World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Did you know?

• Every 30 seconds, someone becomes a slave.

• The average price of a slave is less than the cost of a new cell phone.

• The average age of a modern-day slave is 12 years old.

• Most victims are trafficked within their countries’ borders.

• With the COVID-19 outbreak, human trafficking victims have even less chance of escape and finding help.

July 30th is the United Nations World Day Against Human Trafficking:

Read below on why the Fight for Freedom is still on and to learn how you can aid in the fight to abolish slavery so that Freedom can genuinely ring.   

I’ve just finished reading “My Dear Mrs. Hamilton,” a historical fiction novel based on the life of Eliza Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton’s wife). My original motivation for reading it was to educate myself before watching the world-renown musical “Hamilton” that I now can afford to see because of Netflix!  

However, as I read America’s fight for independence, I was struck by the power, beauty and illusiveness of “freedom for all”.  During this time, we had men and women fighting for America’s Freedom from tyranny. We had enslaved people fighting for the British because of the Freedom promised to them. We had the beginning of divisiveness among our “forefathers” because of slavery.  

Freedom is near and dear to God’s heart and the reason Jesus died for you and me.

  • So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36
  • In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.  Ephesians 3:12
  • Live as free men, but do not use your freedom to cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16

Slavery is alive and well in our country and around the world. As a follower of Christ, I am called to live out my freedom by fighting for and praying for the physical and spiritual freedom of others.  

Every year thousands of men, women, and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. People are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced begging, forced crime, forced marriage, selling children and as child soldiers, and the removal of organs. In whatever form, all victims lack one thing—freedom.

What Can We Do?

Pray

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the issue of human trafficking, but we can take action and present our prayer before our God. (Philippians 4:6)

Pray that through our actions we can help bring an end to human trafficking.  Pray for prevention, for protection, for restoration and justice.

Learn

Listen to our 10-Steps Podcast: “An Honest Conversation About Human Trafficking”

Look for Monica Dean’s NBC Documentary Series STOLEN, to be released online in late August.  A year-long investigation into the sex trafficking of children in San Diego County.

Read

Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons

Support

Our CSC Freedom Challenge Team:  We’re hiking the Cactus to Cloud trail in Palm Springs in order to raise funds/awareness to abolish human slavery. CSC FREEDOM CHALLENGE TEAM

Refuge for Women:  A non-profit, faith based organization, providing specialized long-term care for women who have escaped human trafficking or sexual exploitation here in San Diego and around the country.   Refuge for Women.org For donations choose SoCal for the home CSC is supporting.

Purchase

When shopping find products and companies that support “Fair-trade” practices and the empowerment of vulnerable women and children. Redemption Market and Survivor Made products at Refuge for Women.org

Join me in this Fight for Freedom to abolish slavery so that Freedom can genuinely ring for all!

~Jilane Hawkins