EZRA STATEMENT:

Rev. Dr. Rosa Sailes
The EZRA Project

While this is the time to say, “Happy New Year,” we must not forget that for everyone this is not a happy time. January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It was so designated to focus attention on the crisis of human trafficking in our communities, our country, and the world. While Covid rages, The EZRA Project is in the process of rethinking how to be most effective in helping our churches address human trafficking and supporting families who have fallen victim to this crime.

The EZRA Project is making new plans for online and hybrid training sessions, and for partnering with other organizations who are allies in our mission. Many of those organizations are offering exciting information and opportunities. The links on the right will take you to the websites of organizations who are in this fight. We hope you’ll join us in supporting these organizations and learning more about how to fight human trafficking.

The U. S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

The U. S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) provide powerful newsletters and information about what churches, organizations, and individuals can do to help:

Their website link is https://sistersagainsttrafficking.org/

Get involved politically. House Bill HR 5150, “The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2021” must be reauthorized for 2022 or organizations will lose funding. To find out what you can do to help, go to: https://sistersagainsttrafficking.salsalabs.org

Also check out their pdf, “Stop Trafficking” – https://sistersagainsttrafficking.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022_01_Stop-Trafficking-EN.pdf

Through God’s Grace Ministries

Through God’s Grace Ministries (https://throughgodsgrace.com/), is “designed to empower the faith community to fight human trafficking.”

Their YouTube channel features videos to make churches and individuals aware and engaged in this fight. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel

They are also offering a free e-book during January, How You Can Fight Human Trafficking. Visit their website for details.

Through God’s Grace is also announcing two meetings of the National Coalition Against Human Trafficking. You can register for both from their website.

January 29, 2022 – The Impact of Decriminalizing Prostitution on the Black Community

March 19, 2022 – Sextortion: The #1 Threat Against Sexual Exploitation of Minors.

The U S Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Trafficking in Persons)

This government agency is featuring a video archive “Voices of Freedom,” with over 100 stories of survivors and advocates in the struggle. Visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd_wtQgsrB7JrAzRKUhhtOA

The Justice Project: Addressing Human Trafficking

About

The EZRA Project partnered with Compassion Mercy and Justice Ministry to launch an educational initiative that educates churches about the devastation of sex trafficking in the African American community and advocates for a response to this atrocity.

Objectives

  1. To help churches act out the biblical and theological mandates for justice by help oppressed, enslaved, and endangered persons who victimized by sex trafficking.
  2. To help churches coordinate a response to sex trafficking in their communities, cities, and towns.
  3. To assist organizations who are on the frontlines of the rescue of victims and the restoration of survivors.
  4. To provide avenues of action for individuals and small groups of committed Christian lay persons and ministers.

Past Events

The five workshops conducted by The EZRA Project and CMJ Ministry between 2018 and 2019 addressed over 500 people in multiple churches around the Chicago area as well as nationally including a session in Juneau, Alaska. The EZRA Project also conducted a national survey among pastors and clergy to determine the awareness of this issue among church leaders.

 

The EZRA Project partners with Living Grace Church in Lynwood, Illinois to conduct a Church Awareness Workshop in April 2023.

Resources

Several resources are available on this site for download and additional information and website links are also provided. COMING SOON

Flame

Our children

Human Trafficking

The EZRA Project seeks ways to help organizations on the front lines in the rescue of individuals from sex trafficking. We provide information workshops for churches and individuals to help stop this crime against God and humanity. In addition, by 2020, Dr. Rosa Sailes and The EZRA Project will publish a curriculum to help churches recognize and fight this injustice, and to protect and educate congregations.

FACTS ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

“Trafficking in persons,” “human trafficking,” and “modern slavery” are used as umbrella terms to refer to both sex trafficking and compelled labor. These can be described as compelled service including involuntary servitude, slavery or practices similar to slavery, debt bondage, and forced labor.

      • Human trafficking is the business of exploiting vulnerable women, men, and children in conditions of sexual and labor servitude. Traffickers use fraud, deception, coercion, threats and force to transport, harbor or obtain people to perform commercial sex or labor acts against their will.
      • Human trafficking is a global problem. More than $40 billion in profits are generated worldwide from trafficking in human beings in this second largest criminal industry after drug dealing.
      • There are about 100 trafficking victims every hour. Between 600,000 and 800,000 people trafficked across international borders each year.
      • According to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department, each year:
      • Between 14,500 and 17,500 people are brought to the United States in trafficking operations.

 

50% of these are children.

46% of those trafficked are in sex trafficking.

According to a Justice Department report in 2008:

83% of those trafficked were involved in sex trafficking

92% of those trafficked were women

27% were 17 years old or younger; another 38% were between 18 and 24

By ethnicity, 40% were Hispanic and 21% were Black

55% were U. S. citizens

According to the U. S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, 1/3 of the teens on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

It is dangerous for untrained individuals – including ministers – to intervene when they see situations that are suspicious. It is also important to protect individuals and report suspicious activity. If you see something, say something by contacting the proper authorities.

NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE

Call: 1-888-373-7888
Email: help@humantraffickinghotline.org
Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)
Chat: www.humantraffickinghotline.org
To report suspected human trafficking call: 1-866-347-2423

CONTACT INFORMATION

QUICK LINKS