Annnouncement of the 2018/19 Issue
Human Trafficking

As stated on our main page, each year we will address a different social justice issue, identify ways to educate our community about the issue, and then identify ways to take action on the issue through service and outreach. This year, 2018, we have chosen to address the issue of Human Trafficking. Each year, an estimated 17,000 vulnerable men, women and children are trafficked across our borders and then forced into slavery.

Awareness and Education Series
Shining a Light on Human Trafficking

PART ONE
Panel Discussion: Thursday, January 11, 2018
Panelists will include a trafficking survivor, those who provide assistance to human trafficking victims, and those involved in law enforcement at state and federal levels.

As the newly formed social Justice Committee, we would like to promote our first presentation on the issue of Human Trafficking.
 
Human trafficking has more than one face. Two of the major faces of trafficking are labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Labor trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, which exists both nationally and internationally. The most likely victims are the weak and vulnerable, such as newly arrived immigrants, those in debt, or those on the lower end of the class spectrum. Traffickers use physical and psychological control to keep victims in a state of repression until they are somehow able to escape.
 
Sex trafficking is also a heinous form of slavery. Runaway or homeless youth, victims of domestic violence, or even victims of war are vulnerable to this form of trafficking. Young people below the age of eighteen who are targeted and  demoralized are the most serious victims. The internet is a key resource many traffickers use to lure, manipulate, and entrap victims. Victims of either labor or sex trafficking can be held against their will for months, or even years.
 
To understand how our community may take action to combat human trafficking, our committee is raising awareness through a speaker series. It only takes one person to make a difference! This first event is a panel discussion to learn more about how this issue affects our own local community.  

Below is feedback received from this event...

On January 11th, I attended the first [of four] Human Trafficking events held at St Mary’s. It was a panel discussion that included local law enforcement, activists, and a human trafficking survivor who shared her personal story. The enthusiasm of each speaker made it evident that this is something they are deeply passionate about. They talked about how they help survivors and find offenders. They spoke about how human trafficking is a real issue and not uncommon, even in our own community. They also talked about the signals to look for and gave examples of how girls, boys, women and men get pulled in, often without them realizing and how it’s not always easy to escape – whether it’s due to a lack of resources, fear, or even the perception of love. The message of the panelists was clear: Spread the word. We can make an impact on raising awareness, which in turn can help current victims and prevent future victimization.

PART TWO
Speaker Presentation: Sex Trafficking: Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Jasmine Grace, a survivor of Sex Trafficking

Jasmine is a young woman who was “trafficked, recovered and redeemed” as the subtitle of her books states. In her true story, The Diary of Jasmine Grace, this modern-day abolitionist reflects on the values and experiences that influenced her. From dating a man who would eventually sell her body, to finding redemption in the back seat of a car, Jasmine reveals the strengths, vulnerabilities and processes that changed her. She opens a door into her life as a prostitute, sharing her diary and the struggles that eventually landed her a seat in a 12-step program, a job in the anti-trafficking movement and a place in a community church. Speaking candidly about her years as a prostitute and heroin addict, Jasmine discusses how faith influenced her, and she sheds light on the road to recovery, relapse and redemption. To read more about her story, visit https://jasminegrace.org.

PART THREE
Panel Presentation: Labor Trafficking: Thursday, April 26, 2018
Jeffrey Bourgeois, Assistant AG with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Beatrice Fernando, founder of the Nivasa Foundation
a Sri Lankan survivor of human trafficking
 
Labor trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery which exists both within the United States and globally. Labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies, debt bondage, or other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will in many different industries. For victims of forced labor, the body is made into a disposable machine made to work long hours for little or no pay for the profit of others. Labor trafficking victims include those forced into domestic servitude, those forced to work under the threat of violence with no pay, and those compelled to work in order to repay a debt. U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, women, men, and even young children can be victims of labor trafficking. Vulnerable populations are frequently targeted by traffickers. Immigration status, isolation, and poverty are just some of the vulnerabilities that can lead to labor trafficking. Tonight we will we learn more about how labor trafficking affects our own community, the international dimensions of labor trafficking, and what is being done and what needs to be done to address this issue.

PART FOUR
Movie Screening: Not My Life: Tuesday, May 1, 2018

In collaboration with the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), we viewed and discussed the documentary film Not My Life. Filmed on five continents over four years, the film brings the horrifying practices of the multibillion-dollar human trafficking industry to life through the stories of survivors. Following the film screening and discussion, we started planning ways that our community can take action to end human trafficking.  

Amirah's (5k) Walk in Her Shoes

A Walk to to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking
Saturday, October 27, 2018 

The Social Justice Committee thanks those who participated in the ‘Amirah’s Walk in Her Shoes’ 5K walk to support sex trafficking survivors and raise awareness about trafficking and what it takes to recover!
 
We were part of a group of nearly 200 people who took part around the world. After each kilometer, we read about the journey of a survivor that Amirah helped move from exploitation to liberation. One survivor said that “I want you to know that Amirah has saved my life. It helped me become a strong, independent woman who knows she can do anything in life as long as she puts her mind into it.”
 
The money we raised will help Amirah continue to provide aftercare recovery and housing to survivors at its Massachusetts safe home. It will also help Amirah establish a new safe home in Connecticut, a state that currently has no aftercare services for survivors. 

Chocolate Fondue Protest Party

hosted by Freedom Café of Durham, New Hampshire

Are you a chocolate lover? Did you know that chocolate is the 5th highest sold commodity in the world and its industry is rapidly growing? Sadly, the hidden secret to this booming industry is cheap labor due to human trafficking. We came together on this night to feast on ethically sourced chocolate and learn about child trafficked labor in the cocoa industry. We discovered the link between chocolate and human trafficking, what is being done about this tragic reality, and resources for change. 

Read More about Fair Trade Policy below...

Google defines Fair Trade Policy as a policy that eliminates discrimination against imports and exports. Buyers and sellers from different economies may voluntarily trade without a government applying tariffs, quotas, subsidies or prohibitions on goods and services. Fair Trade is the opposite of protectionism and economic isolation.
 
Fair Trade products are available at stores nationwide. Some examples of these products include Fair Trade coffee which is sold at Trader Joes and Target; chocolate bars can be found at Market Basket, Trader Joes and Whole Foods; tea can also be found at Market Basket as well as Hannafard. Hannaford also sells some Fair Trade fruit. Whole Foods also deals with baskets, soap and winter hats.
 
Other stores that sponsor Fair Trade products are BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco, Sam’s Club, Stop and Shop and Wegmans. Also, almost all flavors of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream are made with Fair Trade ingredients. Did you know that Taza Chocolate is a Fair Trade product from right here in Somerville?
 
So you might ask, “What is the problem with products that do not display the Fair Trade label?” The big problem stems from what is known as Human Trafficking. In some countries, children are actually abducted/stolen from their families and then routed to jobs from which they are unable to escape. They are placed in terrible working conditions, and even worse living quarters where they are given little to no money for their labor. Their work is not only unpaid, but in some cases, hazardous. These children can be abducted by professional pirates and are totally vulnerable to their methods. Interestingly, a major portion of the human trafficking cycle is centered in the agriculture industry.
 
One solution to this problem lies in Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade (https:/ethicaltrade.crs.org). This organization is a celebration of the dignity of work. It’s a community of Fair Trade believers dedicated to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable by choosing to consume differently.
 
In a world of exploited workers longing to be seen, we are called to communion. Whether you join us in prayer or in consideration of your next purchase, we ask that you take action.

Continuing the Conversation...

A Panel Presentation: Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Pi Downsborough, Mass State Police Captain
Mike Posanka, NH Human Resident Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations
DAnielle Nichole, LICSW, A Clinical Specialist from RIA House
Stacy Reed, MSW, a sex trafficking survivor professional from RIA House.

Human trafficking, one of the most horrific injustices of our time, is something that is happening in the cities, suburbs and rural areas of every New England state. This event took form of a panel discussion where speakers provided us with an update on sex and labor trafficking in our region and how we can take action. To learn more about each of our panelists, please refer to the PANEL GUIDE.

Amirah's (5k) Walk in Her Shoes

A Walk to to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking
Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Social Justice Committee thanks those who participated in Amirah’s Walk in Her Shoes 5K walk to support sex trafficking survivors and raise awareness about trafficking! We were part of a group of nearly 250 people who took part in the walk around the world. The money we raised will help Amirah continue to provide aftercare recovery and housing to survivors at its Massachusetts safe home. It will also help Amirah open a new safe home in Connecticut, a state that currently has no aftercare services for survivors. Visit www.amirahinc.org to learn more about their programs. Thank you for your help taking action on human trafficking and supporting survivors! To learn more about Amirah House, visit them at https://www.amirahinc.org/.