This coming weekend, we are focusing on some social injustice issues...specifically, human trafficking and fair trade. Tragically, human trafficking has reached horrific levels. It is said that more people will be "trafficked" in 2009 than in all the 1800s when slave trade was at its peak.
Human trafficking is to be deceived or taken against your will, bought, sold and transported into slavery for sexual exploitation, sweat shops, child brides, circuses, sacrificial worship, forced begging, sale of human organs, farm labor, or domestic servitude. Family members and "friends" deceive parents into releasing their children or selling them for as little as $20 each. Children then may be sold to local gang masters or serious organized international trafficking rings. Victims usually suffer repeated physical abuse, fear, torture and threats to their families to break their spirits and turn them into saleable commodities. It is possible that a person could be sold and trafficked many times.
Human trafficking continues to grow. Between 2 million and 4 million men, women and children are trafficked across borders and within their own countries every year. More than one person is trafficked across borders EVERY MINUTE, the equivalent of five jumbo jets every day, in a trade that earns twice as much worldwide revenue as Coca-Cola.
Consider the following story. In September 2006, Carol, a Zimbabwean girl aged 18, escaped from captivity of traffickers while in Tanzania. Carol was trafficked from Zimbabwe two years earlier when she was 16. She was orphaned and staying with her grandparents when this happened. One day on her way to school she was approached by two men who offered her a job. Carol was enticed by the job prospect as this would give her the opportunity to help out her grandparents, support her siblings and other relatives. Carol left with the men, who took her to a place where they raped her and then transported her out of Zimbabwe to South Africa. She was drugged, placed in a coffin and taken across the Zimbabwean border. In South Africa, she was forced into prostitution. She was not allowed to go anywhere and was under lock and key.
Carol stayed in South Africa for several months before being taken to Mozambique, where the abuse continued. She then was trafficked through Zambia to Tanzania where she managed to escape. At an open market, her captor left her for a few minutes to order food. Carol took the opportunity and ran off. She asked for help from a woman who took her to the Zimbabwean Embassy in Tanzania. The Embassy transported her back home and she was handed over to the police under the care of the International Organization for Migration, which offered her care under their victim support program. Medical tests showed that Carol had contracted HIV. Her family has failed to accept her because they believe she will have a bad influence over the other children. Carol is staying at a center and is receiving care. (Source: www.stopthetraffik.org)
What is taking place not only around the world...but right here in our own city...is abhorrent. A year and a half ago, a local business was busted by the police department for its involvement in human trafficking. That business was within eyesight of BreakPointe. We need to be informed of what is going on and how we can make a positive difference. This coming weekend at BreakPointe, will give you an opportunity to become better informed.
Does this kind of injustice really matter to us? YES! Listen to the words of God found in Hebrews 13: 3: “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Also read Psalm 10.
Please...don't miss this coming Sunday. It will give you a much deeper understanding of what is going on around the world...and possibly around your neighborhood. We have special guest speakers who are well informed on the matter of human trafficking.
Dr. Jo Anne Lyon - General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, Founder and former director of World Hope Internaltional. In one arm of the work of World Hope, they work in rescuing and caring for those who have been victims of human trafficking.
Dr. Jeff Brodsky - Established The Safe Harbour Project. Their main objective is for the rescue and rehabilitation of the youngest children they can locate who have been either sold or kidnapped and forced into the child sex trade industry throughout the world. Their rescue operations would (in most cases) be underground and covert.
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