About
This blog is for people like me – people who are not fighting human trafficking full-time, but care about the issue and want to do everything we can to stop it.
When I began this blog, I envisioned it as a clearinghouse for information about human trafficking, events for abolitionists, and updates on news items. But there are other organizations that are doing a great job at this. So as of October 2010, I’m rechanneling my efforts to what I think is more important: helping people understand what human trafficking is, and helping people feel empowered to stop human trafficking.
My interest in this issue began in college, but was intensified when I spent time in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand in 2003. In both places I shadowed people that work at local organizations who provide support to prostitutes who want to leave prostitution. I saw women being exploited, I met young women who (I now know) were victims of human trafficking (because of their age), and I heard of, though did not see, women and children who were forced to be prostitutes.
I live in Connecticut, and focus some of my posts on human trafficking in Connecticut. People are surprised that people are trafficked in, into, and through Connecticut. Human trafficking occurs everywhere, and I want to make sure people understand that.
How have I acted to stop human trafficking?
Raising awareness and encouraging people to act through this blog is one thing I can do. I regularly talk to people about human trafficking – I know that knowledge is power, and people can only act if they know what is happening. I organize events, advocate with my elected officials, try to consume more ethically, and write. I also continually educate myself. I’m not an expert, but I have learned from experts both through personal relationships, conferences, and books/articles. So I’m on this journey with you.
This problem needs all of us to be concerned and to act. Big or small, we all have a role to play in abolishing slavery.
How will you be an abolitionist?
Hi there. Good list of links to anti-trafficking orgs. I am wondering why GEMS isn’t on it. http://www.gems-girls.org. They are one of our internationally renowned experts who include youth advocacy and participation in their work with trafficking survivors like no other group does in the US. That is something we should all seek to emulate, or at least be aware of. Just a suggestion.
And if you want to add someone from Miami, Kristi House http://www.kristihouse.org, is now working with child victims of sex trafficking and we have the blog http://www.csecinmiami.blogspot.org. Thanks!
All the best,
Sandy
Hi Sarah, What a great resource! If I might add a suggestion of a website to add to your blogroll – Historians Against Slavery. historiansagainstslavery.org A nation organization of scholars, historians, and teachers working to educate and end slavery in our time.
Hey Julie, thanks for checking out the blog! I’ll definitely add that organization to my blogroll – and check them out myself!
Great site Sarah! Great stuff to say as well!!! Love it!!!
Thanks Luke! Glad you found it, and glad you like it
Hi,
I am Journalism student in Kentucky. We are working on blogs for a class and mine is on human trafficking and what the city of Lexington is doing to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking. Your site really caught my eye and I was wondering if you wanted to trade links? Thanks for all that you are doing to raise awareness about this issue!
Hey Annie,
What an interesting project! I looked at your site and have lots of questions for you! I came across an idea that Not for Sale has put ou – to make communities slave free communities. I’d be interested in profiling Lexington as an example for advocates of how to do this in a practical way.
Does the local community recognize slavery is occuring in their midst? What does the community think about funding programs for victims? Do they support it, oppose it, not realize it’s in the works?
I’ll definitely keep an eye on your site!
Hello Sarah!
A friend sent me your blog last night. I’m excited to have someone so close (New England) and would love to exchange emails and discuss if you’re interested in pooling our lists of organizations as our goals are so similar (to educate and disseminate information on HT) as are our perspectives.
The blog is my personal one as my site infrastucture is under construction.
This is such an encouragement! There are no coincidences, only God incidents (we haven’t given Him credit for)!
In Him,
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
I’m so glad you found the blog! I’ll shoot you an email to the email address that showed up when you posted.
If you’re new to the New England anti-trafficking scene, I’d love to help you get connected to anti-trafficking advocates/organizations where you are. In CT I know of some great organizations you can get in touch with.
Looking forward to connecting!
Sarah
I think you may be interested in the debut novel ‘A Walk Across the Sun’ by Corban Addison. It comes out in January (in the U.S.) and is about the global sex trade/human trafficking. It has been endorsed by John Grisham. Website and Trailer below.
Thanks,
Marcy K.
http://www.corbanaddison.com
Hello Sarah!
Time flies by so fast! Site is up (in my sign-in details) and resouce page has a few NGO’s you may not have seen yet, it looks like you have many of the major ones! You’re doing wonderful work!
Jacqueline
Thanks for stopping by, Jacqueline! I checked out your website, and you’ve got some great resources and information up there! Your goal to “Encourage coordination between anti-trafficking organizations and interested companies and volunteers to maximize impact, efficiency and cost-effectiveness” seems so important these days, with the proliferation of organizations working on this issue. I’d be interested to learn how you’re going about doing this!
Have you considered linking organizations who address human trafficking by the nature of their work (i.e. child service organizations) with those who exist for the sole purpose of addressing human trafficking? I’m hoping to see those types of links made. Both do such different work and have such different experiences, and can learn a lot from each other. If they don’t link and coordinate, I fear that slavery will continue unabated!
I’ll post your organization on the site. I looked at your bio, and your work is fascinating.
I’m also interested in what type of education you do beyond the website. It looks like your organization is a foundation – do you provide grants for education or provide in-kind “grants” to do education yourselves? It’s not entirely clear from your site.
Best,
Sarah
Looking forward to the Feb. event at the Stowe Center. Great job, Sarah! I posted the announcement on the CTCAT FB page and will see if we can’t get it onto the website announcements.
Gary Levvis
Great! I’ll see you there!
Sarah