#MyFreedomDay

How to turn #MyFreedomDay into #MillionsFreedomDay

 

What does freedom mean to you? Does it mean having the power to think and speak freely? The opportunity to get an education?  The ability to hold a job? Having a roof over your head? Or maybe, having free time to surf the web and read articles about what freedom means to you?

Currently, there are anywhere from 27 to 30 million men, women, and children that do not have freedom. Instead of going to school, working a paid job, or having a safe place to come home to, these people are forced into slave labor. Common examples of modern day slave labor include mining, manufacturing, agricultural labor, fishing, child marriage, and prostitution. And, the worst thing about modern day slavery is that most of us contribute to their oppression without even realizing it.

However, On Tuesday, March 14th the movement #MyFreedomDay is an opportunity to turn that around. CNN and Youth Underground are partnering together to form a student-led global fight for freedom. To spread awareness of modern day slavery, they are asking you to get involved on social media.

Here are some easy ways to become a part of the movement:

  1. Study Up.

    2. Reading this article is a great start! Be sure to check out the links provided on this page to get an in-depth understanding of what we’re up against and what we’ve accomplished.

    Here at WAR Int’l, we focus on ending cycles of poverty and informing people about the reality of human trafficking and slave labor. Through our worldwide safehouses, vocational training, education programs, microenterprises, medical aid, orphanages, and emergency intervention, we help prevent trafficking and slave labor even before it happens.

    We encourage you to sign up for our email updates or follow us on social media. To read stories of freedom and redemption, or to see how we have impacted women around the world, visit our webpage.

  2. Speak Up.

    3. Every time you access social media, you have a voice. Now is a time to use your voice to fight for those who have been silenced. On #MyFreedomDay, post a photo or video with the hashtag #MyFreedomDay on any social media and define what freedom means to you.

    At WAR, Int’l, we want to encourage you to continue to speak up for human rights year round. Sharing articles and facts are efficient ways in keeping your friends and families informed, as well. Spreading awareness is the first step in fighting human trafficking and slave labor.

  3. Sign Up.

    4. If you are interested in taking further steps to combat human trafficking in your community, we encourage you to not only speak up, but sign up. Volunteer at local organizations such as WAR, Int’l or visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline to see a map of organizations across the U.S.

    If you’re local, or can travel to West Michigan for a Saturday, click this link to register for our next Civilian First Responder conference that will be held on March 25th at Thornapple Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here we will discuss the lures used by traffickers, how to respond to crisis situations in a healthy way, what makes a community susceptible to trafficking and more.

  4. Stock Up.

    5. Another great way in fighting slavery is by putting your money where your mouth is. Out of the 30 million slaves, nearly half of them are exploited by economic activity. Most of our favorite products such as chocolate, coffee, electronics, clothing, and diamonds are produced mainly by slave labor.

    By being conscious buyers, not only do we reduce our slavery footprint and support people who are at risk of being trafficked, but we also stop the demand for slave labor altogether. Always look for Fairtrade labels and shop at our store where we believe in “Beyond Fair Trade” to not only ensure that our products are ethically made, but also provide a positive human connection from producer to consumer.

Your typical, everyday actions affect modern day slavery. Each time you walk into a grocery store, shop for a pair of jeans, or log in to your social media accounts, you have the power to make a difference. This Tuesday, make the choice to be a part of the #MyFreedomDay movement, and then continue to make daily choices that help give freedom to millions of slaves. By speaking up about human trafficking, signing up at local organizations that fight slave labor, and stocking up on only ethically made products, we can fight slavery together.

Tackling Trafficking at Super Bowl 51

It’s that time of year again, and everyone is gearing up for Super Bowl LI. The Patriots will be battling the Falcons on February 5, and all over the country people will be gathered around their televisions with jerseys on and snacks in hand. The Super Bowl is a great time for family and friends to come together, have some good food, and cheer for their favorite team. However, while we are all excited for the big game and the even bigger commercials, there is a side to the celebration that is not as well known.

In recent years, claims have been made that the Super Bowl draws a higher number of human trafficking cases than any other major event. There has been some controversy over whether or not this is true, and a recent study has been cited which disputes those claims, finding higher instances at several other events. Regardless, it is clear that human trafficking does increase around major events, and that includes the Super Bowl.

Houston, this year’s host city, is aware of the issue facing them as people flock to Texas for the biggest sporting event of the year. They are on the lookout for signs of trafficking in the city. One officer reportedly had this to say: “For the johns coming into this city, we’re putting you on notice today. We’re going to have undercover officers, so you think you might be looking for a little boy or little girl, or a young woman. And what you might find is a police officer ready to arrest you” (houstonpublicmedia.org). It is heartening to hear that this issue will be among the top priorities for Houston police as it comes to a head.

Yet city officials recognize that human trafficking in Houston is not just a Super Bowl problem but a 365-day-a-year problem. Texas is estimated to have more than 300,000 labor and sex trafficking victims, with nearly 79,000 being children under the age of eighteen. Within the state, Houston is considered to be a trafficking hub. One recent case involves a 21-year-old woman who was brought to the city against her will from her home in Ohio. Last month, she was abandoned alone in the city when her captor discovered that she suffered from seizures. Her case is just one of many under investigation by Houston police.

While law enforcement is on increased alert during the Super Bowl, Houston has been stepping up its efforts to combat trafficking in the city year-round, creating its own strategic plan to combat human trafficking. The city has several goals, including institutionalizing the city’s response to human trafficking. They plan to do this by closely examining Houston’s city ordinances for massage parlors and similar establishments as well as implementing new ordinances to prevent additional “adult” businesses from popping up. The Houston Health Department will receive new training in human trafficking prevention, which they will in turn use to educate local workers in places such as hospitals and restaurants. The city will also launch an awareness and prevention training program for hotels and offer incentives to participating businesses. Efforts to raise local public awareness include a new media campaign incorporating celebrity PSAs (public service announcements) in cooperation with TV and radio partners.

Like the city of Houston, we need to recognize that human trafficking is a problem that needs to be addressed year-round. Our concern should not be whether the rates of human trafficking increase most around the Super Bowl, but that it is happening at all. The increased awareness that such events bring to the problem of human trafficking can also serve a reminder to educate ourselves and others about this issue. If you would like to learn more about how to fight trafficking and help survivors through Women At Risk, international, please visit our Take Action page.  

Faithbox

 

faithbox-1Women At Risk, International was recently featured in Faithbox through our WAR Chest Boutique! If you’ve never heard of it, you should know that Faithbox.com seeks to inspire daily Christian living by encouraging those who receive its monthly subscription box to grow in their faith and make an impact in their communities. At the heart of Faithbox is a desire to invite consumers to discover meaningful products from companies and organizations like ours that are interested in changing lives.

Each month, Faithbox picks items from unique companies and organizations that, as they point out, “respect God’s people and His creation.” They have included everything from reusable water bottles to handmade and eco-friendly blankets, and more. Also included each month is a devotional written by the Faithbox team, called “Everyday Faith.” These devotionals have scriptures, challenges, and seasonal prayers. Each box purchased from Faithbox also provides three meals for hungry kids around the world through its partnership with Rice Bowls, a faith-based ministry working to alleviate world hunger.

To take advantage of this special opportunity to spread the word about WAR, Int’l, the women in our U.S. Training Center worked diligently to complete the 10,500 keychain order we received from Faithbox in August 2016 for our very first wholesale order through WAR Chest Boutique. With barely three weeks to complete the project, it was all-hands-on-deck as the ladies fought to reach that daunting goal.

The September 2016 Faithbox that included one of these WAR, Int’l keychains was reviewed online by Hello Subscription, and you are most welcome to view that here. To buy one of the unique keychains we made for this project, you may visit any of our three boutique locations in Naperville, IL, Rockford, MI, and Wyoming, MI.

faithbox-2We are excited to share the news of this incredible blessing with you. Thanks to you and your encouraging support, we are able to expand the impact of our work and reach new heights through opportunities like wholesale. We also give special thanks to the Faithbox team for its mission of serving both organizations and community members through their monthly subscription box!

To shop for handcrafted items made by and in support of at-risk and rescued female artisans from around the world, visit the WAR Chest Boutique’s website at www.warchestboutique.com.

Strip Clubs in the U.S.

Weeknights, as many families are eating, playing games or watching Prime Time, women around the U.S. prepare to care for women in the sex industry. These volunteers are moms, wives, and daughters who are passionate about empowering other women. Outreach teams bring everything from hot meals or baked goods to high-quality beauty products to those working in strip clubs and massage parlors across the country.

Outreach 4What the women bring is more powerful than lip gloss. They are bringing the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel. Their unconditional love is displayed through their consistency and allows them to learn the names of the dancers, pray for them, and connect them with resources they may need (should they decide to leave the industry). Condemnation is not even in their vocabulary. They go in knowing we are all sinners. But, most of all, we are all created by the Most High God and can be princesses in His Kingdom.

Almost 90 percent of women in the sex industry have experienced some form of sexual abuse as children. Many of the women in strip clubs were lured into the sex industry as minors; some women find themselves under the control of a pimp (a trafficker by definition). These traffickers can be violent in their approach to the women and often force them to prostitute, on top of working in the local strip club.

In a recent study of 130 prostitutes by the Foundation for Research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 82 percent reported they had been physically assaulted, 83 percent had been threatened with a weapon, and 68 percent had been raped while working. These are the women society has forgotten, which is exactly why the work of these outreach teams is so critical.

The issue of human trafficking has come to light, proving itself to be an epidemic. It is no longer seen as a dark corner crime. With brave abolitionists beginning to take a stand against this injustice have come many different ways to get involved with the fight against sex trafficking. Direct outreach into strip clubs and massage parlors operating as brothels is just one of the ways we can make a difference. If direct outreach is something you’d like to get involved with, we urge you to do a little research on groups who may already be doing this sort of thing in your area. Prayer is of utmost importance, and it’s something we can all do to practically care for those in the sex industry.

Every day we see the sides of highways flooded with billboards advertising the local strip club. In fact, in large cities, some cabs and taxis have ads for strip clubs or escort agencies on the roofs of the cars. Every time you pass a billboard, some kind of advertisement, or a physical venue, we urge you to pray. Prayer is not insignificant – it’s a force powerful enough to change the hearts of pimps and traffickers.

We will be praying for you as you discern which way God is calling you to serve. Above all, it is our hope you would begin to look at these billboards and venues differently – that they aren’t simply provocative signs or buildings on the side of the road. They represent places where girls are being bought and sold in our cities –every single night. These women are real people with real passions and desires. Some of them have never heard the true Gospel of Christ. We hope you’ll consider being His hands and feet – becoming Christ with skin on – to those in the sex industry in some way.

Good News for the State of MI

 

On March 2, legislation was approved by the Michigan House, forcing many public places to begin posting human trafficking notices. This effort is designed to help fight the 32 billion dollar industry currently flourishing here in the United States. The legislation was passed 95 to eight, proving that this bipartisan bill was widely accepted by legislators and advocates alike.

This new law will require notices in places like state rest stops, public transportation venues, strip clubs, and airports, among many other places. Businesses that refuse to comply with this new standard will be fined 250 dollars a year after their first notice. The fine could reach up to 500 dollars after the third notice.

The proposed legislation comes shortly after Shared Hope International released their Protected Innocence Challenge results from 2015 stating that Michigan as a whole went from an F to a B grade in how trafficking cases are handled.

Advocates of the legislation have argued this could lead to more arrests in the long run, while helping victims feel more comfortable to speak out about their abuse. Ultimately, the hope is that this will be a low-cost way to educate the community on the issue of human trafficking, provide the help victims require, and prevent the start of other trafficking cases in the state. This bill encourages Civilian First Responders to keep an eye out for trafficking situations in their own backyards.

A volunteer at WAR, Int’l has also worked hard to make it easier for victims to receive help. Creating what she calls the “Unbound Project,” she is in the process of sending tear-off cards with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number on them into local businesses – right here in West Michigan. We get so excited to see volunteers finding creative and unique ways to reach out to those in need in our community!

We are very thankful for the advocates and legislators who made this bill a reality, forcing others to join the fight against human trafficking for the betterment of our communities. We pray this would be an opportunity to raise awareness, while providing the resources victims need to get back on their feet after abuse. Our goal at WAR, Int’l is to see lives restored with dignity and hope. We believe this legislation is one more step in the right direction to do just that.