Tag Archives: human trafficking

Now or never: take a stand on human trafficking legislation

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Jesse Eaves in Advocacy

Recently, Jessica Bosquette shared how she saw the Trafficking Victims Protection Act make a difference in the lives of children in the Dominican Republic. She also shared that if Americans failed to tell their senators they want the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act to pass, the positive results it has yielded will be gone. Today, Jesse Eaves, WV Policy Advisor on child protection, provides an update on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. He has news that requires a response– if Americans want to see results, we must act soon. * * * There’s no doubt about it – it’s been a scorcher in Washington, D.C. Luckily for us, the heat outside is only matched by the heat inside...

Human trafficking: Consequences of congressional inaction

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Jessica Bousquette in Advocacy

Upon arriving at the courthouse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, we walked up four flights of stairs and into a sparse, yet lively courtroom. We took our seats on the wooden benches and listened as a pastor from a local church translated the defense attorney’s remarks from Spanish into Creole for three young men. I was witnessing my first human trafficking trial — and the Dominican Republic’s first forced child begging case....

Child trafficking: Notes from the front lines

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jesse Eaves in Advocacy

June 12 is the World Day Against Child Labor. Globally, at least 2 million children are trafficked annually for child labor and sexual exploitation. World Vision is working in places like Bangladesh, a human trafficking source and transit country, to protect vulnerable children from trafficking and forced labor. Traveling in Bangladesh to see World Vision’s child protection programs in action, Jesse Eaves, our child protection policy advisor, reflects on what he sees at the Benapole border crossing between Bangladesh and India. * * * I see the trucks long before I see the actual border — colorful, well-used, laden with cargo and people, lined up one after another on the shoulder of the road. In fact, I almost...

A stronger safety net for children

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Jessica Bousquette in Advocacy, Causes

From my childhood, I have distinct memories of the hot lunch program at school. In particular, it was a treat to be able to get hot lunch on special days. On St. Patrick’s Day, we had green-colored applesauce and chicken nuggets! Most days, I appreciated the nutritious meals my mom lovingly packed, but sometimes, I would glance longingly from my peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich (the fourth of the week) to the line of students getting hot lunch. It has been a long time since I’ve thought about green applesauce. But, this brief moment from my childhood came to mind while reflecting on my visit to a World Vision program in the capital of Romania. In the poorest area of Bucharest (also known...

Child trafficking is no joke

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Jesse Eaves in Advocacy

For more than a year, World Vision has advocated for reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The law, which represents the cornerstone of U.S. policies to fight modern-day slavery, expired on September 30, 2011, because Congress did not vote to reauthorize it in time. As a result, U.S. efforts to combat trafficking are essentially on hold until the law is reauthorized. Here is an update from World Vision’s child protection policy advisor, Jesse Eaves....