Human Trafficking Surges in Midst of Pandemic
Help Stop Traffickers From Preying on Victims
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much instability for millions of people, including financial instability. This has, in turn, caused increased vulnerability to human trafficking. Around the world, critical food shortages and strict societal lockdowns have created major problems for those who can’t get to the daily markets to buy or sell food and other goods. Many friends in Africa have told our HOPE61 team that they believe hunger will kill their people long before the virus can reach them. Because humans naturally seek stability, these situations can quickly become untenable, causing desperate people to make poor, uninformed decisions.
Traffickers easily prey on victims with one of their most successful tricks in these times of uncertainty and instability … the promise of a good, well-paying job in another country. This age-old technique works even better now when people’s desperation is unprecedentedly high due to the pandemic. The greatest defense to this trap is the knowledge that the job offer is probably fake and for local church communities to share their God-given gifts and skills with people in their areas to help them secure jobs locally.
Recently, HOPE61 trainer Charles Lubya from Uganda reported on a situation he encountered in the rural eastern region of the country. A teenage girl’s school closed due to the coronavirus, so her family sent her to work on her uncle’s farm. She hoped to earn money for herself and her family, but instead, her uncle abused her and forced her to work hard on the farm. He refused to pay her, saying that food and lodging were sufficient “pay” for her work. The uncle’s abuse grew so violent that she saw no way out of her situation. Seeing no ability to return to school or get away from her abusive uncle, this girl finally took her own life.
As the COVID-19 pandemic eases, human trafficking will skyrocket due to the instability that it has caused. HOPE61 is committed to being on the front lines to prevent this evil scourge, but we must be prepared to act quickly. We want to resume training pastors and other church leaders as soon as it is safe to do so. With that in mind, we are making plans to increase the frequency of training across the globe, and we need your help to do that. Would you prayerfully consider supporting the efforts of HOPE61 to prevent human trafficking and share the Gospel message with the vulnerable in the United States and across the globe? We cannot do it without you!
Last week, a church contacted HOPE61 to share a challenge they wanted to give to other churches and individuals. This body of Christ was the first church in the U.S. to hold an ENGAGE training, and they are passionate about ministering to vulnerable people in their local context and throughout the world. They also understand the power of the HOPE61 curriculum in preventing human trafficking and sharing the Gospel message with people who are vulnerable. The church has given $5,000 to see more people equipped to prevent human trafficking, and they are challenging you to join in the fight. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in total ($5,000 more) by the end of August. How can you help HOPE61 meet that goal?
To give, click here.