“Let My People Go!” (Exodus 8:1) A “Freedom Friday” presentation

WHAT IS TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING? Put simply, Trafficking In Persons (TIP) is: The illegal movement of people, within national or across international borders, for the purposes of exploitation in the form of commercial sex, domestic service, manual labour, child soldiers, ritual sacrifices and the removal of organs. Human Trafficking is MODERN-DAY SLAVERY!!!

COLUMN 1 Mobilization (Activity / process) + COLUMN 2 By means of: + COLUMN 3 For the purpose of exploitation: = trafficking in persons Recruitment Threat or use of force of other forms of coercion Prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation TransportationAbduction Forced labour or services TransferFraud Slavery or practices similar to slavery HarbouringDeceptionServitude Receipt Abuse of power or of position of vulnerability Organ removal Giving or receiving of payments or benefits WHAT CONSTITUTES TIP?

At least one element from each column is required to constitute adult trafficking. When any of the means is present, Consent is NOT relevant. For child trafficking (persons under 18 years) the “means” (second column) does not need to be present. Trafficked victims cannot be prosecuted for crimes which flow from being trafficked. WHAT CONSTITUTES TIP?

Intimidation, threats of or actual violence Lies and deception (i.e. promising attractive employment possibilities) Identity control (i.e. confiscating passport) Emotional abuse/manipulation Money (situations of debt bondage to the trafficker) Social isolation TRAFFICKERS’ STRATEGIES

HT INDICATORS Potential victim accompanied by controller? Signs of Physical/Emotional Abuse or Fear? Language or Cultural barriers? No personal identification documents? A child in a situation of exploitation? Common health problems?

WHERE AND WHO? Over 2 million people are trafficked annually across borders. Approximately 80% are women and girls. 50% are children. Over 27 million enslaved today! Trafficking exists in T&T!

Case Study: “Maria” A teenaged girl who was deceived into leaving her small Colombian village to work in an ice cream parlour in Venezuela during the school vacation. In Venezuela she was put in a boat with armed men and taken by force to Trinidad where she was sold into prostitution. She lost her virginity through repeated rapes! She was able to escape further exploitation only when she was arrested in a raid on the brothel.

WHAT DOES GOD THINK? He hears their cries - (Exodus 3:7-10) He wants them FREE to worship Him (Exodus 8:1) He demands that His people do justice and show mercy - (Micah 6:8 / Zechariah 7:8-12)

GOD CARES FOR THE OPPRESSED & ENSLAVED ‘He is the one … who gives justice to the oppressed, and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.’ (Psalm 146:7)

GOD CARES FOR CONSUMERS ‘The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.’ (Psalm 146:8)

GOD CARES FOR VICTIMS ‘ The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows …’ (Psalm 146:9)

Biblical times – Moses, Daniel, Nehemiah 1800s - God used believers to abolish the Slave Trade and Slavery in the British Empire, USA and Europe William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect, Brethren, Quakers, etc. Wilberforce and the Port of Spain slave A LESSON FROM HISTORY

The True Fast “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And to break every yoke?” − Isaiah 58:6 FASTING AND PRAYER

WHAT CAN WE DO? REPENT! RAISE FUNDS REDUCE DEMAND RAISE AWARENESS RAISE YOUR VOICE RESIST LICENCE APPLICATIONS RESPOND COMPASSIONATELY REPORT TRAFFICKING: 555, 800- TIPS

Adrian N. Alexander Caribbean Umbrella Body for Restorative Behaviour (CURB) P.O. Box 4945, Tunapuna / CONTACT INFO: