ENA's Anti - Slavery Initiative

A couple of years ago Sterling Tanner, Executive Director of the Forever Young Foundation http://www.foreveryoung.org/ , a partner organization of Engage Now Africa introduced Chris Gay, ENA Director to Jim Stone, Executive Director of Swift charities http://swiftcharities.org/ and then to Jerry Moyes, founder and CEO of Swift http://www.swifttrans.com/ . Those introductions created an important foundation that recently led ENA back to Swift Charities, The Defenders of SHI (Shared Hope International) joining together in a new partnership with the goal of eradicating sex trafficking here in America.

Engage Now Africa has been very busy since it launched its new anti-slavery initiative at the beginning of this year http://engagenowafrica.org/solutions/anti-slavery/ , created in response to the growing scourge of slavery and human trafficking in all its horrific forms occurring in Africa and here in the USA, in particular domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), which is the commercial sexual exploitation of children through buying, selling, or trading their sexual services. Forms of DMST include prostitution, pornography, stripping and other sexual acts.

At least 100,000 American children are being exploited through pornography or prostitution every year. The ages of trafficked children vary. The average age a child is first exploited through prostitution is 13 years old, though children as young as infants have been identified in pornography. America’s fascination with pornography and prostitution is linked to demand. Those who purchase sex or pornography are fueling the commercial sex industry and contributing to the exploitation of American’s children. Buyers come from all ages, occupations, and ethnicities. It is important that we share these facts in order to raise awareness so others can get engaged and help eradicate slavery and human trafficking in any of its vile manifestations. To learn more visit http://sharedhope.org/

The first big step occurred last April when Chris represented ENA at the Shared Hope International Just conference in Washington, DC. This was where ENA learned that The Defenders were working to get an audio book called Renting Lacy, https://sharedhope.org/store/audiobook-renting-lacy/ into the trucking industry so truckers could educate themselves on the reality of sex trafficking in America. After Chris left the conference he knew ENA could do more to help. After all he too has taken the Defender pledge and has been part of the movement for past few years. For those that do not know, The Defenders, http://sharedhope.org/join-the-cause/become-a-defender/ are men who have come to understand the marketplace of commercial sexual exploitation and are committed to doing everything in their power to stop that exploitation. He also received the support and encouragement from Nick Lembo, Board of Directors Shared Hope International, Co-Chair Defenders the Men of Shared Hope.

After remembering he actually knew some people in the trucking industry and not just somebody but the largest truck transportation company in the USA Chris reached out and contacted Mr. Jim Stone. The next thing he knew he was in Phoenix, AZ meeting face to face with Swift Charities, the formal charitable arm of Swift Transportation and discussing with them how the trucking industry can help to combat the scourge of human sex trafficking happening here in the USA. The timing was perfect. Arizona was actually in the process of really preparing itself for the upcoming Superbowl and doing all that it can now to prevent buyers and traffickers from exploiting victims.  

Swift was great. They gave Chris a tour of their headquarters, he even had the opportunity to drive a truck in their simulator and did quite well until he had a blowout and crashed. Jim also organized a visit to a local residential care facility in Phoenix called Streetlight USA; http://streetlightusa.org/  helping girls aged 11-17 that have been victims of child sex trafficking and/or sexual exploitation. Also later in the day they attended a luncheon with the US ambassador, Louis Debaca, from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons who was spoke to a powerful crowd about the problems of human trafficking in Arizona and elsewhere and ways organizations and various departments can work together to end demand. The day ended with Swift and ENA talking on the phone with Nick from The Defenders and a lot of progress was made.

As of right now Swift is scheduled to meet face to face with Nick from the Defenders and Linda Smith, founder SHI and their Communications Director this coming April to create training systems and develop plans that could help Swift staff understand trafficking issues around the country.

It is true that children are being forced, manipulated and abused at the hands of pimps who control them and sell them to truckers at truck stops every night across America. It is also true that there are truckers out there actually preventing this from occurring because they are aware of the signs of a victim. A huge part of the problem is not recognizing the signs that an individual is being trafficked. This is why the book and audio CD Renting Lacy is so crucial. It will help educate men and specifically truckers about real victims; they will hear these stories and more. So with greater collaboration, training and support we can be a part of the solution in ending demand. End demand and help victims that are forced to work at truck stops across the USA and elsewhere. That is the goal. Join with us in the global fight against slavery and human trafficking today. http://engagenowafrica.org/get-engaged/volunteer/

 

From the New York Times March, 15, 2014:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/world/asia/trapped-between-home-and-refuge-burmese-muslims-are-brutalized.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=1