- Cecilia Horvick
- Holly Springs, NC
- United States
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What is the best way to spread awareness of human trafficking in suburban areas?
At 27 million people and 32 billion dollars a year, the modern slave industry is at an all time high. It affects every country and community in the world in some way or form and any person could become a victim. There is not set "type" of group or person that becomes a part of this industry. Anyone can be a victim. Age, gender, socioeconomic status, language, country of origin, none of that matters.
And yet it seems that very few communities are aware of this problem. It does affect every community in some way and so few people seem to consider it more than a problem that happens in poor urban areas or third world countries.
What would be a good way to spread awareness about the issues of human trafficking to a community? What would be a good way to inspire awareness and involvement in the efforts to eradicate this scourge? How would one go about doing this?
The answers I'd find most helpful are creative ideas, examples of past communities working together to help in a global problem, examples of what you would do in this situation or possibly what you have done in this situation, if you had ever before been faced with this or something similar.
Thank you!
Don Van Spyker
Cooper Bates 500+
I would love to have a conversation with you around this issue. I happen to be on of those souls who thought this atrocity did not happen in our back yard. The one positive light in this mess is that it's so shocking and so deeply wrong that when people ( at least in my experience ) learn about it they want to help immediately.
I shot some coverage photography at a correctional facility for girls. A woman of whom had been trafficked starting at age 12 when her parents simply gave up on her is now setting up facilities to help their girls get their lives back. I was in a room with 60 girls ranging in age from 12 to 17. Everyone one of this had this history on them. A 14 year old asked a question. "Why would I want to get out of this place. I have a pimp. As soon as I get out he is going to get me." I asked my 12 year old daughter if she knew what a pimp was when I got home that evening. She had seriously never even heard the word before.
People who institute and thrive on this kind of work are the lowest form of existence. I am going to use all that I am to try and educate and be a force of change and disruption for good.
Forgive me, I mostly rambled about an experience instead of delving deep into your question. I do believe talking about it to everyone who will listen will have a great impact as a starter, just because of the sheer depth of our general ignorance around this issue.
Dilip BK Sunar 500+
I am also fighting against human trafficking back in home country Nepal with the help of Japan. I could only think about finding the simplest policy to make people aware that this is a issue.
In my experience I found that to approach people and say would be easier and this is a basic as to create the similar policy to bring it to people, good luck!
Mohammad Marohombsar
The problem lies not in awareness, but in action. I know what's up, you know what's up, so...? What are we going to do about it?
The authorities are the first place to go but authorities have existed alongside human trafficking for God knows how long.
A better way is coming at the problem from a different side. We need to ask someone who is in their system:
Do you like what they are doing to you? Are you free to leave? Why not leave if you can? What will you do once you're out?
Then you can get the authorities involved once you have the right information.
Human trafficking is a kind of business that violates human rights. All business must have customers..
Meaning the absolute best way is to limit the customers of these horrible businesses.
This time you ask yourself: Am I a customer? How do I limit myself from buying? How does the other party feel when we do business? Am I in anyway keeping my close friends and family from being customers?
I all comes down to respect and care. Any kind of campaign will do, any kind of campaign will help.
Mohammad Marohombsar
The problem lies not in awareness, but in action. I know what's up, you know what's up, so...? What are we going to do about it?
The authorities are the first place to go but authorities have existed alongside human trafficking for God knows how long.
A better way is coming at the problem from a different side. We need to ask someone who is in their system:
Do you like what they are doing to you? Are you free to leave? Why not leave if you can? What will you do once you're out?
Then you can get the authorities involved once you have the right information.
Human trafficking is a kind of business that violates human rights All business must have customers..
Meaning the absolute best way is to limit the customers of these horrible businesses.
This time you ask yourself: Am I a customer? How do I limit myself from buying? How does the other party feel when we do business? Am I in anyway keeping my close friends and family from being customers?
Andrea Morisette Grazzini 30+
To spread awareness of human trafficking in suburban areas, three simultaneous areas should be mobilized:
Public safety, media, community forums.
Engage police and FBI. Support their efforts, but stay on them. They are very busy and, due to the subversive nature of trafficking, will need compelling reasons to dedicate resources to your effort.
Engage good investigative journalists. Same model: they'll need compelling reasons and supports to break cases. But they have tremendous power and often equally inexhaustible energies to do so.
There are cultural things you should do, too. Such as begin community dialogues with others who are concerned. Churches, public libraries, arts groups and social services might provide support for these.
Trafficking is the kind of hidden-social networks nefariousness that needs bright lights shined from all corners at once.
Good luck!
Andrea
Irene Bender
I belong to both...Good Luck! Irene
A:21 Campaign - http://www.thea21campaign.org/ [Christina Caine is AWESOME]
Not For Sae - http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
Anastasiya Kochevanskaya
It is in fact common that people don't recognize the problem as relevant and up-to-date, and if the target groups are from large cities, they would say something like "hey, we know about our rights more than you do", that is why children and teenagers from suburban areas are a more appreciative audience. We offer real case studies for consideration, and always use statistical data to support the theory. Only keep in mind that your task is NOT to frighten away, but to warn. We also try to educate people to be tolerant and avoid hanging tags on others, because human trafficking may concern everyone, and development of non-violent behavior and attitudes are the key objectives.
russell lester
Geraldo Rivera and Dog the bounty hunter on the front lines with FBI Hostage Rescue Team Tonight at 10pm
russell lester
Cecilia Horvick
Anastasiya Kochevanskaya
What my organization does in terms of preventive measures is awareness raising through information campaigns and mini-educational trainings among at-risk groups, consistent of children and young adults - potential victims of trafficking, originating from troubled families, or children in orphanages and other social protection institutions, particularly in suburban areas, remote regional districts and villages. All activities imply interactive form, where the trainees can easily participate, tell their worries and concerns. Especially demonstration of some video material (as an example - http://vimeo.com/15113068, borrowed from MTV Exit) works well with this kind of audience, only note that local bound concepts and situations are more effective, that is what is good for North America doesn't go for Central Asia, etc. It's worth noting that our task is not to inculcate some fear of becoming a victim or some prejudice in the trainees, (it's very important to stress that!) because among other things our objective is to fight sterotypical thinking, but to familiarize people with the problem's tangibility and the variety of forms human trafficking may take.
In case you are interested I can provide more detailed information. Hope it was useful.
russell lester
Cecilia Horvick
Fran Pettiford