Women's History Month
/Written by Katrina Tamez, Grants Manager
Historically, women have been considered second-class citizens. They have been diminished, fetishized, minimized, and exploited. Despite this, women have overcome opposition to do exceptional things, live fascinating lives, and blaze trails for a better, more equitable future. Although women and girls represent 96% of people trafficked for sexual exploitation (ICAT, 2017) they are powerful and efficient, often playing a key role in the fight against human trafficking.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we want to highlight women who have greatly progressed the fight against human trafficking:
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In 2002, Katherine Chon co-founded Polaris, one of the leading organizations combating human trafficking, has the largest known U.S. data set on actual human trafficking experiences, and runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline. She worked at the organization for nine years, serving as its president for almost four years. Chon is currently the Director at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Trafficking in Persons.
Secretary Janet Napolitano launched the Department of Homeland Security’s “Blue Campaign” in 2010. The Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign intended to assist service providers, law enforcement agencies, and the public to better understand human trafficking indicators and how to respond to this crime. During her career, Napolitano served as the Governor of the State of Arizona where she was the first woman to chair the National Governors Association. As chairman, Napolitano was instrumental in creating the Public Safety Task Force.
As a key member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking with the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Marlene Carson, is one of America’s foremost authorities on the subject of human trafficking. A survivor herself, Dr. Carson is an Author, Publisher, Founder of Rahab’s Hideaway, Founder of Black Leaders Against Sex Trafficking (BLAST), and CEO of The Switch Anti-Trafficking Network. Dr. Carson has received many awards and commendations including President Barack Obama’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Like Chon, Napolitano, and Carson, at New Friends New Life, we utilize the power of collaboration and the impact that collective action can have on the issue of sex trafficking. We enable people to support and uplift survivors who have endured the unimaginable as they work their way to freedom and healing. One way to do this is by joining NFNL’s Circle of Friends. In doing so, you are joining a movement to help survivors leave the sex industry and develop the building blocks for a better future.
Despite advances in gender equality, women continue to face obstacles when it comes to having a voice in the local, regional, and international spheres. Women cannot fight this fight alone; it requires the unification of all people to put an end to sex trafficking. For example, men’s participation in the fight to end sex trafficking has only proven to strengthen efforts and hasten empowerment like when Congressman Chris Smith sponsored the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, the very first congressional law to recognize human trafficking as illegal and provide increased protections for trafficking victims.
At New Friends New Life, we call men to use their resources and influence to uplift survivor’s voices and experiences by joining the Men’s Advocacy Group. This group mobilizes men to take action against sex trafficking and exploitation.
By uniting all people in this movement, we aspire to create a network that not only raises awareness about sex trafficking but also provides tangible support to survivors through financial giving, volunteerism, advocacy, and education
