January 17, 2010:

Our denomination has declared Monday, January 11, 2010 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in an effort to encourage United Methodists everywhere to confront the growing sin of exploiting women, children and men around the globe. The United Nations defines human trafficking as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficking includes forcing people into prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation. Children can also be victims, trafficked often for prostitution, illegal adoptions, trafficking for early marriage or recruitment as beggars or sporting contestants." Eighty percent of people trafficked are women and girls and half are minors under the age of 13. UNICEF reports that 1.2 million children are sold into sexual slavery and two million children are exploited in the multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade each year.

Human trafficking is the second largest, and fastest- growing criminal industry in the world and brings between $5 billion and $9 billion in illegal revenue every year. Perhaps the most shocking statistic for me is that the U.S. is the second most common destination in the world for trafficked women.

Victims of this crime can be found in all types of settings, including agriculture, panhandling/peddling, day labor, door-to-door sales, commercial sex industry, all types of factories, domestic work, internet sites, restaurants and bars, hair and nail salons. Remember, victims of human trafficking do not usually identify themselves. If you believe someone is being trafficked or exploited call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. We must never allow ourselves to become indifferent to the needs of the most vulnerable in God’s kingdom.

The United Methodist Women’s Action Network has taken up the cause of abolishing human trafficking in fulfilling their mission of advocating for women and children’s issues. More information on the problem of human trafficking, including ways you can help may be found at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/UMW/resources/spiritual/observances

I want to leave you with these words from Glory E. Dharmaraj from the Women’s Division:
Mission is saying "NO" to violence against women, children and youth. Mission is saying "YES" to reshaping their thresholds as places of healing and wholeness, for the sake of the one who was born in Bethlehem for the healing and redemption of all, even Jesus the Christ.

Thanks for caring,

Sandra .

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