Testing

Hi Everyone,

I am testing my blog to see if you receive this post. I have heard from several people that they have not been receiving my posts. Please let me know if you receive this.

Thank you and have a great afternoon. There will be more trafficking alerts to come.

Best,
Shelley

Sign up Now for Stop Modern Slavery Walk!

Dear Friends,

I encourage you to sign up now for the Stop Modern Slavery Walk taking place on October 23rd. Please see the announcement below and pass along to your networks. We CAN make a difference on this issue!

Best,
Shelley

The countdown is on for the Walk to Stop Modern Slavery! We have:

1379 walkers
130 teams
35 partner NGOs
12 sponsors
Over $66,000 raised for non-profits

And 6 days to go!

Please continue to recruit friends and family to join us in spirit if not body! We need walkers and supporters: Help us reach 2000 walkers!

“One Day, One Time, One Voice for the Voiceless”


Walk with us to Stop Modern Slavery!
October 23, 2010
National Mall - Lincoln Memorial
REGISTER NOW: http://walk.stopmodernslavery.org

Craig's List takes down Adult Services

Hi Everyone,

I think this is a critically important step in the right direction. If anything, this sends the right message to traffickers, that people are watching and will not stand for blatant abuses of human rights. While this is certainly a positive move, I feel that it is also crucial for the US government to continue to recognize this problem inside their own borders and provide both public awareness and funding to social service agencies to assist victims.

Please see the article below.

Craigslist dumps 'adult service' adverts

By Maggie Shiels Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley

Craigslist was started in 1995 as a hobby by founder Craig Newmark

The online marketplace Craigslist has closed the controversial "adult services" listing in the US.

The company has not said why it took the decision, but it has faced an ongoing barrage of criticism from attorneys general and advocacy groups.

They have claimed the listing was a virtual tool for pimps and prostitutes.

The section has now been replaced with a black and white bar that reads "censored". An "erotic" service is still active outside the US.

A statement from Craigslist executives is expected in the coming days.

'Threat to women and children'

Continue reading the main story

Related stories

• Craigslist responds to sex claims
• Craigslist boss defends website

Last year the San Francisco based company removed its "erotic services" section and replaced it with a fee-based adult category in response to pressure from 40 state attorneys general.

It also adopted a policy of screening every advert.

In a May blog post, Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster said Craigslist had "gone beyond fulfilling its legal obligations". The site was "a leader in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation," he said.

But critics continued to accuse the firm of helping to facilitate child prostitution.

The listings came under renewed scrutiny after the suicide in prison last month of a former medical student who was awaiting trial in the killing of a masseuse he met through Craigslist.

In early August a paid advert appeared in the Washington Post from two women appealing for the closure of the adult services section. One said she had been forced into prostitution at the age of 11, with the jobs organised through Craigslist.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Internet services may accelerate and exacerbate some social problems like prostitution, but they rarely cause them”

End Quote Evan Hansen Wired

And last week in a joint letter to Craigslist, 17 attorneys general said women and children would "continue to be victimised in the market and trafficking provided by Craigslist".

'Easy target'

The latest move by Craigslist to close down the service was welcomed by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a persistent critic of both the erotic and adult listings.

"We welcome any steps toward eliminating the adult services section and prostitution ads on Craigslist, as we have urged, and we are seeking to verify the site's official policy going forward," he said.

"If Craigslist is doing the right thing voluntarily in response to our coalition of attorneys general, it could set an example for others."

But in the blogosphere there has been broad support for Craigslist's position.

"It is surely, though, splendidly naive to think Craigslist would somehow be alone in providing a forum for prostitution ads," said Chris Matyszczyk on the news blog CNET.com.

"However, Craigslist is in the unfortunate position of being high-profile and successful and has become a very easy target in what is a far more complex and nuanced issue than the attorneys general are making out."

And at Wired, Evan Hansen said: "Internet services may accelerate and exacerbate some social problems like prostitution, but they rarely cause them. The root of these issues - and their solutions - lie in the realm of public policy, not web sites."

Please sign up to walk!

Total Donations : $4,572

Welcome to DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk

On October 23, 2010, thousands of people will gather on the National Mall for the DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk, a united effort to celebrate human rights, raise awareness about human trafficking, and raise funds for organizations working to end human trafficking. It’s One day, One place, and One Voice for the Voiceless! This event will include: A 3.1 mile walk Information fair Luminary speakers Live music A shorter family walk A family-friendly area It will be the largest anti-human trafficking event in DC history! Join us to help build a better world and bring light to an issue that thrives in darkness. This event is organized entirely by community volunteers. No one on the organizing team is paid. 100% of money raised will go to organizations that combat human trafficking and care for victims.

States Take Action to Stop Trafficking

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/18/AR2010071801839_pf.html

Blue Campaign by ICE (Immigrations and Custom Enforcement)

Dear Friends,

It has been some time since I have updated this blog and I apologize for my absence. With that being said, I wanted to make everyone aware of a new campaign called the Blue Campaign that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put in place. This is a widespread effort to continue informing the public about trafficking and create a united front of law enforcement to fight this horrendous crime. Please go to the link below to read more about this effort.


Never take your freedom for granted and always fight for those that do not have it!

http://media-newswire.com/release_1122956.html

Haiti and Human Trafficking

For those of you that are not aware of the situation of child trafficking in Haiti, I wanted to include an important news update below. The situation was critical before, but is now even worse. Please take the time to click on the link below and take action to get involved. Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.

http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=7928