Transitions Global

The "Human" Part of Trafficking

2009-04-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Human trafficking is a growing issue in the United States and daily more people are learning about the reality of modern-day slavery. Americans are becoming more aware through newspaper, television shows, movies, conferences, and word of mouth. It is, in many ways, becoming the "issue-of-the-day". There is a building momentum of information telling us that slavery still exists in our world and that there is much to be done to end it. Organizations across the country have made an entire living just telling people that there is a problem. As a result, there is a growing trend of mass marketing to the public to become 'abolitionists', which is great. But, what does that mean?

If we look at the history of the first abolitionist movement, we see a growing awareness of the public, with key people stepping out in dynamic ways to 'free the slaves'. Public outrage, political action, and a long, bloody war resulted in the beginning of freedom for slaves in America. People risked their lives and their reputations to stand up for what was right. It took time, patience, and vigilance to accomplish the abolishment of human slavery in the United States.

In the 1830's, it was William Lloyd Garrison, who demanded "immediate emancipation, gradually achieved". In other word, the spirit of the law came before the actual application. We could morally demand freedom; though the reality of lives set free would take time. But, I also think that there was something greater at stake. What would happen when hundreds of thousands of people were handed their liberty. When the Emancipation Proclaimation finally came about in 1863, the slaves in America were finally set 'free'.

But, history tells us a very different story - what actually happened to the slaves? What happened to the people decimated by years of exploitation and abuse? Where did they go? What futures were provided for them?

Certainly, we have stories of slaves that were given land, money, or some other form of subsistance that went on to achieve great things. But, the vast majority of slaves in the South remained in their stations as slaves. They knew nothing else, but a live of captivity. So, we just called it something else - servitude or 'paid help'. In the end abolitionists asked the imperitive question of freedom. But, it failed to ask what the cost to those enslaved would be.

Ultimately, slavery never went away. It went underground. By 1910, just about 50 years after the Emancipation Proclaimation, American writers such as Emma Goldman and Reginald Wright Kaufman were talking about trafficking of white womenin America for commercial sex. But, that

is another story.

Today, we are looking at an enormous number of human being enslaved around the world - somewhere in the millions - 12 - 27 million to make our best estimates. In the United States alone, we are talking about 300,000 American children at risk of trafficking every year. If we look at that as raw data, that means that there are 6,000 children in every state of the US that are enslaved. So, if the abolitionist movement that is emerging today were successful tomorrow and every slave were 'set free', what would happen to these people?

One of the core principles that our organization lives by is that "freedom without a future is simply another form of slavery". We have an imperative to remember the human side of human trafficking. Its not about statistics, buying 'slave free' goods, watching gut wrenching movies about trafficking, or wearing clothes made in the US. It is about the people - the men, women, and children that have had their lives crushed and futures stolen from them. How do we provide these lives with 'true freedom'?

In my life of working with survivors of sex trafficking, I am constantly reminded that all the efforts and strides we make in the anti-trafficking world are about the girls that we serve. I keep pictures up at my desk that ask me to keep my focus on the lives that need rebuilding and opportunities provided for. These are girls that by most standards have been rescued from their captors, but they have not been freed from the hell that lives inside of them. They have not been emancipated into the possibility of a new future. So, instead of asking what slaves are being freed 'from', maybe we should ask ourselves what they are being freed 'to'?

Cry of the Innocent

2009-03-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today, I spoke at Cascade College in Portland. An auditorium full of students and a great morning of sharing the vision for the domestic trafficking shelter in Oregon. After making a number of great connections, we were getting ready to leave and a girl ran to the door and handed me a piece of paper. During the time I was up front speaking, she was in the back writing...the following is what she handed me:

Cry of the Innocent

On a street you know,

Not so far away

Stands a girl.

She stands there day and night

Except when she's not there;

Ominous absence.

And then when she returns

Nothing has changed.

Nothing at all.

Fishnet stockings and pretty hair,

Eyes too big in her too-small face

She knows too much.

People walking by don't look at her

They don't see her, she doesn't matter.

They don't know her.

But she looks a them with her big eyes,

Dull, a frightening non-expression on her face,

And she asks them silently...

See me,

Help me,

Know me...please.

I was struck by this girl's brief poem...it brought up the trauma and pain of a young girl that we cared for at Transitions a couple of years back, who with tear filled eyes, asked me, "Why didn't you rescue me sooner?" How many people just didn't see her? In our busy lives, with our focus on so many things, do we take the time to look for those that are in need of rescue?

Today, I have taken some time to reflect on the fact that victims only matter, when we do something to change their futures.

Thank you Rachael. Thank you for the reminder that seeing is more than what we take in with our eyes.

James

"Truthiness" and Domestic Trafficking Shelters

2009-01-27T15:14:00.000-08:00

In 2005 Steve Cobert used a new term "truthiness" during his satirical report on Comedy Central. The term was defined to mean "truth that comes from the gut, not books." "We're not talking about truth, we're talking about something that seems like truth – the truth we want to exist," he explained. Something that seems like the truth - this is the air of honesty occurring within the human trafficking world.

In 2007, there were large questions surrounding the statistics being thrown around, with very wide variances. International victims in the United States has a margin of error, somewhere between 17, 500 and 50,000, without any explanation of the origin or methodology of these numbers. In SE Asia, there have been studies that put children in Cambodia being sexually exploited at anywhere from a meager 10,000 up to a sensational 100,000! Why such disparity? Well, there are probably many reasons. One, organizations seeking to get donors attention have felt the need to 'pad' the numbers to get a more urgent fiscal response. On the other hand, naysayers have wanted to quell the issue by throwing cold water disparity on the issue, taking a lower number to minimize the urgency.

Yet, on large - we really don't know. I feel fairly confident that the FBI's number of 300,000 domestically trafficked children is close. This number was extrapolated using numbers from homeless and runaway youth, youth agencies encountering unsafe youth, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). But, there is more at stake than just some inflated numbers.

Working in the United States, we are working carefully to approach domestic trafficking in an honest, intellectual, and non-sensational way. We have done this to our best ability in Cambodia and it has paid off. Intellectual engagement is really all there needs to be to communicate the horrors of sex trafficking. We don't need tear-filled eyes and dramatic images to get the point.

This means, we don't get to exaggerate, use suggestive marketing, and make outrageous claims. We need to work hard to respect our supporters and the public with the dignity and integrity of the actual work being done. There is no reason to make untrue claims on the basis that we think they will be true in the future. We have all heard the saying, "say what you mean and mean what you say."

So, what is going on with all of the sensationalism? One organization in California claims that they have shelters "located throughout the US...", but they haven't build a single thing - in a recent television interview the executive director said they are still in the 'dream phase'. On the website, they have a picture of a home, but its not the shelter they are claiming. So, why the deceptive language on the website? Well, truthiness - its the truth they want to exist. Another organization on the East Coast claims that they work in 12 countries (including Cambodia, but no one has ever heard of them), have a domestic trafficking shelter (described with photographs), but their most recent 990 says that their total income was around $90,000 dollars. For a point of reference, a quality aftercare program in Cambodia for 20 girls runs a little over $200,000. So what is going on?

Well, domestic trafficking is a flashy topic. It is inviting a large number of people to move quickly to get involved in establishing domestic trafficking shelters without any idea of what it will take to be successful. Look at a quality program like GEMS in New York and you will see that it is not about glitz and glamor or big dollars. It is about some very difficult and challenging work. Work that requires a lot more than great intentions and good ideas. This is a field in need of experienced organizations to take on this type of work.

But, we also need some truth in advertising. We, as organizations, are asking the American public to 'buy in' and help to provide the needed funds and support to establish shelter services for children being exploited in the commercial sex trade. As non-profit organizations, we need to understand the integrity of public trust. We have to be truthful and honest - eliminating 'truthiness' from our communication styles to allow the reality of sex trafficking and the need for shelter services to speak without clouding the issue.

Domestic Trafficking, Unicorns, and Faeries

2009-01-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

If you live in the United States, depending upon which State you are in, domestic sex trafficking is probably overlooked or unrecognized. It's a national problem. It's not because it doesn't exist - its for much more insidious reasons. In New York and Texas, its a clearly recognized problem. New York has passed specific laws to ensure the safety and services of victims. Texas, particularly Houston and Dallas have taken measures to better identify victims, arrest traffickers, and properly prosecute cases of human trafficking. So, what about other States?

Well, it gets tricky. On a macro level, the United States generates the singular document used internationally to determine the level of effectiveness each country exercises in its anti-human trafficking efforts. Each year, the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) is generated through the US State Department and the report contains every country in the world - except the United States.

Until recently, the United States had only really considered human trafficking to an international issue. Our first estimates of foreign born trafficking victims in the United States was 17,500. That estimate has grown significantly to a more healthy 50,000 (though at the rate of immigration, this number must be higher). But, domestically, we have overlooked a population that is now (see TVPA 2005 and 2008 Reauthorization) federally recognized as victims of human trafficking - US Citizens. Domestic trafficking is primarily a sex trafficking issue.

In the United States, there is an estimated 300,000 girls that are enslaved in the commercial sex trade. But, how long has this been going on? For decades. This is not a 'new' problem. The difficulty is - it has taken us this long to properly label it. For the past 25 or so years, these girls have been identified as runaways, homeless youth, delinquent youth, throwaway youth, unsafe youth, and most frighteningly - youth or child prostitutes. Wow, when did we believe that a 15 year old girl was choosing prostitution as a career option?

So, how does your State view this population of young girls? Likely, child welfare and youth programs in your State still use an old paradigm to designate youth and still use terminology that is outdated. If this is true, then law enforcement is likely using the same terminology. The end result is that the State is not identifying victims, not prosecuting cases, and then ultimately believing that sex trafficking in their State is likened to unicorns and faeries.

There are three dynamics that contribute to this, but for now, we will address the first. The other two involve having appropriate laws in place (that contribute to a working system) and prosecuting cases (which involves organized crime, the RICO Act, and other elements of getting bad guys in jail).

I am not insinuating that States don't care about these youth - actually, I think its the contrary. Most law enforcement are frustrated in coming across a 16 year old girl that they know is unsafe and being forced into prostitution, but they don't have the needed infrastructure to ultimately help them. Child welfare, DHS, and the court system are equally flustered that they have a high risk population of girls that are unable to obtain appropriate services for the level of safety and trauma treatment they require. These girls are washing through State systems and people are unsure of how to best help them.

Transitions Global is looking at a number of other States and how they are addressing this problem. For the past year, we have been working with law enforcement, the court system, and other youth related agencies to develop a workable, efficient system to address the needs of sex trafficking victims. In the next weeks, I will address the other two contributing factors, as well as, writing more on the infrastructure needed to serve victims in a meaningful way.

In the meantime, I look forward to your comments, suggestions, and opinions. Thank you.

Beware the Fund Raiser

2009-01-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

In the years that we have been working in the human trafficking sector, we have learned a lot. One of the key lessons we have learned has been about fund raising for this issue. At the moment, human trafficking is the top of the day (for some). It is trendy - there are movies, television, and print newspapers and magazines talking about human trafficking. On the surface, you would have to imagine that this is positive. Yet, the reality is, it creates both positive and negative effects.

On the positive side, more people know about it - there is awareness. It is easy to discuss the topic and certainly there are more supportive people to the plight of slaves. Hopefully, a secondary effect for those of us working with survivors - it brings additional donors.

Though the negative side is - more people know about it. It becomes common knowledge and an ambivalence occurs that leads to people not taking action. But, this is a different issue. Let's get back to fund raising.

One positive effect of people knowing about human trafficking is that good people want to do something about it. On occasion, people step up to help organizations raise money. The reality is, especially among small non-profits, this is a big deal. Someone comes along and wants to help your organization raise funds.

In our organization's history, we have had some pretty creative fund raising ideas come across our desk. Whether it is concerts, dinners, movie nights, poker (yes, poker) - people have taken something they are passionate about and used it to raise money. We have taken time to recognize these people as Transitions Global HERO's in our monthly newsletter.

But, we have also encountered problems. People who either feel very deeply, but do not follow through or others that feel that they can use fund raising to position themselves with your organization for favor or influence. Worse, we actually had a young lady raise money through her sorority that never sent the money to us. She used our organization to hold an event and never sent the funds. So, beware.

The learning lesson for us has been to take the following precautions:

1. Make sure that a potential fund raiser understands how the money will be used.
2. Make sure that they have your expectations of what can be said about your organization, what kind of media can be used, etc. - it is a good idea to send them jpegs of our logo, tag lines, etc. for them to use in print media, posters, etc.
3. Sign an agreement - what, when, where, how, who - add a date to finalize the count of funds and how funds will be paid out to the organization.
4. Provide some support - these are people giving their time, talent, and resources to do something positive. Give them exposure, support, and encouragement.
5. Follow up with a 'thank you' - people that do fund raising are doing your non-profit a tremendous benefit. Find a meaningful way to recognize their efforts.
6. Be cautious - not everyone has good intentions. Some people want to use your efforts to make themselves money and others want something from you.

Overall, we have had a wonderful experience with people stepping up to do something wonderful for the girls we serve and the work we do. From the couple in Washington that used their wedding to raise money for us to people that run marathons, hold poker games, or perform a concert - their creativity, passion, and action means that, for us, young girls will have the futures that have been stolen from them.

Work Of Transitions Global with Survivors of Sex Trafficking

2008-09-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

So What Is Going On At Transitions?

2008-09-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

My blog has been on 'silent' mode for a number of months. This is not because we are not working or that I am slacking off, rather; we are under a massive makeover that is taking some time to unveil. We have successfully changed our name from Transitions Cambodia to Transitions Global, so that should be a dead giveaway that we are doing something beyond just working in Southeast Asia.

We are. We have actually committed to the process of establishing a long-term, high-security shelter for underage, domestic victims of sex trafficking. This process, unlike working overseas, has a whole litany of red tape and due process to go through. Usually, I would be one to be frustrated by this process, yet I am encouraged.

In Portland and beyond, we are seeing an entire movement of politicians, local and federal law enforcement, youth agencies, and judges rally around this issue with strong support for seeing this program and services be available. As well, we have made some new partnerships with organizations that will increase our exposure, capacity, and effectiveness in 'building new lives for survivors of sex trafficking.' Stay tuned...more to come in the next few weeks.

Transitions Cambodia Is Not Just In Cambodia

2008-06-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

When most people hear the name Transitions Cambodia, it is easy to assume that we work in Cambodia. Fair enough. But, we are doing work in many other places to combat human trafficking.

We have not put these 'new' projects on the website for a number of reasons. First, we are working on projects in Indonesia, Mexico, Greece, and Romania with other organizations. These projects will not necessarily have the Transitions Cambodia name on them.

Rather, these projects will be transitional care facilities that have the same programs and components that we use to care for and restore victims in Southeast Asia. We are working with other organizations to make services to victims available and relevant. This is a long process that requires a lot of work.

Second, these additional projects have security concerns, as well as, integrity to wait until there is something tangible to talk about. Transitions Cambodia is honored to have been asked to help replicate our model in other places in the world. We will keep you up to date on our progress through our newsletter what is happening.

Not to sound overly cryptic, but Transitions Cambodia is also expanding its work to the United States. One of the most relevant human trafficking fields is in America and we are responding to the need of US victims of human trafficking. We will be releasing information in July or August about our work in the United States, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, Transitions Cambodia continues to evolve and mature - our desire is to combat human trafficking and meet the needs of victims globally. We are constantly striving to improve what we do and how we do it. If you are interested in following our work, please sign up for our newsletter on the website or e-mail me and I will make sure you are included on any upcoming correspondence.

Watch Your Language

2008-03-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

When we are working in and around the issue of sex trafficking, there is a tendency, particularly in conservative circles to moderate our language. I am not talking about using foul-language, rather; I am talking about calling things what they really are. In a world of high-sensitivity, we have lost our ability to call things by their true name.

Granted, progress in society removes ethnic slurs and insensitive labels, of which I am wholly in support. Yet, in this movement, there is a distinct sense that much of what needs to be dragged into the light has remained hidden, particularly in regard to sex trafficking.

Let me give you some examples. In Japan, prostitution has been disguised as 'compensated dating'. In the 1990's, the term 'prostitute' was replaced with 'sex worker'. This was an attempt to restore dignity to the women engaged in this activity, but the result was much more complicated. Even in the US, we have gone to using the term 'trafficking-in-persons', which is gender neutral. Given that this was to have a single term for both labor and sex trafficking, it eludes the force of the fact that sex trafficking is a gendered activity that transports female victims into prostitution.

Instead of the old 'Madonna-whore' dichotomy, we inherited a new dichotomy of 'prostitute-trafficked victim' - the former gives the idea that a prostitute is one who has voluntarily engaged in selling her services, over and above the one who is exploited and victimized. This is a dangerous precipice that we need to carefully maneuver around. We need to call things what they are and observe what those terms mean.

Let's look at a few more examples of this term changing and how it influences our understanding. In many countries, 'brothel' has been replaced by 'hostess bar', 'gentlemen's club', 'bunny ranch', or 'entertainment center' - all of which negate the fact that sex is being sold for profit. Also missing from this new terminology is the link between voluntary and vulnerable. What we assume is a girl just trying to make a living and a girl that is being exploited based on her circumstances is a fine line.

Trafficking, particularly sex trafficking has been deemed under a softer term 'migration' or even as late as 2002, as 'facilitated migration' (see Network of Sexwork Projects, 2002). The result of this new terminology is an often naive attempt to be sensitive to the victims or the audience that is involved. Other times, it is an outright effort to disguise the fact that sex trafficking is simply globalized prostitution - plain and simple.

Pictures, Video, and Ethics of Working with Sex Trafficking Victims

2008-02-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

There is a difficult balance that most of us face in the business of working with victim survivors of sex trafficking. First and foremost, we are in the business of protecting them and helping them rebuild their lives. Yet, at the same time, nothing is more powerful than to see these girls, look into their eyes and hear their stories.

We live in such an insular world that often, I don't think the issue of slavery grabs us. The global public has to be outraged by this issue in order for there to be significant change. At the moment, victims are silent - without a voice, without a face. Most pictures are taken in the shadows or the back of girl's heads. We never have to look these young women in the eyes and cope with our ambivelence. Though I completely agree with the logic of not exploiting victims, this only serves to further silence the voices of the survivors who want to be heard. I want to give these girls that want it - a voice that will be heard.

I have been working through this difficult dilemma for some time. I have had to confront this since 2004, during my first trip to Cambodia. From the moment I met a young lady at a government shelter and watched the horror on her face in having her picture taken, I have been aware of the sensitivities in media exposure and the need to protect girls from exploitation.

NOTE: Transitions Cambodia, Inc. works with girls that are of an age (15-18 years old) that can consent to photos and media exposure. TCI would not allow girls under the age of 15 to give consent.

On a more recent level, I have considered how to give exposure to this issue and to TCI. First, NBC Dateline wanted to shoot at the center. They were willing to do a story on Transitions Cambodia, Inc., but needed the ability to put the girls in the piece. Next, Tim Matsui (pictured above), a professional photographer wanted to take photographs of the girls. Tim has become a friend and someone that I will continue to work with. He came to Cambodia to learn and get some exposure to the entire issue of sex trafficking. When he first came, he had one sense of how images should be portrayed. Yet, after a short time of working with TCI, he has taken a much more cautious tact.

So, how do you begin to breach this issue? First, I needed to talk with the girls at the center. We discussed the Dateline piece first. In order for me to allow Dateline to shoot, I needed the informed consent of the girls and staff. Of the fourteen girls we had at the time, eleven of the fourteen decided that they would want to be in the Dateline segment, as long as, their names were not used and their details were not shared. This was not a problem. Though the special has not yet aired, the amount of exposure is fairly limited. This was the easier of the two situations.

Now, I needed to breach the issue of photos and other information. I fully believe in informed consent. At the same time, I also know that as a caretaker, I need to use my judgment as well. I sat down with our girls and discussed photographs and information. Out of the group - three girls opted to have their stories told and allow Tim to follow them through their particular journey. The first was a girl that was being reintegrated. The second was a young lady that was returning to Vietnam. The last, was a girl that has since become TCI's staff spokesperson - Srey Neth (see picture right). She is the only girl that opted to use her name, her story, and her journey to help other girls.

This has been a fairly emotional and difficult struggle to deal with. Tim can attest to the number of conversations I have had with him regarding this issue. Yet, my ultimate desire is to protect the girls and, at the same time, give them a voice. I believe we have achieved this. The first two girls used false names and the particular details of their stories are veiled. Srey Neth, on the other hand, wanted to make her entire story a part of her voice and let the world know what happened to her. She has become empowered through this experience.

Tim Matsui has taken the time to work with Neth, our staff, and me on her story and to follow her back to the area where she was trafficked and abused, to the pagoda where she found healing and insight, and to TCI where she has discovered her future. This will be expressed in photos, video, and multimedia on the TCI webisite, FEAR Project website, and venues where Srey Neth will be speaking in the future.

In the meantime, if you work in this industry, you will need to make these decision on your own. I would never compromise a court case or expose a girl who did not want to be photographed. I would encourage other organizations to heavily consider the 'no pictures' policy and find a balance of protection and allowing the world to see and hear those who have been horribly hurt.

Recently, I saw an article of an American woman who had been raped, but allowed the news to publish her photo - she felt that it allowed her the ability to heal and be heard. There was an empowerment in her being seen and given a voice. We in the anti-trafficking world need to weigh this issue, seeking the same balance, in order to bring this issue out of the shadows.

Sea Monkeys and Human Trafficking

2007-12-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been reading and hearing about a number of organizations and the things they are doing in the area of human trafficking. From informational campaigns to organizations claiming to be working with victims, the stories are incredible. Or are they?

When I was a kid, I used to love reading comic books - it didn't much matter what it was - Iron Man, Justice League - they were all pretty cool. But, on the back of almost every comic book was an ad. This was a magical ad that captured every boys imagination. Every kid I knew coveted this ad - the infamous sea monkeys. The picture alone was like catnip for kids. You could become the master of the universe with your own kingdom of servant sea monkeys. With arms, legs, faces, and should we dare say - personality (look at the picture again!), this was the ultimate. Unbelievable!

My story isn't original. No - it is many kids stories. I ordered it. I waited about three weeks, when it finally arrived in the plain, brown wrapping...it seemed a little light for an entire kingdom of sea monkeys, but who am I to judge. So, I get it all out on the table and there is a 'packet' of my new subjects...a packet? Next, I get my tank ready, add the water, and pour in my instant sea monkeys and viola! Hey, wait a second...they are all dead! Oh, um, maybe not...it was nothing but shrimp brine! I got ripped off...in the tank floats little obscure white things that don't even have a shape, let along a personality...okay, okay, enough of the story.

What I am getting at is this - in the area of sex trafficking, there are a lot of people attempting to capitalize on the fact that there is tremendous interest in this topic. So, people create a front page website and start taking in donations. Other organizations have even taken their orphanages or other projects working with children and started calling them 'anti-trafficking' projects. Why? To answer this simply, I don't know. I suspect it is a money-making venture, as well as, an attempt to get on the band wagon of human trafficking.

This is disturbing, because there are a number of great organizations working very hard and struggling for dollars to keep their work afloat. When glossy organizations come in and begin dividing up the already small pie, it hurts - not just the organization, but the children that we are helping.

Working with trafficking victims is not glamorous or easy and you don't get rich doing it. At least the people that I know. The people I know are in the trenches working hard to make a difference and we sacrifice a lot to work in this field. So, I guess that this is a 'buyer beware' blog - carefully check out non-profits that you are considering donating money to or assisting in any way. Ask them exactly what they do and if they have any references. Trust me - if they are legitimate, someone knows them and respects the work they are doing.

I have a broad network of people working with anti-trafficking projects - both legitimate and those that make amazing claims of what they are doing to assist victims of sex trafficking. A little checking around and critical thinking will help you make informed decisions about who and what you put your good name and money to. Remember, just because they say they are doing something doesn't mean it is true.

My soap box is almost over - so, here is my last point - if the claims are incredible, it is likely that they are not true. In the words of Public Enemy "Don't believe the hype". Claims of amazing child rescues and incredible aftercare programs require some corroboration from other organizations that they partner with. In this field, nothing is accomplished alone. We work together, like pieces of a puzzle. Rescuing children is a process, not an event. Any lone rangers out working by themselves are just that - lone rangers looking for money, approval, and recognition for something that they are either not really doing or doing irresponsibly.

If you have questions about a particular project, organization, or methodology, ask around. Everyone in this field wants the best possible services to go toward helping victims and addressing this issue. Most will welcome your queries and are open about their work (barring confidential or sensitive information that might compromise them, victims in their care, or their work). I would be happy to assist or point you in the right direction, if you have questions or concerns. In the meantime, we appreciate your support of the work we are doing to empower girls to recapture their futures.

A Dear Friend, Deeply Missed

2007-12-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

During your lifetime, you encounter people, many of whom you do not or cannot remember. You make acquaintances, contacts, and on rare occasions - friends. Of these friends, each of them are completely different. Some are people you do things with, others are friends you can talk to, and rarely someone comes along that takes a special place in your heart.

In 2004, I was introduced to Vanny (or Ny as we called him) - a 40-year old Cambodian man, who had been hired to drive for us. The first day we met, I really liked him. He was someone who knew how to work hard, was disciplined, and was a man of integrity.

When we moved to Cambodia he and I would go to coffee every morning. He would help me with my Khmer language and I would help him with English. We would talk about family, life, and work. We laughed a lot at the plight of humanity and the struggles of Cambodia. He was a joy to be with.

We also worked together. Ny was capable of so much more than driving, so we promoted him to the Director of Security and Facilities. We worked together on establishing ARC, we did family assessments, went to court with clients, and even argued over issues.

Ny came from a litany of hard circumstances. He watched his father murdered under the Khmer Rouge, fought as a child soldier against Vietnam in the 1980's, and suffered a number of financial difficulties in his youth. And yet, through it all, Ny was always positive about life and work. He came to work with a smile and a great attitude.

On top of that, we had grown to love each other. Athena and I were paying for his daughter to attend private school and English lessons. Ny had become very protective of my family and insisted on sleeping on my couch when I was out of town to make sure they were safe. As well, I was addicted to Vietnamese coffee, so Ny would ensure that my coffee was always waiting for me in the morning - no matter what!

I could spend pages describing the times we had together, the love he showed me and our family always, and the commitment to our friendship. Even after we had formed TCI, Ny would spend his off hours helping me with administrative things and driving me around. In October we spent a couple of days together. We said we would get together in November when I returned from Indonesia, but it would never happen.

While consulting on a project in Indonesia, I received a call from Athena that Ny was sick and in the hospital. Within a couple of days, the doctors discovered that Ny had AIDS. Within the span of the next two days, Ny died from this horrible disease. The grief from the loss of my friend has been very heavy and I have struggled with how to live with his absence.

After I returned from Indonesia, I went to Ny's grave site with his wife and nephew. It was a time to console them and to ensure that they knew the love and commitment to our friendship. We will continue to help support their children and honor the friendship in any way that we are capable. Cambodia has experienced yet another loss of a wonderful person who was committed to changing the world. He is a dear friend, deeply missed.

Holly Movie - Screening in Portland

2007-12-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

Once in a while there are films worth seeing. More so, films on human trafficking are often Hollywood grade entertainment and fail to really address the heart of the issue. The movies "Human Trafficking" and "Trade" are two films that failed to really make the grade. "Holly" on the other hand, really addresses the complexity of the issue, as well as, what is needed to help make a difference.

November 30th, we had the pleasure of hosting "Holly" and one of its producers, Adi Ezroni, in Portland for a screening of the film. We had a great turn out for the film, including a large number of Cambodian-Americans. The film is about a young Vietnamese girl, trafficked into Cambodia, where she encounters and American who wants to help her escape.

Watching the film, I was stunned by the overall authenticity of the situations, the characters, and the emotions conveyed. At one point in the film, Holly is brought into a shelter, where she wrestles with the dichotomy of being freed from slavery only to be put into an institution. I cannot tell you how many times I have lived this moment - the first day of a young lady coming into your program and the emotional struggle.

The end of the movie is really a pivotal moment - it leaves it up to the viewer to decide Holly's fate. In many ways, the plight or future of all of the Holly's in Cambodia is up to us. I would encourage you to see the film and allow it to impact you regarding the reality of this important issue.

Journal - First Week

2007-10-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

The first week back was pretty interesting, to say the least. Due to a typhoon off of Taipei, my flight was delayed at every point, including an extra stop in Bangkok, which involved an overnight stay in the terminal. To wrap it all up, my year long visa just expired, so I had to stand in line for an hour, only to discover that my luggage was lost in Taipei somewhere. With the clothes I had on for the past three days, I was feeling a bit down.

To top it off, my apartment does not fall into the luxury category - steep stairs, a labrynth of locks and a room with a broken bed, a shower that cleans the toilet (meaning they face each other in a practical way!) Besides the ability to meet all of my hygeine needs at once, I was feeling really out of sorts. Trevor Sworn, a good friend, went way out of his way to make sure I got settled in and had some basic necessities in place. Once I got a decent cold shower in, I felt like I could face the world.

Vanny, a Cambodian who I had befriended in 2004, contacted me to tell me that he wanted to help me in any way he could. He has a busy work schedule, but in spite of it, he took me around to get my visa, deal with my luggage issue (I got it back in a day due to his persistance). As well, he kept my old phone SIM - which if anyone has done this before - is a saving grace. I have all of my contacts and information in my palm again - nothing could have felt better at the moment. You don't realize how dependent we are on technology until it is gone.

Later in the week, I spent some time with the girls at TCI and started working with the staff. Things are looking really good for all of the girls. Many positive things have been coming together and I will be sharing them with you as they develop. As well, I will start focusing on some important aspects of what is occuring here in regard to sex trafficking. Please continue sending in e-mails regarding this blog - it has been encouraging and inspiring.

Jaya Sry, our Cambodian Director, has been doing some wonderful networking and preparation for the next couple of months. The picture above is from our trip to the water park with the girls. More to come...

Supply and Demand: The Real Cause

2007-09-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the month, we discussed how poverty only explains a small part of the complexity behind the causes of sex trafficking. I also promised that we would return to this topic and I decided to do this sooner than later, due to the amount of response to this issue. There is a dimension to this issue that needs to be exposed. The issue is demand.

In my former life, I had a lot of experience working in drug interdiction - it was there that I had my first exposure to the complexity of issues and the multi-disciplinary approach it takes to address them. It was the early 1990's and the United States was heavily involved in the 'War on Drugs'. During my tenure, the DEA would make major drug busts - cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and crystal meth - yet, the next week (if not the next day) following the raids, there were more drugs back on the street. Arresting drug lords, blowing up labs, or burning harvest fields had little impact on the industry as a whole.

It was then that I realized that demand is the principle and driving factor behind illicit activity. If there was no demand, there would be need for a supply. This is one of the primary reasons that sex trafficking is so lucrative and difficult to shut down. Svay Pac, otherwise known as K-11 in Cambodia, is an area saturated by brothels and underage prostitution. The government and human rights organizations have done multiple 100 day shut downs, made arrests, and exposed the illiegal activities, and yet; the commercial sex operations are still functioning. Why? Demand. If there is a demand, then there is a buyer behind it.

Sex tourists, pedophiles, sex addicts, and perverts come from all over the world to exploit Cambodia - a nation known to the sex underworld as "the Wild West of Asia". But, who is this buyer? Again, this is not simple answer. It used to be presumed that a buyer of sex services was someone unable to get sex apart from paying for it. Stereotypes such as the "dirty old man" or someone with "that look" or reclusive habits were considered buyers of commercial sex. These stereotypes are simply not true.

In fact, it is quite the opposite. These buyers are young and old - in Cambodia, they have been as young as 26 and old as 65 (I have heard someone talk about 72, but I can't verify the facts of the case). They are Japanese, Australian, Swiss, American, British, African, Korean, and yes, Cambodian. They are businessmen, professionals, teachers, and tourist - most of them married, with children. This changes the landscape for understanding how this issue needs to be approached.

There are many players and many factors, which I will discuss soon, hopefully with some line diagrams to help sort out how trafficking takes place and who the key players are. The more immediate issue at hand is this: sex trafficking is multifaceted - it needs a holistic approach of prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration to begin to address the issues.

The first two aspects of prevention and intervention include the physical rescue of victims, but also the broader issues of education, immigration and border control, as well as, advocacy and legal enforcement. The second two - rehabilitation and reintegration, deal directly with the victims and what happens to them after the initial rescue. This is where Transitions Cambodia, Inc. focuses its efforts. In restoring the lives of broken girls - giving them an opportunity to heal and move into life with a new start.

In an upcoming blog, I will discuss more on demand, as well as, what can be done to combat and deter this important issue. In the meantime, I am getting ready for a conference on human trafficking and some other important meetings. I will share the results of my trip to Toronto the first week in October.

Let's Be Careful About Blaming Poverty For Sex Trafficking

2007-09-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

Human sex trafficking is a complex issue. It has taken me the past three years to get my head around the subtleties in understanding the causes of this horrible travesty . Certainly poverty plays a role, but I have learned through experience, that sex trafficking is caused and exacerbated by numerous factors. The first and foremost reason for human trafficking in general is greed. Selling human beings is a big money business - everyday, billions of dollars are exchanged for human lives. One statistic claims that two children are trafficked every minute. Whether this is accurate or not, we do know that over a million people are enslaved annually.

In the commercial sex trade in particular, there are serious dollars at stake. Sex tourists, pedophiles, and a thriving local population engaged in prostitution feeds this multi-billion dollar industry. It was estimated in 2005, that in Cambodia alone, there was $500 million dollars at stake in sex trafficking and the commercial sex industry. This is staggering when you consider the impact these dollars have on legitimate tourism spending and internal governmental corruption.

But, let's get back to causes of child sex trafficking. We have covered greed in general, but there is another form of greed that is infecting Southeast Asia - materialism. Both Thailand and Vietnam are experiencing a significant economic boom - the per capita income in both countries has increased significantly, while the standard of living (at least in Vietnam) remains remarkably stable.

This means people are living better. Yet, families are still engaged in selling their own daughters - why? The answer is easy - money. Not money they need for food and clothing, but rather; money that they need to buy a new television, iPod, or other possessions that create the illusion of success and wealth. In Vietnam, the second largest city is An Giang. As of 2006, 90% of An Giang was in debt for purchases made on credit. An Giang is also a major source of young girls being brought into Cambodia for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

This is not rumor - it is a fact. I have seen this first hand and have dealt with the victims of this horrible crime. But, there are other factors. Laziness is another contributing cause. In some Asian cultures, it is expected that the children will actively work to support the families. This is not a cavalier statement - rather; this is a full year of traveling into the provinces of Cambodia and encountering able bodied parents that did not work. I cannot tell you how many families we have worked with, where the parents don't want to work or say they can't work, expecting their children to shoulder the burden of providing the families' income.

One young lady, I will call "Mandy", currently in our transitional living center, did not want to return home. We were out at the local market and talking about her family situation, when a young woman was crossing the street - she had a handicapped leg and a palsied arm. In her other hand was a can used for begging money. Mandy looked at me and said, "She has a reason to not work, but she does any way - what is my mothers excuse?"

Granted, this is not simple either - there are severe issues in a society suffering from post-traumatic stress, but this ambivelence has a two-fold effect - one, the children who are out working for the family don't attend school, which further dampers their ability to succeed in the 21st Century and two, it makes children vulnerable to expoitation. Girls are often recruited to work in karaoke bars, massage parlors, and brothels - first as errand girls, but later will be persuaded to make more money by 'greeting guests' (a local term for engaging in sex acts).

Ignorance is another factor. I am very cautious listing this, because it has been used as a false defense by parents, families, traffickers, and others - claiming they didn't know the girls would be abused. But, I have met sincere families wanting a better future for their daughters, who send them into the city or other situation, only to find later that they were fooled. Wonderful groups, like the Chab Dai Coalition in Cambodia are making inroads with prevention strategies to address this issue.

Don't get me wrong - poverty does plays a role. Cambodia as a whole is vulnerable to sex trafficking. But to believe that if we cure poverty, we cure sex trafficking, is naive. The two are connected, though not exclusive to each other. Particularly, not in the way some organizations would make the case. If Cambodia became the richest country in the world, sex trafficking would still be an issue. Sex trafficking infects every country at some level. Demand is the driving force with greed as its co-pilot. We have to approach human sex trafficking in a holistic way - understanding the complexity is the first step in finding ways to combat it.

Poverty is on the list, but the more dangerous causes like materialism and greed are far more insidious. There are additional causes, so in the coming months, I will come back to this issue. If you have any insights or thoughts, let me know - I am interested in your response to this issue. Much of the media and press has not dealt with or addressed the causes, but rather; the symptoms of sex trafficking. In the meantime, let's keep poverty as a serious global issue affecting Cambodia, but not the principle reason girls are being sold into slavery.

Camping Cambodian Style!

2007-08-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a great opportunity to build some friendships and bridges with the Cambodian community in Portland. We spent the weekend at Camp Meriwether, on the Oregon coast and had a great time. Every year, hundreds of Cambodian Americans get together to share food, friendship, and fun - in no particular order.

The purpose of this annual event is to unite the Cambodian community, preserve their cultural heritage, and to create awareness of their presence and impact in society. The entire event is youth directed and the teenagers and young people in the community were given the enormous responsibility of handling the weekend's events. They did a spectacular job and the whole weekend went smoothly.

The highlights for me, were being able to sit and talk with people - to hear their stories and share experiences. Their stories of surviving the Pol Pot-era, living in refugee camps, and their struggles to make a life here in the United States. They have made it through so much and yet; the older generation has higher hopes for the next generation of young people to make something special for themselves and the world. Some of them are on their way.

One young lady is on her way to Columbia University to attend law school. Others are attending Stanford, USC, and other high profile colleges. They have high goals of working in law, medicine, and business - to impact the world in a meaningful way. My kids had a great time sharing their experiences from living in Cambodia with these young people, of whom, many have never been to Cambodia.

On a similar level, I had the opportunity to share with many people in the Cambodian community as to what Transitions Cambodia is doing in their home country to preserve its next generation, which they were excited to hear about. It was a great time of sharing and connecting with a sense of shared love and concern for Cambodia's next generation...

The weekend was filled with lots of Khmer food (Chanly and Sophorn's grandma fed me all weekend - Thank you Ma!), dancing, and laughter...Ashley and Gabe worked with the Cambodian youth - setting up, registering guests, doing performances, and Ashley was even the co-MC for the final evenings festivities.

By the end of the weekend, we were all tired from staying up too late and getting up early. Yet, I would not have passed up the chance to spend extended time talking and sharing the common desire to see the world a better place - both here and in Cambodia.

Transitions Cambodia Progress - Website & Interviews

2007-08-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

This week has been hectic. We are working on our website, making adjustments and changes to make the site great. Our web developer is hoping to have something up by the 27th of August, but we will see. Any changes Athena and I make impact the actual launch date. In the meantime, here is an update...

I had the distinct pleasure of talking with Richard Greenberg of NBC's Dateline. Many of you will remember the Cambodia special they aired in 2004, focusing on the child sex trade. This special was the impetus to our family moving to Cambodia less than a year later! Richard heard about our work through a friend and called to talk. We shared some about our experience and the work we are doing...so, Richard is considering a follow up story, possibly including the work we are doing with Transitions Cambodia, Inc. Very exciting - we are hoping this will highlight the tremendous need to support these young ladies, that have been through so much, with the capacity to have a future.

Also, a wonderful friend, Sophia Hall from CBS Radio, has been gracious enough to interview me this last week on the work TCI is doing - the piece will air on Sunday, August 26th throughout the day and we will post it on the website as soon as we can. Sophia has been a great advocate and she is working on some other wonderful things for us, which we will let you know at the appropriate time. Keep your fingers crossed!

We have also taken the plunge on returning to Cambodia - I will be leaving October 6th, following some fund raising opportunities. I will be working with the transitional home staff on new programs and policies to help make TCI the best organization we can. We are hoping to have some potential donors to visit, as well as, a potential visit from Dateline's crew.

For now, I am taking a well needed break - taking the kids camping for the weekend with the Cambodian community in Portland. Should be fun with lots of great Khmer food!

Transitions is getting under way!

2007-08-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

After just a couple of months, we realized that we needed to continue the work we started in Cambodia. The options were to either find a job and be involved in Cambodia part-time or find a way to turn it into a lifetime pursuit. We moved to Oregon, ready to start over from scratch. From buying a house to getting plates and silverware - we had nothing. But, as we were getting settled, we realized that this was the one opportunity we had to do anything we wanted.

I could jump back into corporate sales or something else making good money or we could re-invent ourselves. Athena and I decided to take the leap! We met with an attorney, did our research, and embarked on starting our very own 501c3 Non-profit organization. We had pioneered the very first transitional home in Cambodia and it was doing well. Other organizations wanted us to stay and continue our work in the areas of reintegration and repatriation of sexually trafficked girls.

We chose the name Transitions Cambodia, Inc. (TCI) based on the transitional home model. We have started on the website, completing all of the formalities, but we are just a short way off from being a legitimate non-profit organization. We are currently beginning fund raising and anticipate being back in Cambodia operating by October or November of 2007!

If you are interested in being involved or donating to TCI, please contact us at:

Transitions Cambodia, Inc.
6617 NE Marina Ct.
Hillsboro, OR 97124

OR

jamespond@transitionscambodia.org

We will be journaling our progress, as well as, informing our supporters and partners of what is happening. Please join us in helping these young victims of sex trafficking to find healing and help.

4th of July in Portbodia

2007-07-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Typically, over the last few years, I haven't really seen much sense in celebrating the 4th of July. It has been mostly a day of people going out to party, get drunk, and watch some fireworks. Having been in the Marine Corps, I had an abundance of these experiences to last me a lifetime. Sitting in traffic, putting up with crowds, and sharing dirty restrooms with the masses has held little appeal.

Yet, this 4th of July, I had the distinct privilege of spending the day with some wonderful Cambodian friends in Portland. We went to to Blue Lake in Portland to hang out, play games, eat, and celebrate the 4th of July. At first, I felt a little odd - one of the only white folks in a sea of Southeast Asians. Though, after years of living in Cambodia, I knew that I was amongst the most welcoming people on the earth.

Many people are unaware that there are over 4,000 Cambodians living in Portland and Southern Washington. The first large migration to America began as a result of Cambodians seeking refuge during the reign of Pol Pot. The largest population of Cambodians is actually in Paris, with Long Beach second (the largest in America). In Portland, though a smaller community, it is a great group of people seeking to live good lives, as well as, assist their family and friends left behind in Southeast Asia.

They welcomed me into their community with open arms. Each person having a different story - some have been in America for twenty plus years, some escaped the horrors of Pol Pot and Vietnamese occupation, and others had lived through the atrocities and inhumanity of the 1970's and 1980's. Young and old, each person had experienced, survived, and overcome more than most people in America ever experience. And still, they could smile, laugh, and share of themselves with outsiders.

So, here is the insight:

On my way to the overcrowded, dirty restrooms, I am walking with one of my new friends, who compliments me as a 'hero' for the work and sacrifice we gave in Cambodia. Yet, immediately, I recognized that my new friends are the ones who deserve the title 'hero'. They have suffered so much and yet, they look for ways to give of themselves both here and overseas. They are the ones that have epitomized the essence of the American dream. They have immigrated, worked hard, and achieved so much. As a result, America is a better place with them in it.

This 4th of July I realized that the celebration of our independence as a nation is encapsulated in the achieved dreams of my new Cambodian-American friends. A holiday that in the past has had so little meaning, now has found a new and more personal significance.

Now What?

2007-07-02T21:03:00.001-07:00

After living in Cambodia for the last couple of years, it seems somewhat strange to be back. We left a country, where life is hard, but simple. Consumerism is a disease of the Western world, time is relative, and friends are much higher on the food chain. Life just goes a little slower in Southeast Asia. Yet, every day in Cambodia can feel like a week. We worked every day, sometimes 16 plus hours a day and we lived right next door to our work. Having wonderful teenage girls, in mass, tossing rocks at your window and yelling your name, can be convincing pressure to go spend personal time with them in the evening. Though invigorating and the reason we went to Cambodia, it can also be wearing.

For those of you who don't know, we spent the last couple of years, establishing and setting up a long-term, high security shelter for victims of child sex trafficking in Cambodia. Our center took in 30 plus girls, Vietnamese and Cambodian, ranging in age from 9-18 years old. As well, we set up a transitional living center to take girls to the next level in assisting them with transitioning into a normal, adult life. Though all of this sounds great - in application, it was a bit more challenging than most people would guess. There have been many challenges, including family pressure, trauma, financial issues, cultural attitudes, and governmental obstacles. Oh, don't let me forget American pride (Western pride really, we don't want to forget the Brits, Aussies, and New Zealander's!)

Yet, for all the challenges, we were able to establish a well running center, a good vocational program, and some solid programs. We pioneered a repatriation program that just returned two wonderful twin sisters back to Vietnam, where they have a chance at a wonderful future. As well, we were able to put together reintegration protocols that will assist our social workers in helping these girls get the best chance at acclimating back into society as healthy adults.

So, when we felt that Cambodian nationals could handle the work, we said we would work ourselves out of a job. And we did. The next question was 'what do we do now?'...

All of a sudden, we had an opportunity to pick where in the World we wanted to be. Athena and I have always loved Oregon and had wanted to move here in the past. We have good memories there, love the weather (yes, I said weather - love the rain, cold, and clouds), and love the area and people. So, Athena and I bought a house back in February and now we are settling in. It has been wonderful here. We live minutes from vineyards, an hour from the beach, and a short drive to hiking, waterfalls, and snow. You really couldn't ask for more...except maybe a job.

What do you do when you have spent the last two years making a dent in child sex trafficking?
A good friend of mine, Trevor, once asked, "how will you top this?" After working for with sexually trafficked and exploited Cambodian and Vietnamese girls, this seemed to be a fair question. One that I am in the process of trying to figure out.

Yet, at the same time, I am 39 years old, not 89 - there is so much life, energy, and passion left in me that this cannot be my magnum opus. Certainly, there is more to do, impact, and explore. As well, we are still involved in the lives of the girls we have been working with...so, where does that leave things?

Well, in July I am doing a golf tournament with the Cambodian community in Portland. Later this year, I will be escorting girls from Cambodia to testify in an American pedophile case and in September, I will be speaking at a conference on child sex trafficking in Toronto, Canada. Life is pretty full. This next year, my oldest daughter, Ashley will be graduating high school, my son, Gabe will be a Sophmore, and Alexis is beginning sixth grade. Athena and I will have our hands full to be sure. We are planning our own non-profit organization, but more on that later...

I am hoping to connect people through this blog to better understand issues of sex trafficking and the work going on in Southeast Asia. American media has portrayed a particular side of the issues, which I think distort our understanding and impact on this vital issue. I hope that you will interact with me, challenge me, and most of all work with me and others to see the travesty of child sex trafficking end.