human trafficking: modern day practice of slavery

I remember listening to the news when I was in highschool and hearing about a sex-trade ring that had been busted in a small town a few hours away from San Antonio. Men who smuggled illegal aliens from Mexico promised women they would take them safely across the border. Once arriving in the US, they told the women they needed more money to let them go and that they would have to "work off" the rest of their debt to the smugglers. These women were found locked in bedrooms in a house and no one new how long they had been held as prostitutes there. I can't even imagine sneaking across the border in hopes and excitement on a new life and second chance to only find myself locked up to be raped and abused by men at their whim with no glimmer of freedom on the other side. This was the first time I ever realized that human trafficking and modern day slavery was a huge problem right here in the U.S. and is the second largest criminal industry in the world.

My friend Jaya recently went to a human trafficking conference here in Denver and she was blown away by how widespread this problem is and how many people are entangled in it.

Here are two things to check out...

Polaris Project- for facts and info on that state of human trafficking in the U.S.- the facts on the first page are really eye-opening. They are also looking for volunteers to help hang posters and pass out info for their Slavery Still Exists awareness campaign on August 23 in Denver.

Street's Hope- a way to be involved right here in Denver. Streets Hope is a ministry that serves and provides an escape for women who have been involved in the sex for sale industry.