Updates From Jo Anne Lyon

An Emerging Grass-Roots Movement

Our newspapers and TV news programs have been filled the past few days with discussions regarding prostitution due to the behavior of the now Former Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer. A month ago, if one of us had been on a quiz show and had been asked the question, "Who is the governor of the state of New York?" most of us would have stumbled. But not today. His behavior sent shock waves through political, religious and intellectual circles.

While the Eliot Spitzer case is not directly related to human trafficking, prostitution increases the demand for trafficked victims. Being on the front lines of the battle against Human Trafficking has kept us apprised of current laws and those in the making. One of such laws is the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005. In fact, I had the privilege of being invited to the White House to witness the signing of this Act by President Bush.

This Act focuses the prosecution on the persons demanding services, as opposed to only prosecuting those giving the services. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia prosecutes the customers of prostitutes. According to Colbert I. King in an editorial in the March 15, 2008 Washington Post, more than 500 men who bought sex in DC last year have been arrested. They are required to attend the U.S. Attorney's "John School" which is a one-day, eight-hour education and awareness program. Of the 550 arrested, all signed up for the school and only two have been arrested again.

When I have looked into the eyes of young children who have been victims of this bitter trade, I cannot help but sound the call to the community of Faith-Set the Oppressed Free!!!

"What does all of this have to do with World Hope International?" you may ask. We believe that to build a movement to end Human Trafficking, the grassroots needs to be informed. With 27 million slaves in the world it is time to wake up!!! It has been noted through a study that one of the "safe" places traffickers say they can send their victims is to churches. Why? Because people in the pews are naive and don't ask questions. This is right here in the US.

Over the past year we have had many researchers, scholars and activists preparing a community-based training program to educate grassroots people in the US and around the world. They are being taught how to identify trafficked victims, how the church can be a haven for survivors, and how to be leaders in the Modern-Day Slavery movement.

The material is completed, published and ready to be distributed. In fact, it has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Khmer, Mandarin Chinese and other languages as needed.

Nicole Wood, MPH, MA has joined the World Hope International staff as the coordinator of the training programs. If you would like more information or want to volunteer your services in the area of training, please e-mail Nicole at Nicolewood@worldhope.net. She will give you further information regarding involvement.

Thank you for becoming a 21st Century Abolitionist.
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Jo Anne Lyon
Founder & CEO

P.S.
Learn more about Anti-Trafficking on the World Hope Internation.