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WOV ORANGE COUNTY ADVOCACY
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8,9.
Advocacy Chair & National Advocacy Rep.: Bobbi Dauderman,
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ISSUE: Human Trafficking
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Latest Update
Background
Reading List
Film Resources
Internet Resources
TAKE ACTION:
Be Prepared URGENT: Make a one minute CALL to your representative in Washington
John Campbell 202-225-5611 (Newport Beach/Laguna area)
Dana Rohrabacher 202-225-2415 (Huntington Beach area) Ed Royce 202-225-4111 (Fullerton area)
MESSAGE: "I'm (your name) a constituent of Representative's ( ) district in California. I'm calling to ask that he co-sponsor and vote for the reauthorization of H.R. 2830 - the Traffic Victims Protection Reauthorization Act before it expires on September 30th. Thank you."
You will likely deliver this message to a receptionist - it's quick and easy to do - remember DC is 3 hours ahead - offices close at 5pm so you can call as early as 6am PST!
Background: Women of Vision has been working for more than a year on advocacy issues that affect human trafficking both here and globally. World Vision is on the front lines with projects that support both preventative programs and the victims. Please join our WOV partners across the U.S. in asking Congress to continue this important funding of H.R.2830.
For archived Advocacy Calendars, click here.
LATEST UPDATE:
9/15/2011
Happening NOW World Vision Alert -- Urgent Advocacy Situation
Women of Vision hosted a national conference call in early August with Jesse Eaves, (advocacy staff with World Vision in DC) giving a thorough update on the status of Child Compact Act and the Traffic Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) - where this legislation stands with both the Senate and the House and urging us to meet locally (as a constituent) with our district representatives in the House during August and ask them to co-sponsor the TVPRA. Co-sponsorship is the signing on by both a Republican and a Democrat - necessary to bring a bill to the floor for consideration and vote. The more co-sponsors the better.
Legislative Background and Challenge
TVPRA , in existence for 10 years, must be reauthorized by Congress before 9/30. This legislation established a global minimum standard for confronting trafficking and slavery and was also designed to combat trafficking in the U.S. by establishing it as a federal crime, and providing assistance programs for survivors, including visa protection for victims trafficked across international borders. The Senate (Bill S. 1301) has this ready (Boxer and Feinstein are co-sponsors). Until last week, the House had not introduced the companion bill for presentation. If the Senate and House do not vote on the TVPRA by 9/30 and reach agreement, the laws will remain but there will be no funding. This 2012 version strengthens existing programs and if Child Compact Act is not included there is no requested increase in funding.
- more protection for survivors
- emergency response teams under State Dept. like the earthquake in Haiti, which placed large numbers of children and adults at risk of trafficking
- nationwide human task force support, our OC Task Force is one of the best!
- stronger laws regarding visas and foreign labor recruiters
- stronger US law to prosecute Americans visiting or living abroad who exploit children in sex tourism.
Child Compact Act
WOV helped to introduce this in the Senate (by lobbying Senators during the 2010 National Conference in DC). It is in danger of not being included due to the current economic climate the need of additional funding.
August OC WOV Advocacy Action and Response
In August Bobbi Dauderman met with Lou Penrose, a legislative assistant to Representative John Campbell, and asked that John introduce and become a co-sponsor of the TVPRA in the House. Kristina Sachs met with Ed Royce, her representative in Fullerton, and she was able to convince him to agree to co-sponsor! This information was sent to Campbell’s office, helping to place the issue higher on the DC staff agenda. Constituents in Dana Rohrabacher’s district were urged to do the same. It would be great to have three Republicans from California lead the way on this urgent issue.
The Current Reality
The TVPRA (H.R.2830) was introduced in the House by Republican Christopher Smith of New Jersey on August 30th. Howard Berman (CA) is the Democratic co-sponsor. Jesse Eaves points out that this bill does not include the Child Compact Act (CCA). He advises not to press for this addition now as it is imperative to approve this reauthorization by September 30th. H.R. 2830 will be reconciled with the Senate version, S. 1301. In a perfect world it’s best to have the CCA in place but this is too much to ask of a divisive Congress. I will send updates.
What can you do?
Contact your representative and urge him/her to join in co-sponsorship of H.R. 2830 by making a quick phone call or sending an E mail. “Google” your representative and info will pop up. It’s quick and easy. Use your gift of citizenship to speak up for the victims who cannot speak for themselves! May God’s grace move us in wonderful ways.
Thank-you, Bobbi Dauderman
For archived Advocacy updates, click here.
BACKGROUND:
Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of women and children affects over 1, 100,000 humans world wide each year! It is the second largest criminal industry in the world and the fastest growing.
In order to stop these atrocities, there is much work to be done. This is an international, national and local task! We must first start with creating awareness and education as to the magnitude of the problem. Then we can move forward to find solutions that will bring this tragic situation to an end.
According to the U. S. Department of State, approximately 800,000 to 900,000 victims annually are trafficked across international borders world wide, and between 14,500 and 17,500 of those victims are trafficked into the United States.
Victims of trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, and coercion for the purposes of forced labor, such as domestic servitude, restaurant work, janitorial work, sweatshop factory work and migrant agricultural work with little or no compensation. Others are forced into areas of sexual exploitation such as prostitution or the sex entertainment industry.
Traffickers use various techniques to instill fear in victims and to keep them enslaved. Some keep their victims under lock and key. However, the more frequent practice is to use less obvious techniques including debt bondage...fabricating financial obligations honor-bound to satisfy debt and isolation from the public...limiting contact with outsiders and making sure that any contact is monitored or superficial. Another tactic of traffickers is confiscation of passports, visas, and any other identification documents, which also keeps the victims dependent.
These are but a few examples of how this gigantic human trafficking industry functions. The following lists include ways that the public can become educated about the problem and also answers the questions of how we can begin to help solve it. For more information or if you suspect that you may have seen something involving trafficking, call the HOT LINE number: 888-373-7888!
READING LIST:
Not For Sale - The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It
by David Batstone
Half the Sky
by Nicholas D. Kristof
Good News About Injustice - A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World
by Gary A. Haugen
The Global Market in Women and Children
by Kathryn Farr
A Modern Form of Slavery: Trafficking of Burmese Women and Girls
into Brothels in Thailand
Published by Human Rights Watch
Comfort Women
by George Hicks
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the United States,
Canada, and Mexico.
By Drs. R. Estes and N. Weiner
The Forces of Demand in Global Sex Trafficking
By Morrison Torry and Sara Dubin.
FILM RESOURCES:
AFRICA - Ivory Coast: The Dark Side of Chocolate, Child Slavery by Miki Mistrati
GLOBAL: Human Trafficking and Recovery by Not for Sale Campaign
AUSTRALIA: Dying to Leave, Trafficked
AMERICAS: Human Trafficking, Sex Slaves (PBS Frontline)
BURMA/THAILAND: Anonymously Yours, Bangkok Girl, Sacrifice,
Sisters and Daughters Betrayed, Trading Women
INTERNET RESOURCES:
World Vision Site for Advocacy
www.seekjustice.org
U.S. House of Representatives
www.house.gov
U. S. Senate
www.senate.gov
Children's Defense Fund
www.childrensdefense.org
Children's Defense Fund-CA
www.cdfca.org
International Justice Mission
www.ijm.org
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