As the world's fastest growing criminal industry, human trafficking has led to the enslavement of more than 20 million people around the world. To meet the demand in the United States, a person is trafficked over U.S. borders every 10 minutes.
The NAE's Trafficking in Women and Children 1999 resolution urges evangelicals to become more educated on the issue and to get involved in victim assistance. The resolution also supports appropriate federal legislation that would seek to end sex trafficking by punishing those responsible. "Penalties should be considered that punish violators in a just manner and to serve as a deterrent. Such legislation may also include incentives to countries to take appropriate actions (e.g. criminalizing and punishing offenders)," the resolution states. The NAE routinely speaks out in regards to issues that could affect women and children who are vulnerable to trafficking or who have been trafficked, including comments to a Department of Health and Human Services proposed rule and the Violence Against Women Act. NAE President Leith Anderson currently serves on the President's Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Advisory Council, which has made human trafficking a key part of its work this year. In April 2013, the Advisory Council presented its report, "Building Partnerships to Eradicate Modern-day Slavery." The report offers 10 recommendations for the President to build and lead in the effort to end trafficking in persons.
World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the NAE, helped launch the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST), a group of Christian organizations which collaborate to design programs, curriculum and training to prevent trafficking and help survivors to rebuild their lives. Since 2004, World Relief has partnered with local law enforcement to rescue and provide comprehensive services to survivors of human trafficking in the United States. World Relief trains thousands of community members how to identify victims of trafficking every year. On Sept. 25, 2012, President Obama praised World Relief's anti-trafficking work, as he vowed to increase efforts against human trafficking.
For further study:
» Press Release: NAE Welcomes President's Advisory Council Report on Human Trafficking (April 10, 2013)
» Opinion piece by Leith Anderson and Lynne Hybels — CNN Opinion: Protect Immigrant Women from Violence (May 16, 2012)
» Learn more about World Relief's anti-trafficking work.
|
|
|
