Amnesty tribute to President Vaclav Havel
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Slavery behind my door « The Tamarind
http://thetamarind.eu/en/2011/12/21/english-slavery-behind-my-door/
The Tamarind
The word ‘slavery’ may make
The Tamarind
The word ‘slavery’ may make
us think about past history or distant
societies, but the contemporary
realities are little different.
When asked by a researcher working
on the subject, Xavier, 44, a modern day slave in Amazonia, Brazil
reported: “They thrashed me with a whip. I treated the cuts with oil
from a tree. But when the overseer saw that they were healing, he
threw gasoline over them, and then I saw stars.
Going further in investigating such realities, it soon becomes apparent
that the majority of workers in India and Pakistan are in bonded labour,
that child labour in sub-Saharan countries is considered “normal”, and
that coerced female prostitution is one of the biggest tourist attractions
in Thailand.
The list continues dramatically, when looking at the working conditions of
eastern and southern countries: forced labour is not only still alive, but
often takes place in broad daylight.
The problem is far reaching: slavery is a plague that affects even the
United Kingdom. The only difference is that we hide it, and people
generally ignore the underbelly of what is labelled the “informal economy”.
Talking with activists of the non-profit organization Anti-slavery
International (ASI), based in London, they reported the words of a
domestic worker, who didn’t wish to be named, and who used to
work for a couple in their twenties in London: “I would get up at 6am
and work all day until after midnight. I never had any breaks, or
the time to take a bath or sometimes even to go to the toilet. I was
only allowed one day off a month and I wasn’t ever allowed to
leave the house” (M/F) Her example is just one of thousands '
estimated.
Ironically the United Kingdom is one of the leading states
fighting slavery, since its elimination from the colonies in 1807. The
British government has also institutionalized a national “Anti-Slavery Day”
on every 18th of October, which was commemorated for the second
time this year.
“The day was thought to increase awareness among people.” explained
Paul Donohoe who works at ASI: ”We went out doing education in
schools and we launched new campaigns against trafficking.”
More than 4,000 labourer are trafficked in the UK every year,
to be coerced into work such as domestic labour or prostitution.
Given that enslavement is illegal, the entire trade of slavery is hidden
in the hands of a few traffickers, working as the missing link between
entrepreneurs and slaves, and who are often settled in developed
countries.
According to the International Labour Organization the market in trafficking
produces $32 million of profit. “Making use of the Antislavery Day,”
continued Mr. Donohoe, “we called on people to sign a document asking
the UK Government to incorporate a proposed EU directive designed to
protect victims of trafficking and increase prosecutions of traffickers.”
Organizations that work to protect human rights and labour freedoms
strongly believe in the necessity of an international governmental coalition
in eradicating forced labour. To date 27 million people live under
conditions of slavery, producing only $13 million of extra profit (less than
what the United States spends on Valentine’s Day). (M/F)
Though the new Antislavery Day may succeed in raising awareness among
some Britons, these are the real images of deep economic exploitation
across several different countries and cultures.
that child labour in sub-Saharan countries is considered “normal”, and
that coerced female prostitution is one of the biggest tourist attractions
in Thailand.
The list continues dramatically, when looking at the working conditions of
eastern and southern countries: forced labour is not only still alive, but
often takes place in broad daylight.
The problem is far reaching: slavery is a plague that affects even the
United Kingdom. The only difference is that we hide it, and people
generally ignore the underbelly of what is labelled the “informal economy”.
Talking with activists of the non-profit organization Anti-slavery
International (ASI), based in London, they reported the words of a
domestic worker, who didn’t wish to be named, and who used to
work for a couple in their twenties in London: “I would get up at 6am
and work all day until after midnight. I never had any breaks, or
the time to take a bath or sometimes even to go to the toilet. I was
only allowed one day off a month and I wasn’t ever allowed to
leave the house” (M/F) Her example is just one of thousands '
estimated.
Ironically the United Kingdom is one of the leading states
fighting slavery, since its elimination from the colonies in 1807. The
British government has also institutionalized a national “Anti-Slavery Day”
on every 18th of October, which was commemorated for the second
time this year.
“The day was thought to increase awareness among people.” explained
Paul Donohoe who works at ASI: ”We went out doing education in
schools and we launched new campaigns against trafficking.”
More than 4,000 labourer are trafficked in the UK every year,
to be coerced into work such as domestic labour or prostitution.
Given that enslavement is illegal, the entire trade of slavery is hidden
in the hands of a few traffickers, working as the missing link between
entrepreneurs and slaves, and who are often settled in developed
countries.
According to the International Labour Organization the market in trafficking
produces $32 million of profit. “Making use of the Antislavery Day,”
continued Mr. Donohoe, “we called on people to sign a document asking
the UK Government to incorporate a proposed EU directive designed to
protect victims of trafficking and increase prosecutions of traffickers.”
Organizations that work to protect human rights and labour freedoms
strongly believe in the necessity of an international governmental coalition
in eradicating forced labour. To date 27 million people live under
conditions of slavery, producing only $13 million of extra profit (less than
what the United States spends on Valentine’s Day). (M/F)
Though the new Antislavery Day may succeed in raising awareness among
some Britons, these are the real images of deep economic exploitation
across several different countries and cultures.
Human trafficking decision will allow class action suits for guest workers, says civil rights groups | Government Security News
http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/25291?c=access_control_identification
Wed, 2011-12-21 07:39 AM
A federal judge’s decision to grant class action status to a group of immigrant Filipino teachers who were allegedly duped into forced labor in Louisiana could be used to protect other guest workers in the U.S., said the civil rights group representing the teachers.
A recent ruling by federal judge in the Central District of California granted class action status in a human trafficking lawsuit involving more than 350 Filipino teachers is the first time the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) has been applied to a group of people, rather than just individual victims, said the Southern Poverty Law Center on Dec. 20. The ruling, it said, sets a precedent by showing that the TVPA's legal protections can be applied on a class-wide basis.
The most recent ruling, said the group, follows another significant decision by a judge that allowed the TVPA to apply to teachers. According to the SPLC, in making the ruling, the judge recognized congress intended the law to extend to cases involving more subtle forms of coercion and not only cases of physical force, restraint or direct threats.
SPLC and the other groups filed the suit on behalf of the Filipino guest workers who said they were lured from their home country to teach in Louisiana public schools only to be forced into exploitive contracts by labor contractors. The lawsuit accuses officials of two labor contractors – Universal Placement International, based in Los Angeles, and its sister organization, Manila-based PARS International Placement Agency – of human trafficking and racketeering.
The SPLC filed its lawsuit, Nunag Tanedo v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in August 2010. The teachers are represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Federation of Teachers and the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP. The lawsuit is scheduled for trial next July.
The teachers began arriving in the United States in 2007 as part of the H-1B guest worker program, which is administered by the Department of Labor and permits foreign nationals with special skills to work in the United States for a period of up to six years. According to SPLC, most of the teachers involved in the suit, paid about $16,000 to obtain their jobs.
Nearly all the teachers had to borrow money to pay the recruiting fees, said SPLC. The recruiters referred the teachers to private lenders who charged three to five percent interest per month, it said. Teachers were forced to pay the fees because they had already made substantial financial investments that would not be returned. The recruiters confiscated their passports and visas until they paid, according to SPLC.
The civil rights group said the teachers were also forced to sign away an additional 10 percent of the salaries they would earn during their second year of teaching. Teachers who resisted signing the contracts were threatened with being sent home and losing the thousands they had already paid, it said.
"This is a significant decision that offers great hope for the more than 350 Filipino teachers victimized by this abusive scheme," said Jim Knoepp, a Southern Poverty Law Center attorney on the case. "It also sets a powerful legal precedent that will help many more human trafficking victims receive justice."
“The judge’s decision is great news for education workers and for students,” said Lorretta Johnson, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers. “Not only does it bring these teachers one step closer to justice, it sends the message that recruiters who make a profit by taking advantage of workers will not be tolerated. The AFT applauds this decision and vows to continue in our mission to make sure all educational employees, who make a difference every day in the lives of students, are treated with fairness and respect.”
Wed, 2011-12-21 07:39 AM
 |
A federal judge’s decision to grant class action status to a group of immigrant Filipino teachers who were allegedly duped into forced labor in Louisiana could be used to protect other guest workers in the U.S., said the civil rights group representing the teachers.
A recent ruling by federal judge in the Central District of California granted class action status in a human trafficking lawsuit involving more than 350 Filipino teachers is the first time the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) has been applied to a group of people, rather than just individual victims, said the Southern Poverty Law Center on Dec. 20. The ruling, it said, sets a precedent by showing that the TVPA's legal protections can be applied on a class-wide basis.
The most recent ruling, said the group, follows another significant decision by a judge that allowed the TVPA to apply to teachers. According to the SPLC, in making the ruling, the judge recognized congress intended the law to extend to cases involving more subtle forms of coercion and not only cases of physical force, restraint or direct threats.
SPLC and the other groups filed the suit on behalf of the Filipino guest workers who said they were lured from their home country to teach in Louisiana public schools only to be forced into exploitive contracts by labor contractors. The lawsuit accuses officials of two labor contractors – Universal Placement International, based in Los Angeles, and its sister organization, Manila-based PARS International Placement Agency – of human trafficking and racketeering.
The SPLC filed its lawsuit, Nunag Tanedo v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in August 2010. The teachers are represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Federation of Teachers and the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP. The lawsuit is scheduled for trial next July.
The teachers began arriving in the United States in 2007 as part of the H-1B guest worker program, which is administered by the Department of Labor and permits foreign nationals with special skills to work in the United States for a period of up to six years. According to SPLC, most of the teachers involved in the suit, paid about $16,000 to obtain their jobs.
Nearly all the teachers had to borrow money to pay the recruiting fees, said SPLC. The recruiters referred the teachers to private lenders who charged three to five percent interest per month, it said. Teachers were forced to pay the fees because they had already made substantial financial investments that would not be returned. The recruiters confiscated their passports and visas until they paid, according to SPLC.
The civil rights group said the teachers were also forced to sign away an additional 10 percent of the salaries they would earn during their second year of teaching. Teachers who resisted signing the contracts were threatened with being sent home and losing the thousands they had already paid, it said.
"This is a significant decision that offers great hope for the more than 350 Filipino teachers victimized by this abusive scheme," said Jim Knoepp, a Southern Poverty Law Center attorney on the case. "It also sets a powerful legal precedent that will help many more human trafficking victims receive justice."
“The judge’s decision is great news for education workers and for students,” said Lorretta Johnson, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers. “Not only does it bring these teachers one step closer to justice, it sends the message that recruiters who make a profit by taking advantage of workers will not be tolerated. The AFT applauds this decision and vows to continue in our mission to make sure all educational employees, who make a difference every day in the lives of students, are treated with fairness and respect.”
Area preps for Super Bowl sex traffic | WLFI - Lafayette, Indiana
http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/crime/area-preps-for-super-bowl-sex-traffic
Police training to fight sex trafficking locally
Updated: Wednesday, 21 Dec 2011, 5:43 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 21 Dec 2011, 5:37 PM EST
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Super fans often follow the Super Bowl every year, and with them a major opportunity for tourism dollars, even in areas as far away as Tippecanoe County. But there is a darker side to those tourism dollars, in the form of human trafficking, and local authorities are already gearing up to fight it this February.
"The challenge here locally is we're so close to the Indianapolis market, and obviously, we're going to have a Super Bowl crowd. It's going to increase the presence of sexual trafficking and prostitution to a level we've never seen before," said Tippecanoe County prosecutor Pat Harrington.
The prosecutor's office and law enforcement officials in Tippecanoe County are all being specially trained to spot and prosecute sex trafficking and prostitution in our area.
"I think not only are we expecting to see it, we already have it. I don't think, this is basically organized crime that's doing this. They aren't going to wait until a week before the Super Bowl to figure out how to run their operations. They already know the lay of the land," said Harrington.
So why during the Super Bowl? Lafayette Police believe it's due to the size and scope of the sporting event. They said it's likely organized crime rings are already readying themselves to supply the specific needs of certain travelers.
"They have a different type of sexual desire than most. And so they request services, sexual services, whether it be female or male prostitution. And it's a niche market, and it exists within this realm," said Lieutenant Tom Davidson, a detective with the Lafayette Police Department.
Officers are depending on hotel clerks to be their first line of defense, asking them to report anything suspicious they may see.
"We'll go to the hotels. And explain to them what to look for. Individuals coming in without bags. Probably an older gentleman and a younger female, or even a younger male, with no bags," said Lt. Davidson.
But once caught, it may not be so easy for area prosecutors to charge offenders. When a prostitute in a traveling ring is both witness and victim, oftentimes a case can slip through the hands of authorities.
"They're usually bonded out quickly, and they can disappear on us. They're not local, so as a victim or witness, they're free to go anywhere they want. So when it comes time eight months later, or six months later, to try the case, our witnesses may not be around anymore," said Harrington.
Several officers and employees from the prosecutor's office have already attended specialized federal training to spot and prosecute these sex crimes.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Lebanon joins the Blue Heart campaign against human trafficking
UNODC.ORG
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2011/December/lebanon-joins-the-blue-heart-campaign-against-human-trafficking.html?ref=fs1 
20 December 2011 - High-level representatives of the Government of Lebanon led government officials, local non-governmental organizations, media and UNODC staff in the official launch of the Blue Heart Campaign in Beirut last weekend.
"The Government of Lebanon is ready to act to end trafficking in persons in the country," said Prime Minister Mikati in a statement read on his behalf. "We shall utilize all possible resources available to us to help to spread awareness among the public and to ensure justice for victims of trafficking. Through the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior, my Government will improve on efforts to better equip law enforcement officials, judges and social workers to be sensitive to dealing with human trafficking cases," he added.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Masood Karimipour, Regional Representative of the UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, said: "We are very pleased to note that Lebanon is the first country in the region to join the Blue Heart campaign. We were also pleased to note that, despite the many challenges faced by the country, Lebanon adopted an anti-trafficking law on 1 September 2011."
Lebanon's new anti-trafficking law was developed in line with the provisions of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Among other things, the new law establishes human trafficking as an offence punishable by 5 to 10 years' imprisonment. It exempts victims of organized crime from punishment and sets out adequate measures to protect victims and witnesses.
"We are proud of our collaboration in Lebanon with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior. We thank our donors, the Netherlands and Switzerland, for their unwavering support of our efforts to fight human trafficking. I also salute the work on the ground of the Directorate of General Security, as well as NGOs and civil society, who are raising awareness and protecting victims. UNODC fully supports the Government of Lebanon in its efforts against human trafficking and other challenges, including drug control and crime prevention," added Mr. Karimipour.
Mr. Karimipour announced that under the UNODC Regional Programme on Drug Control, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Reform in the Arab States 2011-2015, the Office is initiating a regional effort against human trafficking, in cooperation with Arab countries and the League of Arab States and with the support of Qatar and Norway.
As part of awareness-raising efforts under the Blue Heart campaign in Lebanon, UNODC has supported local NGO Caritas Migrants and law enforcement officials in publishing booklets in local languages for vulnerable groups such as domestic workers. The booklets, to be distributed at airports, provide information about forms of human trafficking and the recently adopted anti-trafficking law.
UNODC has unveiled a national billboard advertising campaign on the Blue Heart Campaign, published advertisements in magazines and on related websites and organized forums on human rights issues and human trafficking in several Lebanese schools. Blue Heart Campaign stands have also been established at some main shopping malls in the city to provide information on the campaign and the law against human trafficking.
The Blue Heart Campaign seeks to encourage involvement and inspire action to help to stop the crime of human trafficking. It allows people to show solidarity with the victims of such trafficking by wearing the Blue Heart, and aims to make the Blue Heart an international symbol against human trafficking.
Related information:
Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking
Related articles
Anti Human Trafficking Efforts: Using Internet and Social Media!
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11127668/content/89094436-anti-slavery
1 of 6
Use of Internet and Social Media to Strengthen Anti Human
Trafficking Efforts!
Muhammad Saad Khan believes that
the Internet and social media are important tools that the
anti-human trafficking movement can use to fight this horrific crime.
Check out his article:
Muhammad Saad Khan is a social activist and a volunteer
for anti human trafficking programs around the globe. He
is a member of FreedomNow, a community-built knowledge-
based group to counter human trafficking. He is also a stringer for Allvoices
and is based in Karāchi, Sind, Pakistan,
Monday, December 19, 2011
Have you got a policy on slavery? - Viewpoint - supplychainstandard.com
ww.supplychainstandard.com/Articles/3834/Have+you+got+a+policy+on+slavery.html
Are you able to set out your efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from your supply chain? From 1st January you will need to be able to do that if you want to do business in California - that is when the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 comes into force. 
- Published:
- 19 December 2011
- Channel:
- The Blog
The bill was approved by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in September last year, and covers all companies with worldwide sales of more than $100m and sales of $500,000+ in California. It specifically targets supply chains for tangible goods offered for sale. Provisions include:
* Verification of product supply chains to evaluate and address risks of human trafficking and slavery.
* Audits of suppliers to evaluate supplier compliance with company standards for trafficking and slavery in supply chains.
* Internal accountability standards and procedures for employees or contractors failing to meet company standards regarding slavery and trafficking.
* Training for employees on human trafficking and slavery, particularly with respect to mitigating risks within the supply chains of products.
Already major US corporations like GE have statements on their web sites setting out their policy and action relating to this law.
While California has taken the lead with this legislation, it seems likely that other US states will follow.
David Schilling of the Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility, says: “We believe that additional legislation, at both the state and federal levels, addressing these egregious human rights violations in company supply chains is inevitable.”
Much of the impact of this kind of legislation comes from the trickle-down effect. Companies that are affected directly then look to their suppliers to comply. So if you haven’t been asked the question yet, it’s probably only a matter of time.
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