Innovative and Intersectional Approaches to Disrupting Human Trafficking
Date of Meeting: 03/14/22
Meeting Organizer: Stephen De Luca
ISJC Staff Present: Priscilla Santos
Reporter: ISJC Girl Advocate Kendra Gitau
Which SDG does this topic cover? SDG 5, SDG 4
Type of meeting: NGO/CSW Parallel Event
Summary of presentation of information
The meeting began with an introduction of the moderator, Stephen De Luca. He then introduced each of the five advocates one by one, letting each of the advocates talk about human trafficking, their roles in the fight against it, and successes in the fight to stop modern day slavery.
The advocates were Penny Venetis, Jessica Kitson, Gina Cavallo, Danny Papa, and Kate Lee.
Important points that were made in this meeting are as follows.
- Human trafficking is modern day slavery. It is treating a human being as a body to make money for somebody else.
- More human trafficking victims are being arrested rather than being helped. They are being arrested for prostitution and for minor crimes they were forced to commit.
- Multiple Human Trafficking victims have a criminal record which makes it so that they can’t go to school, they can’t get a job, they can’t get a house, etc.
- Programmes such as Locker Slam, make magnets for middle schools and high schools that have questions and facts that get teens thinking about who they are talking to online. Which can prevent them getting trafficked.
- Video games, chat rooms, and direct messaging are one of the many ways teenagers are being trafficked.
What information shared in this meeting is of significance to The Salvation Army and why
It is significant to the Salvation Army because it offers opportunities to not only help victims of Human Trafficking, but also to lead these people to Christ.
In the meeting, they talked a lot about how victims have a criminal record, making it so that they can’t get good jobs, buy homes, or go to school. The Salvation Army can help by offering jobs to victims so they can start getting back on track. They can also provide shelter and counseling, and in doing so, they have the opportunity share the word of God with these people.
What is The Salvation Army currently doing to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals addressed in this meeting?
In regard to SDG 5, The Salvation Army has helped by opening homeless shelters for those trafficked, they provide food and clothing, they help to provide medical and dental, and counselling.
What opportunities are there for The Salvation Army to create or further develop the work in this area?
The Salvation Army has an opportunity to help victims be able to go to school and get the education they need. Because some victims may have criminal records, it makes it so that they can’t go to school, and the process of working it all out is said to be “humiliating” and “embarrassing”. The Salvation army can help these people by providing school curriculum and helping victims figure out how to clear their criminal record in a way that is not humiliating or embarrassing.