brick_application_guide

0 Compliments

jeudi, octobre 04, 2007

Bury the Washington Post Article!

Dear CCAT members:

As some of you might already be aware of, there was a recent Washington Post article (seehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/09/22/AR2007092201401_pf.html) that implied that human trafficking is not a big problem as advocates we know that is not true. While we can not be sure why the Washington Post writer chose to write the article in this way, we need to build honest awareness among the general public so that pessimistic articles such as this do not negatively effect the anti-trafficking movement. I am writing all of you to ask for a "Call to Action." More specifically, I am asking that each of you join FAIR Fund in writing as many blogs, facebook posts, and articles for your local school and community papers in response to recent debate surrounding the scope of human trafficking. This will help to ensure the public knows the true facts on human trafficking and that momentum is not lost in the movement.

Rather than gearing what you write as a response/criticism of the Washington Post article, we ask that you focus your efforts of trying to provide readers with new and enlightening information. A few ideas could be a Movie Reviews for Trade, an analysis of human trafficking and how it impacts your specific state or community generally, or you can also choose to focus on the film, the TVPRA, or child trafficking in the United States. Keep in mind that these are merely suggestions to get everyone thinking!

In most cases, FAIR Fund very much believes that passion should be a driving force behind activist efforts; however, in this case, we cannot help but emphasize the need for undoing the damage that Mr. Markon's article has caused. It is essential that you provide the reader with factual information and use proper citations. To help make you job easier, the remainder of this letter will serve as a tool to jumpstart your research.

States with anti-trafficking criminal provision:
WA, ID, CA, MT, AK, CO, NE, KS, TX, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, IL, MS, MI, IN, KY, FL, GA, SC, NC, PA, MD, NJ, NY, CT, RI, NH
States with anti-trafficking task force:
WA, CA, ID, CO, NE, TX, MN, IA, IN, NC, VA, NJ, NY, RI, ME, NH
Shelters for victims of human trafficking:
To date, the only one is in Las Angeles, CA

Common Barriers to Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking
- Victims are moved frequently to places they are unfamiliar, this fosters a low likelihood of multiple encounters
- Victims are trained to tell lies and fear being punished by their traffickers
- Corrupt law enforcement
- Isolation, captivity, language and social barriers
- A belief that no one cares to help

Human Trafficking Statistics:
• U.S. citizens' account for 25% of the world's sex tourists.
• Human trafficking is the third most profitable criminal activity, following only drug and arms trafficking. An estimated 9.5 billion is generated in annual revenue from all trafficking activities, with at least $4 billion attributed to the worldwide brothel industry. (Ibid.)
• According to the ILO, the assumed forced labor profits for one year amount to $32 billion.
• Victims come from all ethnic and racial groups and over the past 5 years, 90 U.S. cities have reported cases of human trafficking.
• Some estimates have as many as 1.2 million children being trafficked every year (UNICEF).
• Each year, children as young as 2 are trafficked from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sudan for use as jockeys in the Persian Gulf States' camel racing industry. Child camel jockeys are often sexually and physically abused; most are physically and mentally stunted, as they are deliberately starved to prevent weight gain (www.state.gov/g/tip).
• Congress has strengthened anti-trafficking legislation and contributed more than $82 million in funding last year for efforts abroad to end slavery.
Advocate of the Anti-Trafficking Movement Speaks out:
Bill Bernstein, Mosaic Family Services
1. Do you think that non-governmental efforts to combat human trafficking are sufficient?
Law enforcement officers are often the first contact with potential victims of trafficking. Efforts by non-governmental organizations can only serve as a supplement to the work needed by law enforcement.
2. How are human trafficking and smuggling related?
Although it is true that cases of simple smuggling are at times viewed as trafficking, it is our impression that every day people are smuggled across borders in this country who then become victims of trafficking.
3. Do you think that identifying victims of human trafficking in the US is challenging?
Identifying victims of HT is extremely challenging. This is very much a "hidden" crime. Some have compared our awareness of trafficking to the awareness of domestic violence in this country about forty to fifty years ago. We know that domestic abuse was occurring to the same percentage of the population then as it is today, but the number of incidents reported was very undocumented and the traffickers have instilled fear of deportation in them. Traffickers have warned them of many things that might happen if they talk to authorities, such as imprisonment, deportation, or threats to their families back in their countries of origin….There are many other cultural barriers: even if a woman from a certain culture was forced in prostitution, admitting that may not appear as an option, even if that person is told they must "tell the truth".

I hope some of this information is useful and please feel free to email me if you need any further help or resources!

Sincerely,
Ashley Mills

4:15

0 Compliments

mardi, octobre 02, 2007

Call for Graduate Student Interns in Chicago, IL

International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA)
Fundraising/Grants Intern Position
Available Immediately
General Description
The Fundraising/Grants Intern will assist IOFA with locating continuation funding for existing projects, finding funding for new proposals, and tracking government and private funding opportunities. This is a great opportunity for a graduate student with some experience in fundraising, looking to gain more experience in developing grant proposals, building donor relationships, and general fundraising activities for small non-profit organizations.
Eligibility
Graduate student
Qualifications
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, dependability, motivation
• Preferably, some experience in fundraising, development and/or grantwriting
• Very strong writing skills
• Strong research and reporting skills, thorough and detail-oriented
• Strong interest in gaining experience in fundraising and development for small non-profit, non-governmental organizations
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Interest in international youth issues
• Fluent in Spanish (written and oral)
Time Commitment
10-15 hours per week, October 2007 – December 2007 with the possibility of extension. This is an unpaid position. Depending on success of intern and prospective funding, a stipend may be available with an extension of the internship.
IOFA Fundraising/Grants Intern responsibilities include:
1. Conduct funding searches for IOFA's existing projects in the Dominican Republic and the US, and for new projects in the Balkans, Asia and Africa, via internet and library sources.
2. Research potential private foundation donors and update a tracking system for relevant funding opportunities.
3. Create monthly reports to inform staff of current opportunities and approaching deadlines.
4. Assist Executive Director with development and writing of proposals.
5. Explore opportunities for corporate support for IOFA's initiatives.
6. Seek foundation support for general operating expenses
7. Draft correspondence and updates for IOFA supporters.
8. Assist with event planning and fundraisers and fundraisers, as necessary.
9. Research adolescent health and development data, youth trafficking, and relevant international youth issues to support proposal writing efforts.

Description of Organization
The International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA), an independent, nonprofit organization, with a new office in Chicago, IL. IOFA was formed in 1999 to advocate for the rights of young people and to offer technical assistance to programs and services for adolescents around the world. IOFA works in partnership with other community based organizations at their request. IOFA's unique approach to youth development -- social connectivity -- focuses on strengthening the multitude of networks that support adolescents by linking various youth-serving institutions, communities, and individuals across continents, borders, and boundaries. IOFA provides its project partners with a range of technical assistance services including training and technical support, program development and integration, organizational development and support, and service-based research. IOFA's projects seek to afford the world's most disenfranchised youth with a chance for an education, a paying job, and to live a healthy life by fostering the development and sustainability of health-enhancing environments. IOFA currently has two main initiatives---The Youth Trafficking Prevention Initiative and the Girls Leadership Initiative.

Deadline
Please submit a detailed resume and cover letter to Katherine Kaufka, Executive Director, via e-mail at kkaufka@iofa.org. No phone calls please.

3:19

0 Compliments

mardi, septembre 18, 2007

Dreams of Freedom Events!

With support from the Emancipation Network, Dreams of Freedom events are beging held in Gaithersburg MD, Washington DC, Orlando FL, and Cape Cod MASS to transform the lives of young women and children. By teaming with local venues, clubs, and lounges, Dreams of Freedom will be holding art exhibitions, silent auctions, and live music performances to benefit victims of human trafficking. Click here to learn more about Dreams of Freedom .

To get involved contact Justin Ruffin at ruffreign@yahoo.com

3:40

0 Compliments

jeudi, août 23, 2007

Human Trafficking Awareness Month- September!

Get excited for the Second Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Month! This September NGO's, Non-Profits, and Government Agencies will be hosting events all over the country to get people involved in the anti-trafficking movement. You too can help! Distribute CCAT Materials around campus and educate fellow students on the realities of trafficking in persons. Look into Anti-trafficking Events being held in your city!

Also, Friday, 21 September, the premiere of the Lionsgate Film, TRADE, will be premiering in cinemas across the country. Check it out and bring your friends!

Take advantage of September! Help put an end to human trafficking.

5:17

0 Compliments

mercredi, août 08, 2007

Check out the BR!CK Awards!

brick_application_guide

5:44

0 Compliments

jeudi, août 02, 2007

The New CCAT Website is Up and Running!

Finally, CCAT's long awaited website re-reveal has happened. Check out the new website with updated resources, news updates, and internship offers!

www.ccatcoalition.org.

JOIN CCAT NOW!

4:02

1 Comm.

0 Compliments

mercredi, juillet 18, 2007

TIP Report- Round Table Discussion, July 17, 2007

TIP Report Meeting—July 17, 2007
Hosted by Vital Voices at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

COVERED BY MARK PRIOR TO QUESTIONS
Background on the report
• The seventh report
• Covers 164 countries (roughly 85% of the world)
o 13 of the covered countries aren't ranked, they are "special cases"
• Written in March and April, cleared in May and print in June.
Tier Breakdown
• Tier 1: 28 countries
• Tier 2: 75 countries
• Tier 2 Watch List: 32 – 23 of these countries have been listed as Watch List countries before
• Tier 3: 29 – 7 countries new to the list this year
Last year's WL showed the worst performance in the history of the report: few improved their standing and 7 declined into Tier 3

In 2006: 5800 prosecutions for trafficking worldwide
This is down from the all-time high in 2003; over 8,000 prosecutions

Debt: a powerful coercing element. The traffickers make bogus fees (such as room and board, transportation) and use it to exploit the victims. Law officers often overlook this concept.

Forms of forced labor: covers a huge range. Forced labor can cover bonded labor in Thailand to migrant workers who are being exploited.

Problems for TIP: the lack of information and motivation within governments and NGOs makes for it difficult to construct an accurate report.

Those vulnerable to trafficking: low-caste people in India, minorities in Thailand. Burma represents an entire nation that is vulnerable to trafficking. Because the economic and political situation in Burma is so dire, the Burmese are eager to leave. Traffickers in the surrounding countries are eager to provide opportunities for migration and the people are then exploited.

Domestic Servitude Cases: known as "single victim cases", generally not a trafficking ring situation. They are hard to find and evidence is almost impossible to locate. Occurs in every country in the world.A problem in the homes of diplomats in America. It has only been prosecuted once.

Sponsorship Laws: make trafficking laws and prosecution difficult. I.e. In some countries every move a migrant makes is monitored and controlled by their sponsor. Obviously makes it difficult for a victim of trafficking to have any chance of escape. The migrant cannot leave the country without their sponsor's permission.
Certain industries are riddled with labor exploitation, i.e.: Thai shrimp, Brazil pig iron, Indian gold.

Child Soldiers: used in some parts of Africa and South America (?). It's difficult to punish the perpetrators because they usually have achieved high status through peace agreements, etc.

All in all, it's hard to maintain level judgment. It's hard to compare the trafficking conditions in different countries and even harder to quantify their overall performance into a Tier ranking.

FEEDBACK AND RESPONCES

1. Recognition of the now bipartisan realization that there has been a decline in US participation in the fight against trafficking abroad.
2. It is essential that, while we call for other militaries to utilize their resources for the intentional combat against trafficking, that the US government does the same. The US military budget is bigger than any in the world and nowhere in the budget does it allocate $1 to the problem. We have to "get our house in order."
3. Problems with trafficking during of peacekeeping missions.
a. The Japanese denial of trafficking during WWII
b. The US denial of trafficking that is occurring now, in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
4. A call for the exploration between country ties and their ranking.
a. For example, Darfur's connections with Russia and China for military power. Is there any correlation between their international alliances and their TIP tier?
b. (Even during the meeting, these first points were odd and a bit off the point.)
5. Addressing the fact that migrant laborers don't' enjoy the same rights as Americans
a. I.e. They are denied the right to organize.
6. EVERYONE IS ANNOYED THAT THE US ISN'T RANKED…WE GET IT.
a. Someone's argument: the TIP office is in the State Department because trafficking has no have borders.

MARK'S RESPONCE: the US evaluation is located in the Department of Justice's report. Other countries do not use this resource, but he never made any firm statement either way. It may need legislative support to evaluate the US.

Martina's Points about the Report
1. The report fails to address the population of those trafficked who knew they were going into the sex industry
a) It talks about all of the women who thought they were going to be waitresses and nannies but says nothing about the women who knew they were going to be prostitutes.
b) This negation helps fuel the attitude that the women who knew they were going into the sex industries are not victims of trafficking, that they are not eligible for the same treatment as those who were tricked.

MARK'S RESPONSE: governments have a proactive victims identification program. They should use the TIP identifiers when looking at arrested prostitutes to determine if they are, in fact, a trafficked person. He acknowledged that the means in which they came into prostitution aren't as important as the end result—was the person in question being exploited?
2. The report implies that the diplomats in the US that have child servants are eventually prosecuted for it.
a) They aren't. Only one case like this has been tried in 4 years.
b) Calls for the report to be more honest and realistic. It's too idealistic.

MARK'S RESPONSE: though they would like to set a standard for the prosecution of diplomats, TIP cannot make statements like that. They do not have the authority.
3. The UN is not as good as the report makes it look.
a) There is no one at the UN working on trafficking
b) Language in the report is full of wholes (peacekeepers "may" have been prosecuted for abusing women and children.)
4. Report fails to link trafficking in Iraq/Afghanistan with the US military and contractors.

MARK'S RESPONSE: there are legal issues with singling out certain American contracting companies as labor exploiters. As for Afghanistan, they do not have enough information and will be gathering more before the next issue of the report.

1) Overall, there was too little attention paid to the PREVENTION part of each country's report
a. Warns to not discount the value of government's efforts towards education and the promotion of gender equality.
b. There is more to prevention than public awareness campaigns

MARK'S RESPONSE: Acknowledges that the prevention sections need to be enhanced. The office worries that, if given the opportunity, governments will use existing programs, mention trafficking in passing and "tick the box"

Prosecuting trafficking charges in countries that have no real system of justice is nearly impossible.

More than ½ of all European convictions for trafficking have postponed sentences. The traffickers do not serve time. The TIP office hopes to promote world-wide transparency.

Tier 1 countries tend to stay there. There are some countries that, no matter their practice, will not be taken off. It is important to still point out these governments' shortcomings, along ours.

1:58

0 Compliments

mardi, juin 26, 2007

Capitol Hill Caucus: Assessing the Commitment of Combating Human Trafficking

Assessing the Commitment of Combating Human Trafficking: A Legal and Humanitarian Perspective

June 20, 2007

3pm- 5pm Rayburn Building, Capitol Hill

Key Speakers:
Julia Ormond (UN Goodwill Ambassador Against Slavery)
Ambassador Mark Lagon (U.S. State Department)
Grace Chung Becker (U.S. Department of Justice)
Kevin Bales (President, Free the Slaves)
Holly Burkhalter (Vice President, International Justice Mission)

As the process to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act H.R.2522 takes on, key players in Washington convened to discuss the status of human trafficking at home and abroad. Trafficking in persons is a lucrative crime that amounts to more than 10 billion dollars annually, ranking it second to drug trafficking as the most profitable criminal industry in the world. The focus of the caucus was to discuss the next measures to be taken in combating the atrocities of trafficking on all levels. Julia Ormond admitted that prior to her involvement in the movement she felt, "I am not a client, and therefore, I am not part of the problem". Chris Smith and the other noted representatives urged the audience to put themselves at the forefront of the cause by writing to legislator, raising awareness, and by making an end to human trafficking his or her priority.

Stories were shared by Mark Lagon and Julia Ormond of victim's hardships, both of labor enslavement and commercial sexual exploitation. One story was of a shrimp farming and processing plantation in Thailand that contained 800 undocumented migrant Burmese workers. They were locked in underground rooms during raids and were prohibited from leaving the compound. On this farm, there were also cases of gender-based violence where four women were found with shaved heads after being tied to poles as punishment for attempted escape. Sadly, there are plenty more farming and processing plantations like this in Thailand, and the world at large.

Ambassador Mark Lagon went on to illustrate the Trafficking in Persons Report (2007) in function and approach. The system identified 164 countries where at least 100 cases of human trafficking were documented. These countries were then evaluated in terms of the government's ability to promote the prosecution, prevention, and protection of trafficking victims. Once evaluated, the countries were then ranked Tier 1, Tier 2, Watch List, or Tier 3 depending on their willingness to address the problem. If a country lands on Tier 3, they may suffer economic sanctions and loss of U.S. aid. Ambassador Mark Lagon concluded in saying that human trafficking has proven to be the greatest disempowerment of girls in the world.

Congressman Chris Smith followed by promising to maintain a bipartisan block against human trafficking in Congress. As the reauthorization of the HR 2522, Congress is working to strengthen the act by allowing countries on the Tier 2 Watch List only two years before they will endure the economic sanctions of Tier 3. In addition, Holly Burkhalter added to the conversation by asserting that diplomats will no longer receive legal immunity to harbor slaves. In addition, the bill calls for an expansion of the T Visa eligibility and calls for more counseling and medical care for the victims of human trafficking. The unofficial theme of the caucus was to promote the notion that victims will no longer be blamed or penalized for the acts committed while having been trafficked.

In conclusion, the panel took questions from the audience and engaged in serious topics such as the role of globalization and international investment banks in the situation of trafficking in persons. Ms. Burkhalter urged House and Senate staffers to urge their Congresspersons to look seriously at combating human trafficking in the U.S. and overseas. Ambassador Mark Lagon then went on to conclude that the essence of trafficking is the dehumanization and degradation of real people. According to the Ambassador, "not just one ethnicity or men are human beings". At the end of the caucus press were invited to ask questions separately and materials such as the Trafficking in Persons Report (2007) were available for the audience.

5:43

0 Compliments

mardi, juin 19, 2007

4 Ways You Can Help- Bandwagon!
Humeur actuelle :

plein d’entrain

4 Ways You Can Help

BandWagon Initiative One: Legislative Petition

The Legislative Petition Initiative is one of the easiest and most effective ways that voters can get involved in the grassroots anti-trafficking movement. Although the United States has federal legislation (The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000) focused expressly on making human trafficking a crime and providing services and protection for victims, it is important for States to adopt anti-trafficking laws as well. BandWagon program advocates bring a with them, to all member band shows, a local DC legislative petition that advocates for the adoption of the "Human Trafficking Act of 2005" as introduced by Councilmember Fenty. By attending BandWagon member band shows and signing our petition you can become a substantial part of the anti-human trafficking movement. Every signature matters!

Reasons it is Important to Have State Anti-Trafficking Legislation

Having both State and Federal legislation makes the interface between the two laws stronger
The expressive nature adopting of State legislation shows that the local voters are concerned citizens and stand by the anti-trafficking movement
Adoption of State laws provide additional education and recognition for issues such as slavery
States can adopt stricter, broader, stronger or more effective anti-trafficking laws that will provide more extensive protection for victims and crack down harder on criminals who engage in trafficking of humans
Discovery and protection of victims can be done more effectively because States understand their local circumstances more intimately than the Federal government (currently only about 1/12 of victims in the US are found and helped)

BandWagon Initiative Two: Victim Identification Cards

According to the US Department of State, roughly 17,000-20,000 victims are trafficked into the United States each year. Until now, less than 1,000 victims have been legally certified to receive assistance. One of the main reasons that so few victims have been able to access help is that modern slavery is increasingly hidden and operates in underground circles of organized crime. Additionally, there are very low levels of public awarenss regarding human trafficking issues.

In order to increase awareness and bring the reality of human trafficking crimes to the surface, BandWagon provides music fans and musicans with Victim Idendification Cards. These cards list indicators of potential human trafficking activities as well as hotline numbers that can be called to report any suspicious situations that citizens may encounter.

Factors that May Indicate a Potential Slavery Situation Include:

Individuals who are not in control of their own identification documents
Individuals who are accompanied, watched, or followed, and are not allowed to speak for themselves
Signs of physical abuse
Fearful, anxious, or submissive behavior or other signs of psychological abuse
Individuals who are not in control of their own money
Individuals who are unpaid or paid very little
Excessively long working hours or odd tasks at odd hours
Few or no personal possessions or financial records
Under 18 and involved in commerical sex

US Department of State Hotline #: 888.3737.888

By including local citizens in the search for traffickers and trafficked victims, we can bring criminals to justice and provide help and support for those who need it most.

BandWagon Initiative Three: For the Price of a Beer Campaign

Another for musicians and music fans to get involved in victims assistance initiatives is to raise money for local organizations that provide support to to victims of trafficking. In Washington DC, Sasha Bruce Youthwork delivers comprehensive services to meet the urgent needs of youth that have been trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation or are at-risk of becoming victims of the commercial sex trade. Currently the Sasha Bruce House is Washingtons only short-term shelter serving youth in need between ages 11 and 17 twenty four hours a day. By offering a temporary place to live and supportive services Sasha Bruce is able to help the youth it assists to secure a stable home life, with most safely reuniting with their families.

The For the Price of a Beer Campaign is an initiative that is designed to help raise money through donations for Sasha Bruce Youthwork to build and run a long-term shelter for youth who have no stable home or family to return to. A large majority of child victims of trafficking are unable to return to an environment that is safe from the risks of trafficking and exploitation.

For the Price of a Beer, music fans and musicans can help a child victim of human trafficking sleep safely in a shelter for the night without being exposed to the risk of sexual exploitation.

Sasha Bruce Youthwork: http://www.sashabruce.org/Pages/About.htm

This initiative will not be launched until October 1, 2006

BandWagon Initiative Four: McDonalds SFA Boycott Letter

One of the most effective ways to end modern slavery and human trafficking is to target the corporations that benefit from it the most. By letting these companies know that citizens do not approve of their unfair labor practices and the exploitation of workers, we can change their practices and advocate for fair labor standards. The US agricultural industry is home to some of the worlds most shocking and widespread human rights and labor abuses.

In order to help end this, BandWagon has partnered with the Student/Farmworker Alliance. The Student/Farmworker Alliance is a national network of students and youth organizing in direct partnership and solidarity with farmworkers to eliminate sweatshop conditions and modern-day slavery in the fields. The SFA has organized a campaign that has called on McDonald's to follow Taco Bell's lead and work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to establish fair wages and working conditions for the farmworkers who pick its tomatoes. Music fans and musicians can support this campaign by signing and dropping off a manager letter at a McDonalds near you. This action takes only minutes and is an effective way to let McDonalds decision-makers know how widespread support is for the CIWs campaign.

Printed copies of this letter will be available at all member band shows. Pick one up, sign it and turn it in as your contribution to the fight for freedom!

Link to Manager Letter: http://www.sfalliance.org/propaganda.html

12:22

0 Compliments