the Polaris office and funded by the US Department of Health. It is a 24 hr hotline for victims and community members to call.
It's a wonderful organization and hotline providing direct services to Washington, DC and information to the US.
Thanks for sharing. I have lurked...now and again. I hope you don't mind me stealing some of your words to share with my friends on facebook.
Thank you for reminding us that there is injustice RIGHT HERE among us! Your blog is beautiful! Your lives are BEAUTIFUL. My husband and I have just adopted two little Ethiopian twin boys! One day we hope to go back and stay... well its a hope and a fear. www.takingtwo.blogspot.com
YES!
Heather- I am so , so happy you posted this! This issue has been so near to my heart for several years now. John and I were just talking about this yesterday.
I'm going to check out the links now.
Sadly enough though, in some states, the police turn a blind eye to runaways and then, when they are raped/abused/used, they tell us it’s our own fault.
I remember at 15 sitting in the Houston Police Department, having called the National Runaway Hotline for help. They sent HPD… When I told HPD of what I had went through (being raped time and time again by numerous men, and being told that “dead bodies are easy to get rid of here in Texas” when I would say no), HPD told me it was MY fault that I got into that situation because I was a runaway. He said I deserved it, and maybe next time, I wouldn’t runaway.
And no, sorry, I wasn’t running away from the perfect home… I was running away from foster care, and that itself is another hell for teens.
Police need more sensitivity training when handling runaways who have been raped, prostituted out, or trafficked for sex.
I'm sorry. I hurt with you...for your past and that your story is being played over and over again in other women's lives.
May we be better informed!
Makes me extra grateful for organizations like these that are trying to raise awareness.
Love to you.
Heather
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