The TIP Report is Released - Take Action Today!
Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), a diplomatic tool used to fight human trafficking around the world. Tomorrow, well give an update on the release of the TIP Report, but today we wanted to give you an opportunity to take action!
A Letter to the Editor is typically written in response to an event recently covered in the newspaper. Many papers will cover the launch of the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report, and this is a great opportunity to respond. Policy-makers pay attention to Letters to the Editorone of the most read sections of the paperso they are an important advocacy tool.
Read MoreHolly's News From Washington - June 2012
Every time I pick up the newspaper, I read an article about how the U.S. Congress is deadlocked, partisan, broken. That may be the case on some issues, but I know of one issue where members of Congress across the political spectrum are working together to do something good. Our leaders are collaborating with integrity and good will to eradicate trafficking in U.S. labor contracts that recruit men and women to work on large U.S. military bases, such as those in Afghanistan. Read More
Your Voice Matters - Meet Kim
In 2007, I picked up an IJM brochure at a California church I was visiting. I came home to Idaho, ordered both of IJM President Gary Haugen's books and read them within weeks. The reality of modern-day slavery and human trafficking overwhelmed me - the darkness of the issue paralyzed me.
There was a question that had haunted me for years: Why was there still so much poverty, pain and suffering throughout the world when so much had been done to alleviate these very issues? I had been on mission trips and given to many relief organizations, yet for all of the lives I had seen changed, the problems still remained.
Read MoreHolly's News From Washington - A Recap of Lobby Day!
April 16, 2012 might be my all-time favorite day this year. My colleagues Annick and Tim and I met at Dunkin Donuts on Capitol Hill at 7:00 am and picked up several dozen donuts and some boxes of coffee, packed them in Tims Jeep and drove to a nearby church where we set up tables and spread out breakfast. Within an hour, 2 giant buses arrived from across town carrying over 160 IJM volunteer advocates, who had been in D.C. for an intensive day of advocacy training and were now joining us for our 4th annual Lobby Day on Capitol Hill.
Read MoreWe did it! 72,000 Names for Freedom!
We are thrilled to tell you that just moments ago, the 72,000th person signed IJM's letter to President Obama, urging him to make our country a leader in the fight to end modern-day slavery. 72,000 is a big number - and it's already having a big impact.
Check out IJM Vice President of Government Relations Holly Burkhalter's video update to learn more about the exciting movement on this issue that we are witnessing in D.C.
Read More#endslavery - Use Twitter to Help Pass the TVPRA!
For nearly a year and a half, advocates like you have been working hard to pass the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Thanks to your efforts, the bill has 40 Senate cosponsors from all across the political spectrumwe are so grateful for your tireless work to pass this bill that will help end trafficking at home and around the world!
Weve come so far, but were not stopping here. IJM is teaming up with World Vision, Polaris Project and Safe Horizon to gain even more suport for the TVPRA and to ensure that it passes quickly. Our goal is to get 10 more senators to cosponsor this bill by April 30.
Read MoreHolly's News From Washington - April
I recently had the wonderful experience of sitting in my IJM office with a roomful of colleagues watching a telecast of an unprecedented cabinet-level meeting on modern day slavery. The Presidents Interagency Task Force on Trafficking met at the White House on March 15 to talk about the Obama Administrations record on addressing slavery and trafficking at home and abroad and to propose new initiatives for the future.
Read MoreYour Voice Matters: Meet Travis and Kendra
On Thursday, April 5, West Virginia became the 49th state to pass a criminal law against human trafficking (read the press release from our friends at Polaris Project).
The bill, which was signed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin last Thursday, criminalizes both labor and sex trafficking and authorizes the training for law enforcement officers to help them identify and investigate trafficking cases. Read More
Why We Need Anti-Slavery Champions in Congress
Late last month, the Cambodian government ordered the arrest of a convicted pedophile, Russian national Alexander Trofimov. When he is found and arrested, he will be expelled from Cambodia (read more in this local news article). We celebrated this order because it means justice will be secured for victims who deserve it, and we celebrated because this order came about after much advocacy.
Read MoreNews From Washington - Join Us in DC!
Spring is coming here in Washington, DC, and it is a sight to behold. The cherry blossoms are about to bloom, my choir at St. Peters Church is working overtime on music for Lent and Easter services, and my high-school-age daughters are getting ready for their long spring break.
It also means IJMs Global Prayer GatheringApril 13-15is just around the corner. Our Field Office Directors from around the world will join us here in DC to update everyone on ways to pray for our work in the field. The Global Prayer Gathering (GPG) has grown every year, and this year, weve reached capacity at nearly 1,000 people who will join us for three days of prayer for the work of rescue of children, men and women.
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