Tag Archives: human trafficking

The glamor of a brothel raid

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Rich Stearns in Stories

Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S., shares a story from his recent visit to Cambodia that highlights the numerous interventions required to fight poverty, injustice, and oppression — those that are dramatic and highly-publicized, as well as those that are less conspicuous but equally critical....

Congress: Don’t play politics with child slavery

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Jesse Eaves in Advocacy

For almost a year, World Vision has advocated for the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVRPA), inviting our supporters to join us in advocating for this bill. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) — the cornerstone of U.S. policies to fight modern-day slavery — expired on September 30, 2011, because Congress did not vote to reauthorize the law 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 our child protection policy advisor, Jesse Eaves....

Is chocolate your guilty pleasure?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Jesse Eaves in Partnerships

Abdul is 10 years old. While many children his age are in school, Abdul spends his days harvesting a bean that is an essential ingredient to a symbol of decadence, love, and happiness in the western world. But to him, it represents pain, toil, and sadness. Abdul is a child slave working on a cocoa farm in Cote D’Ivoire — where 35 percent of the world’s cocoa originates — to make the chocolate you and I love. Abdul has never tasted chocolate. He says he does not even know how cocoa beans are used....

Combining our efforts to protect victims of human trafficking

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Jesse Eaves in Advocacy

It goes without saying that this year has been one of the craziest in the history of Congress. Despite all the ups and downs and swings of momentum in moving the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act forward, one thing has remained constant: our advocates’ dedication to stand up and make their voices heard. It’s safe to say that neither the House nor the Senate versions of this legislation would be where they are without those voices....

Should U.S. give a free pass to countries that use child soldiers?

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jesse Eaves in Advocacy, Conversations

As a humanitarian worker, a child protection expert, and as a U.S. citizen, I have certain expectations — some call them naive ideals — that the U.S. government will work to reduce the vulnerability of children around the world and here in the United States. Laws like the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the PROTECT Act, and the Child Soldier Prevention Act have all set in place strict policies that made America the global leader in working to prevent and respond to vulnerability among children. That’s why, on October 4, I was angry, and, to be honest, feeling slightly betrayed. On October 4, the Obama administration announced the latest round of guidelines outlining how, for the second year in a row,...