Rhode Island Bans Indoor Prostitution
Published November 03, 2009 @ 02:36PM PT
The end has finally come to a long and often malicious battle in Rhode Island over a 30-year-old legal loophole which allowed indoor prostitution to legally occur. Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri signed the bill into law today, and it is effective immediately. The debate which took place around this bill and the Rhode Island prostitution law ended up being about far more than just legalese and statutory distinctions. It encompassed the growing debate about the relationship between human trafficking and prostitution.
To say the personal attacks that have been broadcast through the blogosphere during this debate escalated to vicious is like saying people had strong feelings about Obama's election. Both the pro-legalizing indoor prostitution camps and the pro-making indoor prostitution illegal camps did their fair share of demonizing the other side. Those who fought to keep the loophole in the law were accused of being unsympathetic to human trafficking victims, shells for the commercial sex industry, and anti-feminist. Those who fought to close the loophole were called autocratic moralists, Bush administration cronies, and anti-feminists. If you listen to the rhetoric that went on, is sounds like the biggest group of misogynists to ever fight for the rights and welfare of women. At one point I was called an "intellectual malcontent," which I believe was intended as an insult, but which I consider somewhat of a compliment (I strive to be intellectual and I'm am certainly not content with the prevalence of human trafficking and sexual violence against women in the world). But the mud-slinging was more than just meanness, it was symptomatic of how long before today, this debate stopped being about Rhode Island and its residents, and started being about polarizing and conflicted ideologies on how best to protect women.
I've made no secret that I believe that human trafficking thrives in areas with legal and heavily tolerated commercial sex markets, nor that many, many women enter into prostitution as children, due to coercion, or because of a lack of other options. So it won't come as a surprise that I support Gov. Carcieri's signing the bill into law, and that I anticipate it will help protect women and children from exploitation. But it would be naive to think the broader debate is over now that the Rhode Island question is settled. And it would be negligent to think that the next debate should also devolve into the level of petty name-calling and unreasonable accusations that this one did. These questions are not going away of their own accord, and all of us who care about women -- women in prostitution, women who are victims of trafficking, women in need of economic options -- owe it to them to not lose sight of our common goals in the darkness of our differences.
So please, see this message as an open invitation to anyone who was dissapointed by the Rhode Island decision and wants to have a respectful discussion about the relationship between human trafficking and prostitution and how that affects or should affect legislation. Let's do something truly radical to change the world together: let's listen to each other. Let's listen and learn how we can be better advocates, and how we can create better policies. We cannot hide from each other any more than the women we try and help can hide from violent pimps or violent police men or violent clients or the violence of poverty. And we cannot afford to lose ourselves in petty insults when there is so much work still to be done.
This blog will always be a space where people can respectfully discuss these important issues, even when we disagree. All I ask is a willingness to listen.
Photo credit: keepwaddling1
Red Light Special: Vanilla Citrus Hand Lotion Is Luxury Without Guilt
Published November 03, 2009 @ 06:00AM PT
Are you sick of wasting your money on useless plastic crap made in overseas sweatshops? Do you want to use your money to vote for something you actually support - a hopeful future for former slaves? Then check out Change.org's weekly Red Light Special. Once a week, I'll be bringing you a product that heals rather than hurts, because the proceeds go to help victims of human trafficking. Shop Red Light Specials to be part of the solution, instead of part of the useless crap problem.
This Week’s Red Light Special… Vanilla Citrus Hand Lotion
Keep away the chapped skin of winter with this yummy vanilla citrus hand lotion from the Not for Sale Campaign. Not only will it keep your skin soft and supple, but it is produced by women in the U.S. who have been victims of violence and human trafficking. It's a bottle full of healing for your skin, and a whole lot more healing for their lives.
Let's face it, you don't need any more stuff in your life, but human trafficking survivors sure need a future. And you can give it to them with just a click of the mouse and a swipe of the credit card. So what are you waiting for?
You can buy this item from the link above, or at http://notforsale895.corecommerce.com/Bath-amp-Body/Citrus-Vanilla-Hand-Lotion-p58.html
Zimbabwe Still Exporting Blood Diamonds
Published November 02, 2009 @ 03:48PM PT
The folks over at the Kimberly Process certification scheme, the main body responsible for certifying diamonds as "conflict-free", have threatened to suspend Zimbabwe's participation in the program for six months. It appears Zimbabwe is still seeing a great deal of human rights abuses, exploitation, and slavery in the diamond industry.
The Kimberley Process (KP) is a coalition of governments, diamond industry representatives, and civil society stakeholders, which was created to stem the flow of conflict diamonds from countries in Africa to global markets. Rough diamonds have been used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments, and the diamond industry has become notorious for exploitation and slavery, especially of children. The trade conflict diamonds has fuelled devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone and resulted in the abuse of thousands of workers and children. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on participating members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’.
Zimbabwe's eastern diamond fields are the areas currently being questioned by the KP. Human Rights Watch has accused the military of killing a number of diamond diggers in the area and using the gems recovered from the dead diggers to line their own pockets. Zimbabwe is also accused of not having stringent enough regulations in place to prevent abuse in the diamond industry. A KP inspector recently recommended that Zimbabwe be barred from importing or exporting rough diamonds within the Process for at least six months "until such time as a KP team determines that minimum standards have been met." Such a ban would be a huge blow to the diamond industry in that country, but might also allow KP members to put the additional regulations in place to help prevent exploitation in the industry.
It's comforting to know the folks at KP are actively monitoring all of their members, and that they aren't hesitating to call one out for failing to live up to the rigorous standards KP insists on. But it's still important to know where the diamonds you buy have come from and how or if they are certified. You can find a wide selection of Fair Trade diamond and gold jewelry at Brilliant Earth's website.
Photo credit: swamibu
Bacha Bazi: Afghan Tradition Expolits Young Boys
Published November 02, 2009 @ 06:00AM PT
Two subjects within the field of human trafficking are too often ignored: cultural traditions of slavery and the sale of boys in the commercial sex industry. CNN recently shed light on both of these in an article about the Afghan tradition of bacha bazi, or "boy play". It's a cultural tradition for many powerful Afghan men, but it's modern-day slavery for the boys who live through it.
Bacha bazi is illegal in Afghanistan, but the practice is still thriving. Boys are taken from their families at a young age and sold or given to wealthy and powerful business men, politicians, and military commanders. The boys are dressed in women's clothing and makeup and forced to dance to entertain their master and his guests. They are also forced to perform sex acts on their master or his guests. The few boys who are able to escape their slavery have a difficult time ever making a living doing anything else. They are forever branded in society as a bacha bereesh, or a "boy without a beard," a boy who dances and dresses as a woman.
Their plight is not unlike that of women forced into sexual performance or prostitution, who also have a difficult time being accepted into society and finding work after their ordeal. Bacha bazi boys often return to the industry even after they have left, because they have no other means to support themselves. Women who have been forced into commercial sex often do the same. Perhaps so many similarities exist because bacha bazi feminizes these boys in order to degrade them. By forcing them to perform in women's clothes and by raping them, this tradition not only seeks to humiliate these boys for the pleasure of wealthy men, but also to reinforce the idea that women are inferior and for a boy to have feminine affectations is degrading for him. It's a window into the severe gender inequality that pervades Afghanistan.
What I found most interesting about bacha bazi is the prevalence of a tradition based around same sex rape and gender-bending performance in a severely homophobic country like Afghanistan.
Where to Buy Fair Trade Winter Accessories
Published November 01, 2009 @ 08:00AM PT
Winter is sneaking up on us like a spy in silk stockings, and bringing with it those icy winds that require hats, gloves, and scarves. But before you stock up on winter accessories, take a few moments to consider the people who are making you warm. Buying Fair Trade products to keep you cozy is a great way to support companies who are taking measures to prevent slavery and exploitation of workers. Plus, the Internet is full of great options. Here are a few:
World of Good Ebay Store: From sweatshop-free wool socks to simple hemp gloves to colorful handmade mittens, this is your Fair Trade Winter hookup. As a bonus, you can also buy through individual sellers who make a living selling Fair Trade and environmentally conscious products. Also, Original Good, which is part of World of Good, has a huge selection of scarves, though they're the kind that are probably better in warmer climates.
Pristine Planet: They have a selection of Fair Trade and eco-friendly products. with a huge selection of scarves. Some are the keep-you-toasty kind and some are good for Winter in Dallas or Atlanta.
Ethica Accessories: Based in Australia, this company was founded by a group of Sisters of St. Joseph who wanted to make a difference. They sell handmade, Fair Trade products from Peru, including Alpaca hats and other Winter snugglies. They also have products for kids.
Eka: This UK fashion line is all Fair Trade and features cute vintage-style Winter hats inspires by the Great Gatsby and Rita Hayworth, among other. These would make a great holiday gift for anyone who likes both fashion and justice. I would totally live in these hats year round if they didn't make me sweat in July.
Vaute Couture: If you're the creative type, you can design (or ask others to design) your own made-to-order Winter coat. All the materials they use are vegan, green, and Fair Trade materials, and the coats are assembled in Chicago by workers paid a living wage. It's high fashion with a high purpose.
There are a number of other sources of Fair Trade Winter accessories, so if you know of any, please leave them in the comments. If we take the time to really think about out purchases, we can keep warm this winter without leaving workers in developing countries out in the cold.
Photo credit: mahalie
10 Human Trafficking Horror Films
Published October 31, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT
Human trafficking can be scary. So in honor of Halloween today, I've compiled a list for ten horror films that aren't about human trafficking, but could be based on their titles. Here are some new synopses for the modern-day slavery centric plots of these classic horror flicks. And, yes, the tag lines are cheesy on purpose, just like most films in the genre. Don't try to find these on Netflix, friends. They exist only in my head. And while these synopses are works of fiction, they are heavily based on reality.
10 Human Trafficking Horror Films
10. Nightmare on Elm Street: It can happen in small town America.
Yolanda and Gina were 14-year-olds the evening they took a walk on Elm Street. What could ever happen in their sleepy small town? A car pulled up next to them with the older brother of a friend in it. He offered them a ride, and what ensued for the girls was a whirlwind tour of the underground world of child sex trafficking in the U.S.
9. The Ring: Money can't buy you love ... but it can buy abuse.
Nikola joined a mail order bride agency in the hopes of getting out of Moldova. So when she met Frank, she thought he was her ticket to a life of prosperity in America. Little did she know, Frank was waiting at home for his "obedient" wife with a list of demands and a belt.
8. The Wicker Man: He'll break you like a reed.
The wicker man promised Fransisco a good job in his factory making furniture. It was only a couple hundred miles away, and Fransisco could send money home to support his family. But the factory was actually a slave compound and Fransisco had unknowingly entered into debt bondage. Can he escape without being caught and beaten to death?
7. Rosemary's Baby: Now I lay you down to a life slavery.
Freedom for the Weekend: Bet Tzedek
Published October 30, 2009 @ 12:00PM PT
Well, it's Friday afternoon, and that means the weekend is almost here! W00t! Perhaps you're reading this blog because you're bored at work or school and you're thinking about what you want to do this weekend. How about spending part of your weekend fighting slavery? Each week I'll profile a different anti-trafficking nonprofit who you can connect with to help free slaves and prevent slavery around the world. So, spend a couple hours this weekend getting to know this nonprofit through their website, and then get involved!
This Week's Profile: Bet Tzedek
The Bottom Line: Bet Tzedek is one of the nation’s premier legal services organizations, providing free assistance to more than 10,000 people of every racial and religious background at its headquarters in the Fairfax area and its office in North Hollywood and at more than 30 senior centers throughout Los Angeles County. They serve everyone from human trafficking victims to holocaust survivors to victims of consumer fraud.
What They Do: Through their employment rights program, Bet Tzedek helps ensure workers get the wages that are owed to them and prevent human trafficking. They represent workers regardless of immigration status who have been illegally denied wages.
What Can I Do?: If you're a law student, you can apply for a summer externship or clerkship. If you aren't but live in the Los Angeles area, you can volunteer. You can also donate through their website.
Why They Rock: Immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, are extremely vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking. Groups like Bet Tzedek protect their legal rights.
So now that you've got some basic information on Bet Tzedek, visit their website this weekend and get involved. And on Monday morning when everyone else is talking about sleeping in and watching tv over the weekend, you can say, "What did I do this weekend? Oh, just the usual -- abolition of slavery."
Do you have a favorite nonprofit you'd like to see featured here? If so, let me know!
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Amanda Kloer
Shelton Green
ECPAT-USA
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International (CATW)
