join the conversation

Human Trafficking

October 19, 2009

Posted in: global, justice, the gathering

At last night’s Creative World Justice Gathering, we introduced a new justice issue, Human Trafficking, that we are going to be addressing.  If you weren’t able to make it out last night, I’ll try to give a brief summary of some what was discussed.  The issue of Human Trafficking, and in particular Sex Trafficking, is one that is quickly growing in attention, though there has been little progress made in our country (and even less in our state and city).

What is it? Human Trafficking (HT) is the recruitment, transportation, harboring, or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, debt bondage, and servitude.  There are an estimated 27 million people around the world living in slave-like conditions.  HT is an extremely lucrative business with revenues in the tens of billions, greater than the combined revenues of Nike, Google, and Starbucks.  That’s hard to even imagine!

Who are the victims? The victims are often from our most vulnerable populations (runaways, refugees, aliens).  Approx 70% are female and 50% children.  The ages being demanded for sex trafficking are getting younger and younger, with an average entry age of 12 and an overall average of 14.  There is also a growing demand for disgruntled middle class white children via online chatrooms.  Follow the link to a short video about a girl who came out of this life: “Candace’s Story.”

Who is demanding it? 99% of the demand is created for men. 90% for white men.

Where is it happening? Basically everywhere!  Almost every country serves as either a Source, Transit, and/or Destination.  An est 50,000 victims are trafficking into or through the US each year.  The USA is the #1 destination for child sex trafficking.  And, YES, it is happening in Oklahoma City.  OKC is at the crossroads of four of the primary trafficking cities (Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Atlanta).  Watch a clip from a new documentary “Playground.”

What is being done? Very little.  Only a handful of shelters nationwide, none in OK.  Oklahoma law enforcement, social services, health care, and mental health workers are mostly untrained to deal with victims.  Only one (most unenforceable) state law on trafficking.

Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans (OATH).  We are connecting with a grassroots organization that started in Tulsa and is just getting their start here in OKC.  The list of potential activities is huge: from Awareness Campaigns to Research to Outreach…the list is long.  Mark Elam told me that basically whatever we dream up and want to do, we can.

How can YOU get involved? We are going to continue the conversation in our monthly CWJ Gatherings.  But for those who really want to get involved, we are planning to meet for a few minutes prior (at 6:00PM) to the monthly OATH Meetings (2nd Tues of every month at the United Way at the SE corner of NW 28th & McKinley) to begin to brainstorm our part in addressing this issue.

If you have any interest in being a part of the CWJ response to human trafficking in OKC, please let me know.  I would love to chat over lunch or coffee sometime soon!  Call (405.694.8562) or email me (gary@convergenceokc.org).

Gary Caplinger