You see them while walking down the street. Or, while riding the train. Maybe you see them when you’re watching your favorite television show. Advertisements are everywhere, telling us what to wear, where to shop, or who should manage our investment portfolio. But, what if instead of informing our insecurities, they informed our conscience? CAASE is currently developing a poster campaign that would do just that— informing Chicago communities about one of the issues least discussed in our culture: sexual exploitation and human trafficking. These human rights injustices often go unnoticed because people are not informed nor are they aware of the significance of this problem. We aim to change that at CAASE by raising awareness through a variety of venues. Along with working on the eventual launch of a poster campaign, we are working on a theater production called “The Johns,” which addresses the issue of sexual exploitation from the demand side. The play is scheduled to begin its run in May of 2010 at The Viaduct Theater. The performance will be educational, informative, and powerful. Many people are working hard to make this performance a success. It is our hope that the production will impact the audience in a profound and inspiring way.
Coming from a small town in Connecticut, I lived 2 miles from the Paul and Lisa Program, which worked to help survivors of sexual exploitation. Even as I drove past the building everyday, I never knew that this was an organization that sought to help victims of human trafficking or that human trafficking was even an issue in my state. My ignorance about the human rights violations taking place in my own home town shocked me. I began volunteering with the Paul and Lisa Program and now feel an obligation to inform our communities about what they too can do to help victims of forced prostitution. I believe that it is a lack of knowledge and information that causes many people to fear this topic. Much like the Paul and Lisa Program, CAASE is passionately dedicated to working to educate communities about the monstrosities of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
I provide this article as an example of one of the many, contributing factors that prevent people from stopping sexual exploitation and human trafficking:
The invisible victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation
San Diego and Tijuana are facing a growing problem
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Did Someone Say Vagina?
Why yes, yes we did. Vagina Monologues, to be exact. Northeastern Illinois University will be hosting the event on March 9th at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the event for $10. All proceeds will go to CAASE, so please come in support and bring your colleagues, friends, and family! Fun merchandise will be sold at the event, so don’t miss out!
NEIU Feminist Collective Presents: The Vagina Monologues
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Time: 7 – 8:30 PM
Location: NEIU Auditorium
5500 N. Saint Louis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
NEIU Feminist Collective Presents: The Vagina Monologues
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Time: 7 – 8:30 PM
Location: NEIU Auditorium
5500 N. Saint Louis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Is the Super Bowl Fueling Child Sex Trafficking? by Gigi Garber
As reported by CNN correspondent, Emanuella Grinberg, sex-trafficking—even during the Super Bowl—could not be escaped. Volunteers took to the streets on Super Bowl weekend to help inform women in prostitution of alternatives and ways to escape from their current circumstances. During the weekend of the event, several of Miami’s hotels, restaurants, and other businesses experienced a spike in business, as well as a spike in the trafficking of underage girls forced into the sex trade. "Many social service agencies and law enforcement agencies recognize that there was an increase of victims of trafficking during last year's Super Bowl," said Regina Bernadin, Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families. "That correlates with research that whenever there's a convention, a concert or a large event, traffickers will bring girls to the area to serve the influx of visitors," she added. And with them comes an increase in the demand for paid sex.
The majority of the girls being trafficked were underage and from all corners of the country. While the Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year, any large scale social event becomes a playground for pimps and traffickers. In an effort to try and reach out to the victims, state and local law enforcement agencies are teaming up with social service agencies to coordinate nighttime outreaches for girls on the street. Over Super Bowl weekend, small teams of volunteers hit the streets looking for girls from Fort Lauderdale to South Beach, and all the way to Hialeah. Volunteers indicated the hard part isn't locating the girls but finding an opportunity to approach them without drawing the attention of their pimps and traffickers.
The operation was aimed at making contact with girls in prostitution by handing out a card with a hot line number for resources on how to get out of "the life”. Encounters were usually brief in order to keep pimps and traffickers unaware. The response is usually not great, but the few girls that do engage in contact are what motivates volunteers to keep up the effort. The operation is also working with hotels to be aware of sex-trafficking operations that take place on their premises and to report it. Hotels have begun contacting authorities if they suspect that any form of sex-trafficking has occurred on their property. This recent level of cooperation has led to new information on other sex-trafficking rings that otherwise may not have been obtained through police efforts alone.
It is a common misconception that the girls engage in prostitution by choice to make money, and are able to come and go as they please. The epidemic of underage sex trafficking isn't just contained to Super Bowl weekend; victims are still out there come Monday morning. Communities must work together in an effort to become more aware of sex-trafficking, especially around large social events such as Super Bowl weekend. Even if only a few girls are reached every year, it is worth our time and commitment as a community to provide a safety net to those girls suffering in a vicious and exploitative environment, which is a detriment to our youth and society as a whole.
The majority of the girls being trafficked were underage and from all corners of the country. While the Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year, any large scale social event becomes a playground for pimps and traffickers. In an effort to try and reach out to the victims, state and local law enforcement agencies are teaming up with social service agencies to coordinate nighttime outreaches for girls on the street. Over Super Bowl weekend, small teams of volunteers hit the streets looking for girls from Fort Lauderdale to South Beach, and all the way to Hialeah. Volunteers indicated the hard part isn't locating the girls but finding an opportunity to approach them without drawing the attention of their pimps and traffickers.
The operation was aimed at making contact with girls in prostitution by handing out a card with a hot line number for resources on how to get out of "the life”. Encounters were usually brief in order to keep pimps and traffickers unaware. The response is usually not great, but the few girls that do engage in contact are what motivates volunteers to keep up the effort. The operation is also working with hotels to be aware of sex-trafficking operations that take place on their premises and to report it. Hotels have begun contacting authorities if they suspect that any form of sex-trafficking has occurred on their property. This recent level of cooperation has led to new information on other sex-trafficking rings that otherwise may not have been obtained through police efforts alone.
It is a common misconception that the girls engage in prostitution by choice to make money, and are able to come and go as they please. The epidemic of underage sex trafficking isn't just contained to Super Bowl weekend; victims are still out there come Monday morning. Communities must work together in an effort to become more aware of sex-trafficking, especially around large social events such as Super Bowl weekend. Even if only a few girls are reached every year, it is worth our time and commitment as a community to provide a safety net to those girls suffering in a vicious and exploitative environment, which is a detriment to our youth and society as a whole.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Pepsi Refresh Project: Calling All Ideas!
Corporations these days have taken a prominent role in garnering attention for innovative ideas and practices aimed at doing good. Whether at home or abroad, our global world faces issues that all need attention and significant support to entrust a healthy and productive life for every man, woman, and child.
The Pepsi Refresh Project is doing just that. Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals are being solicited by this beloved beverage company to generate innovative ideas making an impact in our world. Accepting 1,000 ideas every month, change-makers of any background can submit a creative idea proposing ways to improve areas of health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods, and education.
The top 10 ideas will win $25K with the help of YOUR VOTE.
Our goal to launch a high school curriculum to raise awareness about sexual exploitation will further our prevention work in educating young people about the sex industry and empower them to take action in combating gender-based violence and exploitative constructs and practices.
Voting ends February 28th, so please help us win this grant by voting here for CAASE: http://www.refresheverything.com/caase. Don’t forget to link your Facebook, Twitter, and all your other social networks to help us get the word out.
The Pepsi Refresh Project is doing just that. Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals are being solicited by this beloved beverage company to generate innovative ideas making an impact in our world. Accepting 1,000 ideas every month, change-makers of any background can submit a creative idea proposing ways to improve areas of health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods, and education.
The top 10 ideas will win $25K with the help of YOUR VOTE.
Our goal to launch a high school curriculum to raise awareness about sexual exploitation will further our prevention work in educating young people about the sex industry and empower them to take action in combating gender-based violence and exploitative constructs and practices.
Voting ends February 28th, so please help us win this grant by voting here for CAASE: http://www.refresheverything.com/caase. Don’t forget to link your Facebook, Twitter, and all your other social networks to help us get the word out.
Say Vagina, Stop the Violence! By Amanda Richter
This Sunday marks the twelfth year of the V-Day Movement. The V-Day Movement began in 1998 with college campuses across the United States putting on a production of the Vagina Monologues: A Memory, a Rant, and a Prayer, originally written by Eve Ensler. Since that time, the V-Day Movement has grown to include countries such as China, Brazil, and South Africa. V-Day focuses not only on the incidence of rape and sexual assault, but also female genital mutilation and the emergence of women’s rights in third world countries.
In 2009, a new production was featured entitled, Any One of Us: Words from Prison, which reveals the connection between incarcerated women and the violence that usually brings them there. The play is a collection of stories from incarcerated women around the world. The Monologues now also includes stories by transgender women.
I am proud to say I was part of the V-Day movement when I was an undergrad at the University of North Texas. We would spend months preparing the play, as well as spreading awareness throughout the campus. We had a lot of opposition from right-wing conservatives who stated the play was pornographic in nature (even though none of them had ever actually seen it). We even made pussy pillows and had artwork to sell at the event. In 2002, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, UNT Chapter, won an award for raising the most money. All of our proceeds were donated to local women’s shelters.
If you have never taken part or seen the Monologues, I highly recommend it. I make it a point to try and see at least one production every year on Valentine’s Day (I even took my boyfriend to see it with me last year). It is a powerful play and reminds all of us that violence against women happens daily and we cannot stop our work in addressing this problem until it ends….
V stands for Valentine, Victory, and VAGINA!!!!!
To find out where the nearest V-Day event is in your hometown, please go to www.events.vday.org.
In 2009, a new production was featured entitled, Any One of Us: Words from Prison, which reveals the connection between incarcerated women and the violence that usually brings them there. The play is a collection of stories from incarcerated women around the world. The Monologues now also includes stories by transgender women.
I am proud to say I was part of the V-Day movement when I was an undergrad at the University of North Texas. We would spend months preparing the play, as well as spreading awareness throughout the campus. We had a lot of opposition from right-wing conservatives who stated the play was pornographic in nature (even though none of them had ever actually seen it). We even made pussy pillows and had artwork to sell at the event. In 2002, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, UNT Chapter, won an award for raising the most money. All of our proceeds were donated to local women’s shelters.
If you have never taken part or seen the Monologues, I highly recommend it. I make it a point to try and see at least one production every year on Valentine’s Day (I even took my boyfriend to see it with me last year). It is a powerful play and reminds all of us that violence against women happens daily and we cannot stop our work in addressing this problem until it ends….
V stands for Valentine, Victory, and VAGINA!!!!!
To find out where the nearest V-Day event is in your hometown, please go to www.events.vday.org.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Incest: The Private and Unspoken Trauma of Children by Amanda Richter
For anyone who has watched Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew or has read Mackenzie Phillips’ book, “High on Arrival,” you would know she has had a very troubled life that has been plagued by years of substance abuse. What many people did not know, until a recent interview on Oprah, is that Ms. Phillips is a survivor of incest. Although she admitted the abuse was consensual, one must consider the effect that drugs had on her perception of the situation.
Mackenzie’s story is not unlike many others who have grown up with a terrible secret. To cope, many of those suffering abuse turn to drugs and alcohol. As a future clinician and someone who plans to work closely with this population, I feel it is only right to bring their stories to the forefront as well as speak to their treatment needs.
On December 12, 2009, an 11-year-old girl gave birth to a baby. About a month later, DNA results revealed the father to be the 11-year-old’s step-father. The girl admitted to authorities that her step-father had been abusing her since the age of six (story published in the Houston Chronicle on January 29, 2010).
I began volunteering at CAASE in October of 2009. Shortly thereafter, I met Ms. X (name changed to protect identity). Ms. X stated she was a survivor of incest and was looking for resources in her home state of Pennsylvania in order to begin a therapeutic group for incest survivors in her area. I began searching and referred her to many national organizations such as RAINN and the Human Rights Council; however, each agency that Ms. X got in contact with told her they could not do much for her due to her lack of formal training or the absence of “letters” behind her name,.
She then began to contact local news outlets to get her story out, but was again met with resistance. Many of the newspapers did not want to cover a story about incest which lead Ms. X to think the issue of incest is America’s dirty little secret.
In 2008, 3% of all rape/sexual assault offenders were relatives of female victims while 18% were the intimate partner of the victim (US Department of Justice, 2009). In 1992, the Bureau of Justice Statistics conducted a study of child rape victims in twelve states (Langan & Harlow, 1994). The results stated that 46% of children under the age of twelve were raped by a family member. 70% of inmates admitted to raping a family member under the age of twelve (Langan & Harlow, 1994).
I guess my most pressing question is, “why have we not updated this study?” I would think law enforcement agencies would want to see whether or not these numbers have gone down in the past eighteen years. It would be very interesting to see how many of the victims who participated in this study grew up to have any type of drug and/or alcohol abuse issues. Several studies conducted through the years show a correlation between substance abuse and incest (e.g. Dembo, Williams, Schneider, Berry, Wothke, Geteru, Wish, and Christiensen, 1992; Jarvis, Copeland, and Walton, 1998).
Now is the time to step up and help victims of incest, whether children or adults. The resistance Ms. X is receiving is not right and we as clinicians must put an end to this injustice.
For further reading:
Dembo, R., Williams, L., Schneider, J., Berry E., Wothke, W., Getreu, A., Wish, E.D., &
Christensen, C. (1992). A structural model examining the relationship between physical child abuse, sexual victimization, and marijuana/hashish use in delinquent youth: A longitudinal study, Violence and Victims, 7, 41-62.
Jarvis, T.J., Copeland, J., & Walton, L. (1998). Exploring the nature of the relationship
between child sexual abuse and substance abuse among women. Addiction, 93, 865-875.
Langan, P.A., & Harlow, C. (1994). Child rape victims, 1992. US Department of
Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics: Washington, DC.
For all Crime Stats, please visit:
bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/
Mackenzie’s story is not unlike many others who have grown up with a terrible secret. To cope, many of those suffering abuse turn to drugs and alcohol. As a future clinician and someone who plans to work closely with this population, I feel it is only right to bring their stories to the forefront as well as speak to their treatment needs.
On December 12, 2009, an 11-year-old girl gave birth to a baby. About a month later, DNA results revealed the father to be the 11-year-old’s step-father. The girl admitted to authorities that her step-father had been abusing her since the age of six (story published in the Houston Chronicle on January 29, 2010).
I began volunteering at CAASE in October of 2009. Shortly thereafter, I met Ms. X (name changed to protect identity). Ms. X stated she was a survivor of incest and was looking for resources in her home state of Pennsylvania in order to begin a therapeutic group for incest survivors in her area. I began searching and referred her to many national organizations such as RAINN and the Human Rights Council; however, each agency that Ms. X got in contact with told her they could not do much for her due to her lack of formal training or the absence of “letters” behind her name,.
She then began to contact local news outlets to get her story out, but was again met with resistance. Many of the newspapers did not want to cover a story about incest which lead Ms. X to think the issue of incest is America’s dirty little secret.
In 2008, 3% of all rape/sexual assault offenders were relatives of female victims while 18% were the intimate partner of the victim (US Department of Justice, 2009). In 1992, the Bureau of Justice Statistics conducted a study of child rape victims in twelve states (Langan & Harlow, 1994). The results stated that 46% of children under the age of twelve were raped by a family member. 70% of inmates admitted to raping a family member under the age of twelve (Langan & Harlow, 1994).
I guess my most pressing question is, “why have we not updated this study?” I would think law enforcement agencies would want to see whether or not these numbers have gone down in the past eighteen years. It would be very interesting to see how many of the victims who participated in this study grew up to have any type of drug and/or alcohol abuse issues. Several studies conducted through the years show a correlation between substance abuse and incest (e.g. Dembo, Williams, Schneider, Berry, Wothke, Geteru, Wish, and Christiensen, 1992; Jarvis, Copeland, and Walton, 1998).
Now is the time to step up and help victims of incest, whether children or adults. The resistance Ms. X is receiving is not right and we as clinicians must put an end to this injustice.
For further reading:
Dembo, R., Williams, L., Schneider, J., Berry E., Wothke, W., Getreu, A., Wish, E.D., &
Christensen, C. (1992). A structural model examining the relationship between physical child abuse, sexual victimization, and marijuana/hashish use in delinquent youth: A longitudinal study, Violence and Victims, 7, 41-62.
Jarvis, T.J., Copeland, J., & Walton, L. (1998). Exploring the nature of the relationship
between child sexual abuse and substance abuse among women. Addiction, 93, 865-875.
Langan, P.A., & Harlow, C. (1994). Child rape victims, 1992. US Department of
Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics: Washington, DC.
For all Crime Stats, please visit:
bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Justice: What Faith and Love Look Like in Public by Karen Beilstein
Many faith traditions around the world are rooted in the concepts of love, compassion, kindness, and charity. These values are the foundation on which the faithful take leadership roles in social justice efforts. With a long history of striving to make the world better for all who live here, we believe that Jewish, Protestant, Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu and so many other faith communities can play a key role in helping to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
On January 14, 2010, CAASE partnered with Illinois Rescue and Restore Coalition to present a faith-based Human Trafficking Training to engage faith communities in the Chicago area on issues surrounding human trafficking locally, nationally and internationally, and how faith communities can get involved to end such activity. Representatives from the Salvation Army’s STOP-IT initiative and the International Organization for Adolescents presented information at the gathering as well, making it an especially informative and engaging resource for communities of faith.
Many faith groups have taken up the cause of anti-slavery, becoming advocates for those entrenched in a perverse and exploitative system as modern-day slaves. Christian denominations, Jewish organizations, Catholic sisterhoods and countless others have all made statements against the atrocities involved with human trafficking.
I encourage you to find out what your faith tradition is doing and to consider how you can get involved. While a movement towards heightened awareness and progressive action has increasingly become apparent for many in their places of worship, there is still an urgent need for more of us to make a real difference.
Below are just a few examples of faith traditions that have made statements and begun efforts towards ending modern-day slavery. Please share with us your faith tradition’s efforts. We would love to link to your work.
Temple Committee Against Human Trafficking http://www.templemontreal.ca/
Evangelical Covenant Church http://www.covchurch.org/humantrafficking
Vineyard USA http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/task-forces/justice-response
Evangelical Lutheran Church http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Messages/Commercial-Sexual-Exploitation.aspx
In addition, we offer to faith groups our newly created Communities of Faith Toolkits. We currently have Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant versions. We hope to have more versions soon in order to include and reach as many congregations as possible.
The purpose of the toolkits is to educate congregation members about the harms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and work with them to identify ways to take action towards effective change.
The toolkits have information on prostitution and human trafficking and explains how they are related. There are also religious texts with responses and questions that can be used to help explore issues surrounding prostitution in a way that is spiritually relevant to your community, practical action steps that can be taken to eliminate the exploitation of people, a section of specific groups related to your faith that have taken positions against sexual exploitation, lists of related films and books to check out, and lists of organizations—both faith-based and secular—that are involved in working to end sexual harm.
What are some things you can do right now?
1. Continue learning about the issue – read books and websites, watch films, visit learning forums at local events.
2. Host a discussion with a survivor or expert on the issue. To schedule a representative from the Speakers Bureau to come and speak to your faith group, contact Grace Yi at gyi@caase.org.
3. Host a movie screening for your congregation. For film recommendations, visit http://www.caase.org/resources_films.html
4. Address the issue in a sermon or homily.
5. Build a relationship with your local government leaders – alderman, mayor, council members, senators, representatives.
6. Donate to and/or volunteer at your local organization.
7. Pray.
8. Contact us for more ideas (gyi@caase.org) and request our toolkit .
Prostitution and human trafficking are a violation of human rights that occur in neighborhoods all over Chicago and throughout Illinois. As long as people remain unaware of the extent and root cause of sexual exploitation, the violence and harm experienced by victims will continue to grow. Faith communities can be a vehicle for both awareness-raising and advocacy.
On January 14, 2010, CAASE partnered with Illinois Rescue and Restore Coalition to present a faith-based Human Trafficking Training to engage faith communities in the Chicago area on issues surrounding human trafficking locally, nationally and internationally, and how faith communities can get involved to end such activity. Representatives from the Salvation Army’s STOP-IT initiative and the International Organization for Adolescents presented information at the gathering as well, making it an especially informative and engaging resource for communities of faith.
Many faith groups have taken up the cause of anti-slavery, becoming advocates for those entrenched in a perverse and exploitative system as modern-day slaves. Christian denominations, Jewish organizations, Catholic sisterhoods and countless others have all made statements against the atrocities involved with human trafficking.
I encourage you to find out what your faith tradition is doing and to consider how you can get involved. While a movement towards heightened awareness and progressive action has increasingly become apparent for many in their places of worship, there is still an urgent need for more of us to make a real difference.
Below are just a few examples of faith traditions that have made statements and begun efforts towards ending modern-day slavery. Please share with us your faith tradition’s efforts. We would love to link to your work.
Temple Committee Against Human Trafficking http://www.templemontreal.ca/
Evangelical Covenant Church http://www.covchurch.org/humantrafficking
Vineyard USA http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/task-forces/justice-response
Evangelical Lutheran Church http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Messages/Commercial-Sexual-Exploitation.aspx
In addition, we offer to faith groups our newly created Communities of Faith Toolkits. We currently have Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant versions. We hope to have more versions soon in order to include and reach as many congregations as possible.
The purpose of the toolkits is to educate congregation members about the harms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and work with them to identify ways to take action towards effective change.
The toolkits have information on prostitution and human trafficking and explains how they are related. There are also religious texts with responses and questions that can be used to help explore issues surrounding prostitution in a way that is spiritually relevant to your community, practical action steps that can be taken to eliminate the exploitation of people, a section of specific groups related to your faith that have taken positions against sexual exploitation, lists of related films and books to check out, and lists of organizations—both faith-based and secular—that are involved in working to end sexual harm.
What are some things you can do right now?
1. Continue learning about the issue – read books and websites, watch films, visit learning forums at local events.
2. Host a discussion with a survivor or expert on the issue. To schedule a representative from the Speakers Bureau to come and speak to your faith group, contact Grace Yi at gyi@caase.org.
3. Host a movie screening for your congregation. For film recommendations, visit http://www.caase.org/resources_films.html
4. Address the issue in a sermon or homily.
5. Build a relationship with your local government leaders – alderman, mayor, council members, senators, representatives.
6. Donate to and/or volunteer at your local organization.
7. Pray.
8. Contact us for more ideas (gyi@caase.org) and request our toolkit .
Prostitution and human trafficking are a violation of human rights that occur in neighborhoods all over Chicago and throughout Illinois. As long as people remain unaware of the extent and root cause of sexual exploitation, the violence and harm experienced by victims will continue to grow. Faith communities can be a vehicle for both awareness-raising and advocacy.
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