WHI Anti-Trafficking on Capitol Hill

June 17 and 18 marked important days for World Hope International (WHI) and its efforts to bring attention to the global fight against human trafficking. WHI was welcomed to two separate events to discuss the organization’s work fighting trafficking before members of Congress and the US Department of State.

Tuesday, WHI and its partners in the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST) were hosted at the Department of State by Dr. Laura Lederer, Senior Director for Global Projects and Executive Director, Senior Policy Operating Group, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP), for an informal brown bag luncheon. The luncheon featured a presentation by Ruth Ada Kamara, Education Coordinator, World Relief/FAAST (Sierra Leone), who shared about her work fighting trafficking in Western Africa and her own story as a survivor of trafficking. WHI Founder and CEO Dr. Jo Anne Lyon also spoke about the successes of collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organizations working for a common goal.

Wednesday’s 10:00 am briefing was held at the Rayburn Office Building for the House of Representatives in front of a standing-room-only crowd. The Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking welcomed WHI and its partners in the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST) for “Human Trafficking—A Global Perspective & A Community Response” which convened to highlight current multi-sectoral and community-based responses to combating human trafficking, including government, NGO and faith-based partnership initiatives. Ms. Kamara and Dr. Lyon again spoke about their roles in the global fight against trafficking.

After Wednesday’s briefing, Ms. Kamara reflected on her experience. “I am glad to have the opportunity to share my experience with them. It shows they care about people like me who have been trafficked. I hope that telling my story will help stop this from happening to others.” Dr. Lyon emphasized the importance of Ms. Kamara’s presence at the event. “Listening to the story of a person who innocently followed someone whom she trusted to make her life better—but instead was sold and used beyond human imagination—put flesh on the statistics.”

Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Around the world today, about 27 million people are enslaved. Annually, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people -- mostly women and children -- are trafficked across national borders, which does not count the millions trafficked within their own countries.

Learn more about WHI's fight against human trafficking or make a gift to support WHI’s fight against human trafficking.

Read more about the June 18 Congressional briefing at the website of Representative Thelma Drake.