Sex Slavery: Living the American Nightmare

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“I could go to a truck stop in South Texas right now and get on a CB radio and ask for some sweet stuff, and someone’s going to come out and offer something to sell,” Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Burchell said.

A $9.5 billion-a-year industry
Federal officials agree that the trafficking of human beings as sex slaves is far more prevalent than is popularly understood. While saying it is difficult to pinpoint the scope of the industry, given its shadowy nature, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials estimated that it likely generates more than $9.5 billion a year.

Last year alone, the FBI opened more than 225 human trafficking investigations in the United States. Figures for 2008 are not yet available, but in a coordinated nationwide sweep in July, federal, state and local authorities made more than 640 arrests and rescued 47 children in just three days.

In congressional testimony this year, FBI Director Robert Mueller called sex trafficking “a significant and persistent problem in the U.S. and around the world.”

Slavery in the Chocolate Industry:

IMPORTANT POST: CCAT Weekend & Pertinent Links

So. The CCAT event that we are all ultimately working towards. Let me fill you in on a loose image of the event that is open to change (and will also be defined by our budget, which is in need of IU funding, which we will hopefully get).

THE BIG CCAT WEEKEND

Kevin Bales is a renowned expert on the issue of human trafficking and is the founder of the organization Free The Slaves; we have contacted him and he is very much interested in coming to IU, but he has a few requests that we need to fulfill: a) he needs 3 speaking platforms b) press coverage and c) a certain number of people (we're waiting for a reply with numbers) must attend one of the events.

The 3 speaking platforms we plan on providing are:
A) Classes--he can lecture in classes that are related to the issues of human rights, gender equality, criminal justice, social work, etc. This would happen on a Friday (or Thursday & Friday)

B) Conference--he will be amongst professors and members of the Bloomington community that voice out their concerns and their role in the fight against human injustices. (We were thinking of funding up to 3 guest speakers--airfare and hotel--so if you have any suggestions, please let us know) Kevin Bales would clearly offer a more global and scholarly perspective of the issue, but it would also be great to hear the stories of workers/residents from the Middleway House, for instance, which is a shelter for abused women and children. My vision of this is for it to be open and welcoming to the Bloomington community and not just students/faculty of IU. We are currently in the process of finding interested organizations on campus, such as yours, to help spread this message as far and wide as we can. Also, all groups involved would have the chance to speak for their group and their particular cause if desired. This would be Saturday afternoon?

C) Concert--this would be the final part of the event and I envisioned it to be a semi-formal sort of occasion (at which we would have a light dinner or an array of appetizers and drinks for the guests), and affordable tickets that could be purchased in advance or at the door. Possible venues include Alumni Hall at the IMU, or a room at the Neal Marshall center (that I have yet to see, but have been told that it is a good location and does not have nearly as many restrictions as the IMU). Any other suggestions? If we were to hold the concert or conference in the IMU & included food, we would be dishing out $600 for the room and $1500 for food because they don't allow non-IMU catered food... Anyway, the event would consist of various performances by groups and individuals on campus and possibly a children's performance by the kids from the MiddleWay House (just a thought). There are no limitations to performances that I can currently think of, but I hope to bring in cultural performances to expose people to the diversity that is present but forgotten at IU. (After conference, Saturday night)


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CALL + RESPONSE is a Fair Trade film production that is being screened in a limited number of theaters across the nation. A member suggested that CCAT take a trip to see it in either Cincinnati or Chicago if anyone is interested. Regardless, I recommend visiting the site: http://www.callandresponse.com/ to discover ways by which we can continue to fight slavery. There is significant change we can make in many lives by raising a very feasible amount of money. Much of our efforts right now seem like they will be focused on our major CCAT event in the Spring (unless CCAT is granted a grand sum of money in the near future) so this wouldn't be our primary focus this semester--but if our event is profitable, then this is definitely something to look into. The website provides valuable links (check out http://slaverymap.org/ )and other resources so I recommend that you check it out!

Domestic Slavery

In one of my class we just took a look at some of the 'domestic work' organizations that offer jobs to foreign citizens, such as ones located at the following websites:
http://www.hawthornedomestics.com/
http://www.dpnonline.com/

After looking at these websites, did you notice the different ways they try to lure in workers who are striving for a Westernized dream? Now check out the facts:
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/usadom/

"In the case of V.G., a Sri Lankan domestic worker employed from August 28, 1992 through December 17, 1992 by a Kuwaiti national studying at Boston University, the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals found, "During the four months she remained in the apartment, V.G. was assaulted twice. On one occasion, when V.G. asked that the volume be turned down on the television while she was trying to sleep, appellant grabbed and threw her bodily against the wall. On another occasion, Abair Alzanki (the employer) slapped V.G. and spat in her face when she failed to turn off a monitor."⁵⁰ According to the court, on these two occasions, V.G. was "contemporaneously informed that the assaults' purpose was to keep her `in her place.'"⁵¹ The court also found that, "on another occasion, Abair Alzanki threatened to sew up V.G.'s mouth with a needle and thread, and throw her into the ocean."⁵²

Similarly, Tseheye Assefa, an Ethiopian domestic worker employed from February 1990 through June 1992 by an African senior research officer with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), alleged in her civil complaint, "Approximately one year after her arrival in the United States, she became emotionally distraught regarding her situation and was homesick and was crying. Her employer inquired as to why she was crying and proceeded to beat her for crying."⁵³

On one hand, I thought is was fantastic that we were discussing these things in a class. On the other hand, it's horrifying how carefully masked these organization are that sell women, men, and children into slavery

Child Abuse

Randi (a 5 year old) was, by then, sad and desperate, relatives say. She ran into the middle of the street and almost got hit by a limousine. Mr. Murray said she was screaming, "I want to get hit. I want to die."

"So I grabbed her and I smacked her," he said.

Randi sidled up to her invalid grandmother, Johnnie Mae Burton, one afternoon. Ms. Burton remembers the child saying, "Grandma, I love you. I wish somebody loved me."

The Whole Story

Just read it and wanted to share. People make me sad :(

CCAT MOVIE NIGHT: Trade

Campus Coalition Against Trafficking (CCAT) will be screening its first movie of the year!

WHEN: next Wednesday, October 8th at 7pm
WHERE: Swain East 140
WHAT: We will be showing the movie Trade, starring Kevin Kline, which brings light to the issue of human trafficking--sex trafficking, specifically--in the United States. Come see Trade and witness the global impact of this horrific criminal industry that translates as modern day slavery. To learn more about the movie, visit: http://www.tradethemovie.com/

WHY: Human trafficking is estimated to make roughly $10 billion/year. It is the fastest growing criminal industry that may have anywhere from 600,000 to over 2 million victims a year. These statistics may mean little to you, so come see Trade and witness scenes that will put faces to numbers. It's a great introduction to human trafficking and CCAT Movie Night is a great avenue to meet people who are passionate about such an important issue. Snacks and refreshments will also be provided!

HOW DO I JOIN?
Join CCAT by subscribing to our listserv (email: ccat@indiana.edu) and/or joining our Facebook group: Campus Coalition Against Trafficking-Indiana Chapter.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
*Come to our MEETINGS! They are held every Wednesday at 7pm in Ballantine Hall 011.
*Read our BLOG! The blog is an easy avenue to communicate our thoughts, news, upcoming events, and anything pertaining to the issue of human trafficking. Feel free to post comments, suggestions, and ideas. If you would like to post something on the blog, send links and other content to sgattu@indiana.edu with the subject of "CCAT Blog." To access our blog, visit: http://iubccat.blogspot.com/
*Contribute money! Look for our donation jars in these local Bloomington restaurants: Bombay House, Mandalay, Soma, and Bloomington Sandwich Co.

AGAIN: The screening of Trade is NEXT Wednesday at SE140 at 7pm! Drinks and snacks provided!!!

Hope to see you there!

Campus Coalition Against Trafficking
IU Chapter
ccat@indiana.edu

Ending Slavery: Kevin Bales

Dr. Bales is the president of Free the Slaves and is one of the leading experts on the issue of human trafficking. It was suggested recently by graduate student, Jenny Davis, that we bring Dr. Bales to speak at IU. I think there are a number of occasions that we can invite him to, but I think it best to wait until the Spring semester and either have him speak at an event such as a concert or a lecture panel that would have him speak alongside other interested professors. Also, I think it would be better if it were a joint effort that brought together many student organizations that are related to human rights, and even otherwise. I will put up a poll on the blog to see how many people are interested in bringing Dr. Bales to IU, but please post comments, questions, or ideas if you have any!

Visit Freetheslaves.net for more information on Dr. Bales and his organization!

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the deplorable act of transporting a person against their will for the purposes of exploitation. It is a form of modern day slavery in which the basic rights of the victim are repeatedly and continuously violated. 

Most trafficking victims are women and children from poor socioeconomic backgrounds. They are commonly lured with the promise of employment opportunity in a restaurant or factory, only to be stripped of their papers upon arrival and forced into sexual servitude or bonded labor. A trafficker may use force, deception, coercion, fraud, or other forms of intimidation to obtain, harbor, and traffic their victim.

The United States Department of State estimates that “600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children [are] trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 80 percent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors”. This figure fails to account for victims who are trafficked within national borders, likely representing a significant portion of all trafficking victims. In fact, if domestic trafficking were to be included, up to 4 million persons per year would be considered victims of human trafficking.

Globally this modern day slave trade represents a ten billion dollar a year industry. The vast majority of trafficking victims are sold into prostitution, sexual servitude, or other forms of sexual exploitation. Human trafficking to support bonded labor is also widespread, as is the trafficking of children to serve in military conflicts in various regions of the world.

(http://endexploitation.org/resources.html)

The Ways of Our World

We wear the label of "human," shaming its name:

Still walks the man that beats his wife blue,

Still walks the man that drowns his child, too.

Still walks the man that rapes little girls in flowery dresses,

Still walks the man who tries to hide his bloody messes.

We see it and sigh, for it would not be fun to die...

So what will the weather be like today?

It's never too late to start listening, to start seeing, to start caring. 

Learn how you can make a difference, in the name of humanity.