Post Conference Prayer Day 25

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

International Justice Mission (IJM)

5 Weeks of Freedom Campaign

Information:

IJM was one of the organizations that participated in our conference.  Read below and be one of 100,000 people to text $10 and help this anti-trafficking organization raise their goal of $1 million! 

IJM's Stop Injustice: 5 Weeks for Freedom campaign has hit the road!

After kicking off the tour in Mobile, AL, this weekend, the 15 members of the 5 Weeks for Freedom team began their 1800-mile cycle on the historic route of the Underground Railroad Monday morning.

Even though their first day (a 75-mile ride!) started with rainy weather and hilly terrain, the team is more exited for the road ahead than ever — 5 weeks and 1800 miles of sharing about the reality of modern-day slavery and empowering people to act on behalf of victims of violent oppression.

Take the journey! You can:
» Follow the tour on live tracking page and keep up with the riders through daily instant access updates.

» Meet the team if vacationing in one of the cities on their route! Find out where they’re headed next.

» Help spread the word about 5 Weeks for Freedom with online tools.

» Help IJM reach their fundraising goal of $1 million! They’re asking 100,000 people to text FREEDOM to 20222* ( to give $10 to IJM’s work. Will you help them spread the word? Other great giving options are available here.
* A $10 donation will be added to your mobile bill. Messaging & Data Rates May Apply. Get details here »

Prayer Focus:
Pray that God will continue to bless this organization spiritually, financially, and with a fully staffed work-force.  Ask God to protect the freedom fifteen as they cover the Underground Railroad trail to generate awareness about human trafficking.  Ask God to soften hearts of people along the route to the truth of this vile practice including the extent of human trafficking both in the US and globally.  Ask God to use this trail of passionate riders to inspire others along the way to take action steps against human trafficking. 

Post Conference Prayer Day 24

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

World Vision

The child sex tourism prevention project

Combating slavery in the 21st century

Information:

Help combat child sex tourism

As part of World Vision's commitment to protecting children, they have joined forces with national governments, law enforcement agencies and other organizations to combat child sex tourism through the Child Sex Tourism Prevention Project.  World Vision has implemented this project in Cambodia, Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil and the United States.  With backing from the U.S. Department of State and the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, World Vision has tackled this problem with a three-pronged strategy:

Deterrent messages
World Vision developed a targeted media campaign to deter would-be sex tourist in Cambodia, Costa Rica, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil and the United States.
 Law enforcement assistance
World Vision works with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help identify child sex tourists and provide information that could lead to their prosecution and conviction. Our extensive staff (23,000 employees in 100 countries), community networks and our work with children enables World Vision to lend valuable assistance to local and U.S. law enforcement agencies. World Vision has held workshops in Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico and Brazil to help increase law enforcement assistance.
Prevention programs
World Vision works to prevent children from being drawn into the commercial sex trade through interventions like education, advocacy and the creation of other means to make a living. World Vision operates at local and national levels to specifically prevent child sex tourism in Cambodia, Costa Rica, Thailand, Mexico and Brazil with efforts soon to expand to other sex-tour destination countries.

Action Steps
Report a child sex tourist
If you have information regarding a person who has sexually exploited a child, or suspect someone of child sex tourism:

     E-mail the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), at Operation Predator: operation.predator@DHS.gov
     Or call the ICE hotline: 1-866-347-2423

Federal law prohibits U.S. residents/citizens from engaging in sexual acts with persons under age 18 outside of the United States (18 USC 2423). Persons who commit this crime, or facilitate this crime, are subject to prosecution and prison penalties of up to 30 years.

Prayer Focus:
Pray that God will move on people with compassion who see suspected child sex tourists.  Ask God to give then boldness to take action and contact US Immigration by emailing or calling their hotline.  Give people wisdom on how to get the information needed without endangering themselves.  Pray for the salvation of these child sex tourists.  Pray that they would be convicted by the Holy Spirit working through those who suspect them of this crime that as they are caught and confronted that they would repeat.  Pray that the World Vision media campaign will affectively stop would be child sex tourists as they are reminded of that Federal law prohibits US citizens from engaging in sexual acts with underaged victims outside of the US.  Ask God to bless those who have the courage to report these child sex tourists.  Pray that God would continue to bless World Vision with people, programs and finances that are used to bring about freedom to those imprisioned to sex trafficking.

Post Conference Prayer Day 23

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

Don't Trade Lives

World Vision Australia

Information:
Don’t Trade Lives is World Vision's advocacy campaign uniting Australians against human trafficking and slavery.  This campaign is a reminder to Americans about what we can do as consumers to stop the demand that feeds the global human trafficking through child slave labor.
Take a look at this Don't Trade Lives document.  Let's make sure that when we purchase items that we know if child labor is being used to produce the products.

Listen to an audio interview with Carol Off, award-winning Canadian investigative journalist and television documentary-maker; co-host of CBC Radio's current affairs program As It Happens about her book Bitter Chocolate: Investigating The Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet.  This interview gives a feel for what is happening to children working as slaves on the Ivory Coast of West Africa in the cocoa fields.  It is astonishing to learn that each chocolate bar that we casually eat in a few minutes takes the amount of cocoa beans that are harvested in three days of hard child labor in these cocoa farms.  Most of the cocoa (43%) used in mass produced chocolate comes from this region of West Africa in the Ivory Coast.  They mention that the cocoa bean originated in Latin America but made its way to Africa because it was cheaper to plant and use the slaves in Africa rather than bring them to America.  So today slavery is still taking place when children are transported from poorer nations and enslaved in the Ivory Coast as workers on over 600,000 farms. Carol Off's suggested solution is that farmers must be paid a living wage.  They need to be able to organize, create coops, and know the price of cocoa so they can be competitive in the market place.  The African government must break up cocoa cartels of transnational companies and not allow that monopoly to exist.  The chocolate from this region is used by Hershey and other famous candy makers.  American Congressmen proposed a policy called the Harken-Engle Protocol stating in essence that the chocolate companies either clean up their act or something would be put on each candy label stating that child labor was used.  Although it was finally passed by American chocolate companies nothing has changed (see below).

In an article found in the Northeastern University Political Review from February 2010 entitle "Bitter Sweets: The Problem of Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry" the Engle-Harken Protocol is mentioned in this context:

"Ten year old Madi, whose family cannot afford to send him to school, spends his days hacking away at cocoa pods with a machete. Such conditions are common in the Ivory Coast’s farms where 43% of the world’s chocolate is produced. Although United States chocolate companies passed a protocol to get rid of “the worst forms of child labor,” conditions have not improved. This article looks to document the negligence and complicit support of child slavery by chocolate manufacturers and the Ivory Coast government, as well as to illustrate several steps which were taken to eradicate the problem.

The economic relationship between Mali and the Ivory Coast is integral in understanding the circumstances which facilitate child labor. Given that Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world with a national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of only $1,200 per person, many people migrate to the Ivory Coast to find work. Some Malian families allow slave traders to take their children as a result of dependence on that income for survival. This trend is intensified by an economy where an education does not guarantee a job, reducing the incentive to send children to school rather than using them for short term economic gain.

Since passing the Harken-Engle Protocol, however, the chocolate industry has failed to make serious changes in their relationship with local farmers. Instead, they cast blame on nongovernmental organizations, such as the International Labor Organization, and the Ivory Coast government for allowing child labor to continue."

The final paragraph of the article sums up what Carol Off was presenting in her book:
"In light of these problems, there is no clear solution for West African cocoa workers. Fair Trade products still account for an exceptionally small part of the market, and are not necessarily an economically feasible solution. Fair Trade products are more expensive to the consumer and forcing farmers to meet Fair Trade certifications might result in less profit. The result would exacerbate problems such as poverty and unemployment, and increase criminal activity in other economic sectors. The Ivory Coast’s government is still war-torn and riddled with corruption. It does not have the means to devote the resources necessary to eradicate child labor, nor does it have compelling incentives to do so. Moreover, binding international resolutions have not made as much of an impact on child labor as they intended to, especially since sanctions have yet to be brought on Mali or the Ivory Coast. The chocolate industry has also come to a decision concerning the plight of African laborers; it is decidedly apathetic. Until it becomes financially disadvantageous to use child labor in the cocoa industry, these practices are likely to continue."

Prayer Focus:
Ask God to stop the child slave trade in the chocolate industry. Ask God to work on the hearts of the cocoa trade giants who are abusing these children because of greed and who knowingly turn an eye to this corruption.  Ask God to reveal and stop the cartels surrounding this industry in the Ivory Coast.  Ask God to make it possible for these farmers to be paid a living wage, to give them the technology so that they know how to fight for a better price by being educated.  Ask God to stop tariffs to America on these cocoa beans so that these farmers can make a fair wage.  Ask God to cause such outrage in countries like America and Australia that these chocolate giants will stop these horrific child labor practices.  Praise God for what World Vision Australia is doing to educate people and expose the truth about the cost in lives through child labor for consumer products.

Post Conference Prayer Day 22

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

A 21 Campaign

427E 17th Street # F223, Costa Mesa, CA 92627, USA
Tel: 949.202.4681 Fax: 949.612.0827

Email: info@theA21campaign.org

Web: http://www.thea21campaign.org/

"When confronted with the horrific statistics surrounding human trafficking, it is easy to agree on the fact that "someone should do something." The A21 Campaign was born when the decision was made to put our hand up and be that "someone". It was a decision of ordinary people who decided to take responsibility regarding the issue of human trafficking. So with little knowledge, and a lot of passion, in 2007 we set out to make a difference.  After extensive research, planning, fundraising, more research, relationship building, a lot of learning, and a great leap of faith, we opened our first shelter for victims of human trafficking at the end of 2008.

This shelter is located in a prime destination country in Europe, Greece – and we are now able to provide trafficked victims a safe, loving, and comforting environment, access to medical care and psychological assessment, vocational training, assistance in university education, life guidance/counselling, and access to legal assistance. We work closely with police, hospitals and government officials, and are seeing justice being brought to new rescued victims each month.  While we continue to improve our restoration services in Greece, we have also been establishing relationships with key government officials and NGO's, as well as conducting a feasibility study to find the greatest needs in the Ukraine.

As the Ukraine is a source country for many victims trafficked to Greece, the expansion of work in the Ukraine will increase our ability to strategically help both at risk persons, and those who have already been trafficked. Through our Ukrainian team, we have already been able to help several trafficked victims, including the provision of much needed medical assistance. We have also begun a school program, educating at-risk students about the dangers of human trafficking and how to identify false job opportunities.

We do not claim to be the 'experts' and recognize that our fight for justice has only just begun, but The A21 Campaign rings true through the famous words of Margaret Mead, 'never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'  The A21 Campaign stands for abolishing injustice in the 21st century. Anyone can join - everyone can make a difference."

A21 Bible Verse found on Prayer Guide:  “But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes and hidden in houses of
bondage. They have become a prey, with no one to deliver them, a spoil, with no one to say, Restore them!” Isaiah 42:22

Prayer Focus from A21 Campaign's Prayer Guide
FOR THE VICTIMS
For their Strength & Salvation
Ps. 138:7, Is. 40:29, Lk. 19:10
For their Protection, Freedom & JUSTICE
Ps. 82:4, Ps. 103:6, Ps. 146:7
For their Hope & Healing
Ps. 40:1-2, Jer. 30:17, Jer. 31:17

FOR THE TRAFFICKERS
For conviction, repentance and salvation
Is. 55:7, Rom. 5:6-8, 2 Tim. 2:25
For Criminal networks to dismantle
Ps. 7:9, Ps. 37:17, Ps. 37:20
For the Oppressors to be arrested & prosecuted
Is. 16:4, Jer. 22:3, Amos 5:15a
FOR GOVERNMENTS
For corruption to cease
Deut. 16:19, Amos 5:12, Zech.8:16
For the implementation of just legislation
Prov. 8:15, Prov. 29:4, Neh. 9:13
For discernment in forming alliances
1 Ki. 3:12, Prov. 3:21, Ecc. 4:9-12

FOR INCREASED GLOBAL AWARENESS
The reality of trafficking is unveiled
Mk. 4:22, Lk. 12:2, Eph. 5:13
For Strategies to raise awareness
Ps. 25:4, Prov. 3:5-6, Is. 55:9

FOR PEOPLE TO BE STIRRED TO ACTION
Is. 58:6-7, Jam. 1:22, Jam. 2:16-17

THE A21 CAMPAIGN
For Divine favor
Ps. 5:12, Ps. 90:17, Lk. 2:52
For divine wisdom
Prov. 4:7, Prov. 16:16, Jam. 1:5
For divine provision
Deut. 28:12, Ps. 111:5, 2 Cor. 9:8

AGAINST ROOT CAUSES
Against poverty
Prov. 14:21, Is. 58:7, Is. 61:1
Against greed
Joel 3:3-6, Lk. 12:15, 1 Tim. 6:10a
Against prejudice
Gen. 1:27, Ps. 45:9, Gal.3:28

Post Conference Prayer Day 21

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

VisionFund:  World Vision Microfinance

A Preventative Step Agaisnt Human Trafficking

National Headquarters located in Federal Way, WA

Information:

 We are committed to the poor is one of World Vision's six core values:

   " We are called to serve the neediest people of the earth; to relieve their suffering and to promote the transformation of their wellbeing. We stand in solidarity in a common search for justice. We seek to understand the situation of the poor and work alongside them.
     We seek to facilitate an engagement between the poor and the affluent that opens both to transformation. We respect the poor as active participants, not passive recipients, in this relationship. They are people from whom others may learn and receive, as well as give. The need for transformation is common to all. Together we share a quest for justice, peace, reconciliation, and healing in a broken world."

VisionFund is the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision. In 1993, World Vision International (WVI) began to implement microfinance programming to benefit the economically active poor. In 2003, WVI recognized the importance and complexity of this ministry through its MFIs, and created VisionFund International (VFI) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of WVI. VFI is mandated by WVI to:
     1. Provide governance, risk management control and specialty advice/support to all of its MFIs whether owned or controlled by VisionFund or WVI.
     2. Manage the funding of all MFIs including donations and debt financing from VFI & third parties directly to the MFIs.

"VisionFund provides financial services to the families and communities where World Vision works.  They help transform the lives of the world’s poorest children and families. they are committed to providing access to financial services to the poor regardless of their religious beliefs, gender or ethnic background. Using three loan methods, they provide the poor with financial choices at reasonable interest rates. Through their work, a family is able to accumulate assets and build up their small businesses one step at a time. Their aim is to provide the necessary training and resources for each family to maintain the provision of food for their children, create savings for emergency needs, afford medical care for their family, build up their businesses and send their children to school."

Poverty is among the leading root causes of human trafficking.  When the poorest people are approaced by human traffickers they are despearte and their vulnerability inhibits their good judgement and caution and they fall prey to this evil practice through sex trafficking or child labor.  What Vision Fund is doing is impacting the world's population where the majority of victims can be found and hunted.  World Vision through VisionFund offers a solution one person at a time against world poverty with a significant spinoff being the prevention of human trafficking.

Action Steps:
Fund a loan
Purchase products
Join the VisionFund Team
Stay connected through VisionFund e-news
Be a volunteer at World Vision
    
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to continue to bless World Vision VisionFund by increasing the number of Americans who want to fund a loan, donate, give gifts or purchase products.  Give people boldness in spreading the news about VisionFund so that it will continue to help the poor and impact the human trafficking by giving the marginalized peoples of the world hope.  Praise God for what World Vision has been able to do through VisionFund to helpl the poor.  Ask God to protect the workers with World Vision who are involved with VisionFund.  Ask God to move on America to give to the poor and make a difference in the world just by giving up little things like daily coffee shop drinks or soft drinks and putting the money toward others in need.  Ask God to give Americans a heart for the poor like His heart.  Ask God if you should fund a loan or buy a product from VisionFund.

Post Conference Prayer Day 20

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

A Matter of Spirit

Taken from No. 87 Summer 2010

Topic Human Trafficking

The following is taken from the Innercommunity Peace and Justice Center publication entitled "A Matter of Spirit".  Please consider doing this alone or with a friend or a group of friends.

Prayer for Conversion of Heart: Human Trafficking

Set Up
Chairs around a small table—with a cloth, candle and basket of small stones.

Leader: Let us begin by observing a moment of silence in solidarity with the more than 27 million men, women and children in slavery-like conditions


today. [moment of silence]

Leader: Human trafficking can be an overwhelming reality, but we must not forget that our God is bigger.

Reader: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart offlesh.” (Ezekiel 36)

Leader: Let us pray that God will convert the hearts of all human traffickers.

Response Prayer

For those who have become so hardened that human suffering no longer tugs on their hearts.

R. “Give them hearts of flesh.”

For those so long consumed with greed that they no longer recognize the inherent


value of the human person. R


For those so caught up in seeking pleasure that they buy sex or exploit other human beings. R

Leader: Let us pray for all of us who participate in systems that continue the demand for human trafficking. That we will change our consumer choices and habits to promote fairly traded products.

R. “Give us hearts of flesh.”

That we will demand corporate responsibility and slave-free products and services. R


That we will challenge others when they use language that demeans or objectifies women and girls. R

Leader: Let us end by taking a few moments of quiet to reflect on this question:                                                            

What prayer of conversion is stirring in my heart?


[quiet reflection]

Distribution of Stones

Leader: I now invite each of you to take a stone from the basket. As you take your stone, share one word or phrase that reflects the

stirring of your heart. [pass basket]

All: Loving God, we take these stones home both as a reminder of your promise to us and of our commitment to pray for an end to human trafficking. We ask for conversion of heart for all human traffickers, and for courage to recognize and respond to our own role in society’s
demand for human trafficking. We pray this in solidarity with all victims of human trafficking. Amen.

Post Conference Prayer Day 19

Find Your Voice. . .Break the Chain

Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center

A Local Organization 

The Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center acts for justice in the church and in the world. IPJC is sponsored by sixteen religious communities and collaborates with Catholic, ecumenical, interfaith and other organizations in carrying out this mission.   IPJC is supported primarily by sponsoring religious communities, who established and have maintained IPJC since 1991. Each Sponsoring Community provides a representative of its Leadership Team to serve on the IPJC Governing Council. IPJC also is supported by Affiliate Communities.

As part of their vision for peace they educate the community about human trafficking and take steps to impact the darkness with the Light.  There are numerous human trafficking resources and opportunities for action steps organized by IPJC. 

Take Action
Monthly Human Trafficking Awareness Vigil
Join IPJC's monthly prayer vigil at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle on the 1st Sunday of the month at 1:30 pm. the next vigil is on July 4th.  Contact IPJC at 206.223.1138 or via e-mail for a "tool kit" (complete with signs and outreach suggestions) to start a monthly vigil in your own community.

Legislative Action Center - write your members of Congress

     Stop the Demand for Products Made by Slave Labor

     Support Federal Funding of Services for Sex Trafficking Survivors


Public Awareness Campaign
IPJC recently worked with women religious in the Seattle and Tacoma areas to launch a awareness campaign on city buses. For information about starting a bus ad campaign in your local community, contact IPJC for a tool kit.

Write to Chocolate Manufacturers
Watch a short video about child labor and slavery in the chocolate industry. Then write a letter to chocolate manufacturers asking them to live up to their commitment to help the children on cocoa plantations in West Africa and stop using child and exploited labor.

Prayer Focus:
Ask God to continue to work through the Seattle Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center to educate people in the South Puget Sound Area about human trafficking.  Ask God to bless them as they organize action steps through their monthly prayer vigils, their awareness campaign about human trafficking on city busses and their resources to advocate with our government and chocolate manufactureres.  Pray that hearts will be stirred as readers gain knowledge about human trafficking and that this stirring will result in action against human trafficking.  Ask God what your part should be in response to the knowledge available at their website.