I empathize with the overwhelming emotions you must be experiencing after watching a movie about human trafficking. The mix of anger, sorrow, and even inspiration to take action is a natural response to such a troubling global issue. I can fully relate to how you might be feeling, as I found myself in a similar place back in 2009 when I first encountered the documentary “Call+Response.”
Since then, my personal response to this problem has revolved around dedicating myself to education and advocacy within the scope of my abilities and the constraints of my available free time. If you too have recently been struck with heartbreak of human trafficking, I wholeheartedly encourage you to seek your own individual response – one that transcends mere outrage and grief – to contribute meaningfully to the efforts to combat trafficking. It is vital to channel these emotions into a purposeful and thoughtful response, empowering you to make a real difference in ending trafficking.
From my own experience, here are some suggestions to help guide you in navigating your response:
- Don’t merely react; respond thoughtfully. Reacting impulsively is not sustainable and if you genuinely want to end this evil, a measured response will have a more lasting impact. Finding your response will help move you beyond anger and sadness.
- Educate yourself about the problem. Education is the key to dispelling misinformation. For instance, did you know more people are trafficked for labor than for sex?
- Listen to survivors. Nobody understands the problem better than those who have survived it. While not all survivors may be willing to discuss their trauma, there are many who have become excellent educators on what is needed to better combat human trafficking and how the general public can provide support without causing harm.
- Do not consume, watch, or tolerate pornography. This directly fuels the global sex trafficking problem.
- Do no harm. This should be the baseline for any honest and reputable non-profit organization working on any global or local issue.
- Foster collaboration. Every organization I have supported, whether financially, volunteering, or advocacy, has engaged in partnerships with other organizations. This cooperation is essential to effect meaningful change in the fight against trafficking. True collaboration involves working together on specific tasks, such as one organization focusing on job training for survivors while another addresses mental health support, or partnering with legal professionals. Another example might be one organization may train law enforcement while other works with juvenile courts or foster youth.
- Evaluate your purchasing choices and consider making changes that can help end trafficking. Human trafficking is a supply and demand issue. As consumers, we have the power to demand ethical practices. This is particularly important in the United States, where one of the greatest challenges lies.
- If you are already involved in volunteering or supporting organizations that address homeless prevention, poverty alleviation, after school programs for kids, adoption agencies, foster care, refugees, immigration, widows, divorce, or those who are incarcerated, then don’t change a thing. Continue this essential work! You are already contributing significantly to trafficking prevention.
Finally, I have compiled some resources that could serve as a starting point for your journey to finding your own response.
- Bury the Chains: Adam Hochschild: 9781447211365: Amazon.com: Books
- King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa: Hochschild, Adam: 9780358212508: Amazon.com
- “The Slave Next Door” by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today
- “Disposable People” by Kevin Bales Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy: Bales, Kevin: 9780520272910: Amazon.com
- “Ending Slavery” by Kevin Bales Ending Slavery: How We Free Today’s Slaves: Bales, Kevin
- Good News About Injustice, Updated 10th Anniversary Edition: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World: Haugen, Gary A.: 9780830837106: Amazon.com
- “Girls Like Us” by Rachel Lloyd Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale: A Memoir: 9780061582066: Lloyd, Rachel
- “Walking Prey” by Holly Austin Smith Walking Prey: How America’s Youth Are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery – Kindle edition by Smith, Holly Austin. Politics & Social Sciences Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
- “A Crime So Monstrous” by E. Benjamin Skinner A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery: Skinner, E. Benjamin: 9780743290081
- The Johns: Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy It: Malarek, Victor: 9781611450125
- “Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery” by Siddharth Kara Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery: Kara, Siddharth: 9780231139618: Amazon.com
- “Scars and Stilettos” by Harmony Dust Scars and Stilettos: The Transformation of an Exotic Dancer: Dust, Harmony: 9780825463099
- “Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern Child Slave” by Shyima Hall Amazon.com: Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave
- “Refuse To Do Nothing” by Shayne Moore and Kimberly McOwen Yim Refuse to Do Nothing: Finding Your Power to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery
- “Ending Human Trafficking” by Dr. Sandie Morgan, Shayne Moore, and Kimberly McOwen Yim Ending Human Trafficking: A Handbook of Strategies for the Church Today
If you prefer podcasts, the “Ending Human Trafficking” podcast by Dr. Sandie Morgan is an excellent resource. It not only provides more about human trafficking but also highlights experts in the field and the best practices for ending this crime. https://endinghumantrafficking.org/
For those interested in making financial contributions, here are some anti-trafficking organizations I have supported financially and through advocacy.
- The Global Center for Women and Justice – https://www.gcwj.org/
- The Bay Area Anti Trafficking Coalition – https://baatc.org/
- The I-5 Freedom Network – https://www.i5freedomnetwork.org/
- International Sanctuary – https://www.internationalsanctuary.com/
- Bloom Asia – https://www.bloomasia.org/
- Nomi Network – https://nominetwork.org/
- Polaris – https://polarisproject.org/
- IJM – https://www.ijm.org/
- Free The Slaves – https://freetheslaves.net/