Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Be Smart...Be safe. Human Trafficking

Jess and I are starting a charity to help stop child trafficking and sexual exploitation. We have realized what a lack of awareness there is in the general public. Other than the movie 'Taken' most people know little about child trafficking and that it is taking place right here in Canada and the US.

Right now the RCMP believes there are 600 to 800 people sold as slaves in Canada. Roughly 70% for sexual explotation. The State Department in the US believes there are 15,000 to 18,000 sold to Americans per year.

How to protect your children and others. Step 1: Start your Education (See links below). Step 2: Educate your kids appropriately. Family Home Evening is a great time to learn about stranger safety, modesty, and to do role playing as a family. Sidenote: A Calgary PD officer told me it is better to teach your child to yell "Stranger!! Stranger!!" if in danger and run, rather than yelling for mom or dad. Because hearing a scarred child yell "stranger" will immediately get the attention of other around.

Most concerning is girls, ages 12 to 16, who kiddnapped while visiting cities other than their hometown, where they are more easily lurred into more vulnerable situations. Jess and I are working on organinzing a curriculum to teach parents how to protect againest child trafficker and online child pretadors (facebook, myspace, chatrooms). While crossing the boarder last year to Montana, a boarder patrol officer told me that they are seeing a rise in kidnappings of young children (toddlers and preschoolers) who are taken across the boarder to be sold and after which shipped to the Middle East and Asia.



CLICK Links Below:



(click graph to Enlarge)

3 comments:

MARTHA said...

wow!

Amber said...

Wow! What a heroic thing to do! So many people talk about helping for things like this, and you guys are actually doing something! I want to be like you when I grow up!

Andrea said...

Thank you for raising awareness. I have some close froends that have started " The Gray Haven Project" that is also raising awareness.