Actionable Steps to Fight Human Trafficking

Unsplash: Daniel Gutko

When Sound of Freedom came out, my young adult group packed out the theater. Afterward, guys and girls alike stood outside the theater in tears. Some were in shock, attempting to process what they had just seen. No doubt about it, human trafficking is devastating.

Now that my friends knew about the horrors of trafficking, they weren’t sure what their part was in creating a positive change. I mean, they didn’t even know it existed before that moment. A21 shares that “by activating just 1% of people in communities around the world, we would have twice as many people fighting against human trafficking, as those who are enslaved by it.”

So, how do we become the 1% that changes the world?

Become Informed

When my friends and I watched the Sound of Freedom, we were actually taking the first step to helping those in human trafficking situations. We were becoming aware of the problem. This film (based on the rescue mission by Tim Ballard) shows the horrors of child trafficking, sex trafficking, and labor trafficking.

By being aware of what human trafficking looks like and how people are typically coerced into slavery, we can do something. We know what to report and what to look for.

A21 has an Intro to Human Trafficking E-Course and a video series, Can You See Me? These resources help you know where to look and how to respond. Each video shows how certain situations, such as child exploitation, agricultural labor, and sex trafficking, occur. It empowers you to see what it might look like and increases our ability to spot and report human trafficking.

The ENDITmovement has a (37-minute) film called The Freedom Film. It is an eye-opening introduction to the different kinds of slavery and abuse that occur in human trafficking. In the short film, they share survivors' stories of how they ended up in slavery and how they escaped it.

If you are willing to brave making your friends cry (like I did when I convinced them to see The Sound of Freedom), then you can host a movie night and watch any of the above films. Maybe you are nicer than I and will pop them some popcorn to eat as they cry.

Advocate By Speaking Out

Change won’t happen if we stay silent. If you are burdened to help the oppressed find justice, being a voice for the voiceless is a powerful way to advocate for the victims of human trafficking.

“If you’re a US citizen, you have elected officials from your state called Representatives and Senators who work for you. […] The only way they will know that you care about ending slavery, trafficking, and violence is if you tell them. If your representatives know this issue is important to you and others in your district or state, it will become important to them” (IJM).

In Congress, some bills will directly fight for the dignity of human life and freedom. Tim Tebow is currently campaigning for the Renewed Hope Act, this act is advocating for 50,000 unidentified children who have experienced the horrors of abuse. By joining this movement, you can send a letter to your local representatives to help us pass this bill.

An ongoing opportunity for advocacy can be found through the International Justice Mission (IJM). We can and should speak up about which laws the government creates and what programs receive funding. “IJM advocates work hard to help pass legislation that protects and defends vulnerable people around the world from slavery, trafficking, and violence, like the Central American Women and Children Protection Act (CAWCPA) and the End Modern Slavery Initiative (EMSI).”

IJM makes advocacy easy by having a pre-written email drafted for you to send to your elected officials. Your advocacy brings awareness to our government and potentially funds the programs that combat trafficking.

 

Inform Others About Trafficking

Getting dressed up can bring awareness and raise funds for organizations like IJM as you participate in a campaign against human trafficking. Yes, really! Dressember hosts a social media challenge of getting dressed up during the month of December.

While dressing up may seem like a small way to get involved, Dressember has brought in $20 million in donations since 2013.

How do you get involved? Gals, you can let people know why you are fighting human trafficking in a dress. Guys, you can let people know why you are fighting human trafficking in a tie. Post your fit on social media and share statistics about human trafficking from Dressember’s toolkit. Do Dressember for a day (or the full month)!

Like the idea of posting on social media but not dressing up? I get it. A21 has a social media kit whenever you feel led to use your platfo

rm for awareness of human trafficking and to encourage others to get involved.

Pray for God to Move and People to Rise Up

Another way to get involved is through the underestimated tool of prayer! Founder of Open Doors International, Brother Andrew once said, “Every prayer gets answered [...] you plant a spiritual field a seed, your prayer, and it’s coming out one day, it’s going to bear fruit.”  Our prayers make a difference.

God’s justice does prevail. “The Lord helps the oppressed but brings the wicked to the ground” (The Christian Standard Bible, Psalm 147:6). Hope with action frees people and brings justice to the oppressed.

Here are a few ways to pray today:

·       Pray that God frees and protects the oppressed.

·       Pray for the rescuers of victims to have wisdom and God’s sovereign protection.

·       Pray that Congress passes bills such as the Renewed Hope Act.

·       Pray for the victims of human trafficking to be rescued and their lives redeemed.

Want more ways to pray? IJM has a prayer partnership that sends weekly urgent prayer requests and answered prayers to celebrate. There are incredible stories of how those prayers have been answered and of victims who have been rescued!

Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good

Often, I feel weary of the burden of trying to rid the world of injustice. However, our role is solely to do what God calls us to. We can allow God to be God. As the passage Psalm 146:5-9 points out, it is “The Lord” who frees prisoners, feeds the hungry, thwarts the plans of the wicked, and frees the oppressed.

“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up,” Paul reminds the church! (The Christian Standard Bible, Galatians 6:9).

We are to speak out and not allow apathy or burnout to keep us from doing the next right thing. We are to take courage and speak out against the injustice of oppression. We are to pray and watch God deliver!

For in time, we will reap a harvest.