S.T.O.P. - Stop Trafficking Of People will attend the 4th World Forum on Human Rights, at Cité Nantes Events Center (France), on 28 & 29 June, 2010.

S.T.O.P.’s President, Celhia de Lavarène, will dedicate her book “A Visa to Hell”.

Forum’s Programme: http://www.spidh.org/index.php?id=1&L=3

With the highly anticipated Soccer World Cup in South Africa starting tomorrow there is growing concern that the event will be used for human trafficking. According toThe Christian Post, between 40,000 and 100,000 people may be trafficked during the World Cup where some 350,000 visitors from 53 countries are expected to attend the event. It is estimated that women and children could earn $45 to $600 a night for their captors.

South Africa has not passed the anti-trafficking law that it had promised to fast track before the start of the tournament.

Human trafficking is a violation of human rights and Stop Trafficking Of People Inc. condemns the impending catastrophe that is being visited upon tens of thousands of women and children.

Celhia between Irena from Ukraine, and Raluca, 15 years old, from Romania in front of a UN helicopter who flew them to Sarajevo. They are the ones who wanted the photo. You can’t see it but they have a big smile on their faces: they are free.

 

On September 29 I received a message on Facebook from a young girl, Irena, who wanted to be my friend. As always when I don’t know the person, I asked her to explain to me who she was. Here is what I got in return: “Hello! My name is Irena. I’m from Ukraine. We met in Sarajevo, during a trial, in 2001. Do you remember me?

“At first I did not remember who she was, so I asked her for more information.

After a few minutes she responded:

“We met in a town named Brchko. I was a witness in a court against ….. I have a photo of us together. I will send it to you and it will bring back memories. I always keep it with me in a small box. I will send it to you tomorrow. I now live in Ukraine, I’m married. We have a family business.”

The photo came today with a little note: “ Here is the photo. I so wanted to find you. For the difficult times I went through and you helped me, thank you. It is a happy day for me.”

To look at the photo almost brought me to tears  This was one of the hundreds of young girls we rescued in Bosnia eight years ago, now living a full and happy life.  As recently as last week I was so discouraged that I had thought of quiting. And there she was, telling me how much I changed her life. I take it as a signal to continue the fight in the name of so many others Irena.

Thank you Irena (not her real name).

Summer has ended. We hope that each of you had a good rest.

For us it was both a time to rest and a time to meet new people:  people who believe in our fight; young people, sometimes very young and full of passion.  They firmly believe that sexual slavery is one of the major violations of human rights in our time.  They are shocked and disappointed that the issue has been so ignored by the very governments that actually ratified the treaty against human trafficking. We want to remind those governments that when they signed the treaty they assumed certain obligations. If they take no action, signing the treaty becomes an empty and futile gesture.

Until recently we had intended to open our first Rescue Center in Bosnia before the end of 2009. Unfortunately we have been forced to postpone the opening. The reason is simple: we do not have sufficient funds.   The financial crisis affected us like everyone else and major donations that we had been promised were postponed.  To open and operate the first STOP Rescue Center in Bosnia, we need to raise $500,000/350.000 Euros. This money will allow us to rent and furnish premises for a shelter and office and to hire staff.  At present almost 100% of the money we raise goes directly to STOP activities. Our executive staff currently work unpaid.

The Rescue Center will serve as the office for STOP experts and will have 2 or 3 rooms, each with 2 or 3 beds, to accommodate the worst cases who cannot go to government shelters. Our goal is not only to offer support services to victims from the moment of their rescue - such as medical help, psychological counseling and temporary refuge to keep the victims out of the local jails – but also to offer classes in English, computing and other skills to ease the transition to a normal life back home.

The idea is simple:  self-empowerment to fight re-victimization.

We are deeply sorry that we have had to change our plan. We do know how urgent it is: while we are waiting for the money to come, young kids, young girls and women are beaten, drugged, tortured to force them to become sexual slaves to the depraved men whom one could only reluctantly describe as human beings.

However, we ask all our supporters not to despair. We are still confident that our cause will advance.  We hope the delay will only be a matter of months. We will continue to fight and we feel fortified by the many young people who write to us and offer to help, whether with fundraising or by alerting the public about STOP and its work.  We are confident that STOP will eventually become to the issue of sex trafficking what Doctors Without Borders is to medical crises in disaster areas and poverty-stricken regions: the premier international organization fighting this most despicable form of human bondage.

We would like to thank each of our supporters because they continually restore our faith.

We come across so many high-ranking officials who are prompt to praise us, prompt to promise help, but who then abjectly fail to keep their word.  Politicians are so good at making empty promises.  If just one of them had the guts to come see the victims, maybe they would respond with more than just feel-good rhetoric.

In the meantime we would like to single out those who do follow-through.

One is Anna Balkan, the young Atlanta-based jewelry designer who created a necklace for STOP.

She has been busy organizing our first-ever US fundraising event.  We will let you know the date for the event as soon as the details are finalized.

While she waits for the necessary permits and insurance, Anna is also focusing on raising funds and awareness though on-line marketing and in the press.  Everything that Anna has collected so far to be offered for auction will soon be posted on STOP’s Facebook page.
Anna is looking for volunteers to assist her with the event. If you live in the area of Atlanta and are willing to help, please contact her: anna@ilidesigns.com

Anna’s necklace will soon be on sale in Paris – we will make an announcement when the stock arrives.  You can contact Elodie Broussard who is joining the staff of STOP at:  elodie.broussard@stopinternational.org

Another supporter we would like to single out is Amy Miller, a young American girl who came to New York to give us $500 she received as a birthday gift. To get more information on Amy’s generous gesture, please read our last blog.

Among the people Celhia met this summer was Homeyra Sellier, President of Innocence in Danger, an organization that fights to protect children from pedophiles. They met on July 30th in Geneva, Switzerland. Homeyra is exploring the idea of allying with existing NGOs, which is why she contacted STOP.  Our discussions are ongoing.

STOP is still looking for young students willing to give some of their time to help with updating our blog and website. We need you. Do not hesitate to contact us.

As a reminder: New York City is America’s biggest port of entry for human trafficking. 12.3 million Adults and children are enslaved at any given time all over the world -1.39 Million are trafficked into sexual exploitation. An estimated 800,000 people are illegally trafficked through international borders every year. In the US alone 17,500 people are trafficked into slavery as prostitutes, farm hands, factory workers and domestic servants annually.

We are pleased to share with you the e-mail we received last June. It came from a High school student who has decided to host a birthday party/fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds raised, set to go to STOP.

“Good Afternoon to you.  My name is Gabi Vaccaro. I’m a senior at St. Petersburg High School. For my senior year community service project I’m helping a friend raise money for your organization. We have a shared passion to do what we can to stop human trafficking.  She is having a big b-day party. She has lots of friends and knows a ton of people. So during the party she hopes to display some of your organization information.  The goal is to raise money for your non-profit.  Can’t promise lots of money but will promise a greater awareness in our community based on our efforts.”

We wish Francesca, whose birthday is July 18, a beautiful birthday

The necklace itself represents a continuous transofrmation and interconnection of all life.

Each circle has a deep meaning:

-Top circle is hammered and even though it is still a whole circle it looks as is “damaged or broken” just as a girl, a child is taken from her home, abused and broken on the inside and outside, no understanding of humanity, love, life- just a basic will to survive…worthless.

- Second circle is a beginning of the transformation. The circle is smooth and has a satin finish (not shiny), just as a girl who is rescued may smile from the outside, but has no concept of beauty or love, feels damaged and discarded.

-Last circle is a hope of recovery and a promise of a future. It represents a girl who has recovered and no longer sees herself as a victim. She is beautiful on the inside and outside, strong and new.

The necklace can be worn 3 different ways from short to sideways:

Silver or Gold Plated version available:

Retail $ 158 ($ 100 will benefit Stop Trafficking Of People)

Unisex version Gunmetal finish 20”

Retail $ 69 ($50 will benefit Stop Trafficking Of People)

Anna Balkan  is a Ukrainian born. “I feel lucky and privileged to helps girls who had fallen victims of human trafficking.”

Learn more about Anna Balkan & Ili Designs

Support STOP

Angola: Source country for a small but significant number of women and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation.

Argentina: Source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. Most victims are trafficked within the country, from rural to urban areas. Child sex tourism is a problem, particularly in the tri-border area. Argentine women and girls are trafficked to neighboring countries, Mexico, and Western Europe. Foreign women and children, primarily from Paraguay, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic, are trafficked to Argentina. Argentina is also a transit point for foreign women and girls trafficked to Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Western Europe.

Armenia: Primarily a source country for women and girls trafficked to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Turkey for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. According to the OSCE, there has been documented case of Ukrainian and Russian women trafficked to Armenia. Victims trafficked to the U.A.E. usually fly to Dubai from Yerevan or via Moscow; the trafficking route to Turkey is generally via bus through Georgia. Armenian law enforcement reports indicate that destination countries include Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Australia: Destination country for women from Southeast Asia, South Korea, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.). Many trafficked victims are women who traveled to Australia voluntarily to work in both legal and illegal brothels, but were subject to conditions of debt bondage or involuntary servitude.

Focus on:

Afghanistan: Source, transit and destination countr. Afghan women and young girls are trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, internally and to Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and elsewhere in the Gulf. Afghanistan is also a destination for women and girls from China, Iran, and Tajikistan. Tajik women and children are also believed to be trafficked through Afghanistan to Pakistan and Iran for commercial sexual exploitation

Albania:  Source country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. It is no longer considered a major country of transit. Albanian victims are trafficked to Greece, Italy, Macedonia, and Kosovo, with many trafficked onward to Western European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. Approximately half of all Albanian trafficking victims are under age 18. Internal sex trafficking of women and children is on the rise.

Algeria:  Transit country for men and women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. These men and women often enter Algeria voluntarily, but illegally, with the assistance of smugglers. Once in Algeria, however, women are coerced into commercial sexual exploitation to pay off smuggling debts.

The STOP team would like to apologize for our long silence:  we were extremely busy building up new contacts, exploring ways and means to raise funds. From now on, we will keep you posted as events transpire and the news warrants.

Flash:

In November 2008, we were pleased to let you know that Cyprus had abolished the artiste visa, a loophole exploited for trafficking. Unfortunately we celebrated too soon. As we examined the results after the abolition of the artiste visa, it became apparent that it had only been window dressing: girls are still coming in through other means. We are urging the government of Cyprus to make drastic changes, especially to meet its obligations as a member of the EU. News:

Célhia de Lavarène was in France to participate in the first Day to Fight Human Trafficking held in Paris on March 4th, organized by the NGO G.I.P.F.  John O’Reilly and Didier Duret, two police officers who are former members of STOP-Bosnia attended the conference and talked about their experience in the field helping to rescue victims of trafficking.

Rama Yade, the French Secretary of State for Human Rights, who has long supported our cause, was unable to attend the conference, but she delegated her cabinet chief, Jean-Bernard Bolvin to represent her. Madame de Lavarène and Jean-Bernard Bolvin met a few days later at the Quai d’Orsay, to discuss the opening of our first center, which should take place at the end of 2009. During her Paris tour, Célhia had the opportunity to meet with a lot of people who are interested in helping STOP.

Anna Balkan, a young jewelry designer, has joined our cause and created a special necklace. The profit from sales of this necklace will go to STOP.  Ms Balkan is now calling upon the fashion community to join the campaign: “The fashion community has stepped in to show that we can bring our creative talents and our interpretation of the issue to our designs.”  The necklace Anna designed is called the Circles of Life, and is intended to represent the transformation victims of human trafficking go through: a hammered circle at the top represents lost innocence and self worth. A satin finish circle is next and represents a beginning of the transformation for these girls, the start of the road to recovery. The last circle is shiny and represents regeneration and the rediscovery of both inner and outer beauty.  The necklace should be purchased online pretty soon.

Dear friends of STOP,

To a large number, the sex slave trade is perceived as a problem of countries in conflict. This naïveté masks the truth that the sex slave trade exists and flourishes in “civilized” countries too. Although the roots of human trafficking can often be found in the socio-economic crises of the victims’ native lands, the trade in human flesh is facilitated by discrimination and indifference – and these are prevalent throughout the world. What the victims of the sex slave trade endure is an affront to human dignity and challenges the morality of every nation, every race and every community.

We have decided to examine and showcase the state of human trafficking on our blog, nation by nation. For those of you who do not have the time to log on to our website, we will choose one or two countries on which to focus for our newsletters. This month, the focus is on France.
Upcoming Events:

In November Celhia de Lavarene, the founder of STOP, will be traveling to Paris where she will be meeting with members of the National Assembly who, under the impetus of Henriette Martinez (MP for the Haute-Alpes departement), have shown in interest in our cause. The aim of the conference is to identify the best fundraising methods so that we will finally be able to open our support centers.

In London Celhia will be opening a bank account for STOP at the Lloyd’s Bank.

In Nicosia she will be attending and participating in an international conference on the sex slave trade, sponsored by such organizations as STOP, the Anti-trafficking Movement, l’ACEES and Friends of Humanity. The conference will be held from November 19-21. Celhia will moderate at a round table discussion and will discourse on the global state of human trafficking.

The Good News:

We are thrilled to announce that Henriette Martinez (MP for the Hautes-Alpes departement) has agreed to join our STOP Board of Directors.

Our new website is fully operational and we would like to extend a huge thank you to Benoit Bacuvier, a young businessman for Snow Globe. Despite the long hours he spends at work, he still gave his time to work on and update our website – this was an invaluable gift, and we are so thankful.

Sonia Rykiel, a long-time supporter of women’s rights, and Nathalie, her daughter, have offered to become a sponsor and invested themselves in our cause and displayed “Un Visa Pour l’Enfer” in their boutique window on the Boulevard St-Germain, Paris.

Flash Back:

In November of 2007, Celhia was in Nicosia to attend a conference on human trafficking and met Brenda, a young woman from Colombia who had been lured to Cyprus with the promise of a well-paying job only to find herself forced into prostitution in a nightclub. At the first chance she escaped, and with the help of an orthodox priest, found refuge in the only shelter on the island.

Brenda recently sent a note to Celhia, and to others who helped her. We are proud to relay her message in her own words:

“I want to make you participant of my new course in my life.
I am very pleased to inform you that I have been accepted as a full-time student for the Bachelor Degree in Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing at the University of Nicosia for the fall semester 2008.
I start classes on next Monday.
Thank you for doing of this desire a fact.”

Translation:

“I wanted to inform you that I have been admitted to the University of Nicosia, where I’ll be pursuing a degree in public relations, communications and marketing. I’ve started my classes. Thank you for having helped me to turn my wish into reality.”

Breaking News:

The Cypriot Minister of the Interior, Mr. Silikiotis, abolished the artist visa. He had promised Celhia a year ago, on her trip to the island, that he would do so. Remember that the artist visa was issued by unscrupulous immigration officials and used towards the end of forced prostitution.

Focus on France:

France is a destination country. Romania, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Cameroon, and other nations in Eastern Europe and Africa are the primary source countries for women trafficked for sexual exploitation, although some South American and Asian women are also trafficked to France. According the US State Department, a majority of the estimated 18,000 women in France’s commercial sex trade are likely victims of trafficking. Romania and Bulgaria are the primary source countries for men trafficked to France for sexual exploitation. There are reports that French Guiana is a destination for women and children trafficked from Brazil for sexual exploitation.

Article 225 of the French penal code states that human traffickers will face 7-20 years in prison, and fines of 150,000 to 3 million euros (the more severe penalties are for those operating in an organized trafficking ring). However, judges have a tendency to treat these criminals with the charges for procuring rather than for sexual slavery.

All of us at STOP thank you for your support and interest in our cause. More than ever, we need your help.