As Shandra Woworuntu and Chris Heuertz speak at Gravity’s anti-human trafficking Vocare Speakers Series, many of those attending may ask what can be done.
Shandra and Chris have put together this list of first steps to get involved in the fight for freedom for today’s modern victims of human slavery.
Ways to Respond
Educate yourself, your family, your friends, and your community about the reality of human trafficking.
Raise Awareness in your community and congregation.
Stay Informed by following these survivors on Twitter: Minh Dang, Rani Hong, Ima Matul, Holly Smith, Shandra Woworuntu, and others.
Support and Collaborate with local organizations working against modern slavery by volunteering or making financial investments in the work they’re doing.
Thoughtful Consumption, be aware of what you’re purchasing and the potential trail of forced labor used in manufacturing products.
Use Your Talents to Join the Movement, not everyone needs to start a new organization, but everyone has something they can offer.
Report Suspicious Activity by calling the National Human Trafficking hotline: 888-837-7888.
Lobby your local Congress(wo)men and Senators to implement stronger laws to prevent trafficking as well as legislation to support survivors of human trafficking.
Pray daily for freedom for those enslaved in modern-day slavery.
Donate a scholarship for a human trafficking survivor to attend a Gravity sponsored retreat.
Books
Walking Prey: How America’s Youth Are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery, by Holly Austin Smith
Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It, by David Batstone
Sex Slaves: The Trafficking of Women in Asia, by Louise Brown
Organizations
Freedom for All partners with on the ground organizations that create long-term, systemic change to end slavery in the countries where they work and to save lives by freeing people who are held in slavery.
Mentari is a survivors network working to mentor and train persons who have been victimized by human traffickers, enabling survivors to lead stable lives (an organization founded by Shandra Woworuntu, coming soon).
National Survivors Network brings together communities of survivors of human trafficking by creating a platform for survivor-led advocacy, peer-to-peer mentorship, and empowerment that embraces all survivors, regardless of gender, age, nationality, or type of trafficking experience.
Nomi Network is a nonprofit that creates economic opportunities for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking.
Polaris is grounded in a set of values and organizational beliefs that provide a foundation for all their programs and activities. Polaris strives to embody and model these values within the Polaris community and within the anti-human trafficking movement: Service, Reality and Impact-Centered, Empowerment, Non-Violence and Respect, Transformative Innovation, and Holistic Approach.
Restore exists for every survivor, the promise of a new life. For our nation, the end of modern-day slavery.
Sari Bari offers freedom to women trapped in the sex trade and provides opportunity to women who are vulnerable to trafficking. Sari Bari does this by providing employment in a safe, loving environment, where women are trained as artisans. Women create beautiful, sustainable, handmade products, while making their lives new.
Two Wings used education, mentoring, and life coaching to empower at-risk youth and survivors of sex trafficking in achieving their dreams in the greater Southern California region.