Swords into plowshares
About this blog
Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
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- Hold Sudanese Human Rights Violators Accountable!
- US remarks at high-level talks on trafficking
- Three Prayer Concerns - May 16
- Three Prayer Concerns - May 9
- A New Method of Healing for a Wounded World
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Posts with tag: human trafficking
March 26, 2013Human trafficking is focus of church consultation in Cuba
Last week, I joined members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in Cuba to focus on human trafficking. The consultation provided the opportunity to meet with global church partners to explore ways that our churches can work together to stop human trafficking.
Below is a press release from the World Communion of Reformed Churches outlining the consultation.
Human trafficking is focus of church
consultation in Cuba
Human trafficking in the Caribbean is the focus of an international consultation getting underway today in Cuba. Church-based justice advocates are concerned about the sale of human beings across borders for the sex ...
March 25, 2013
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Today, we honor the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We remember this terrible history and are reminded today that slavery still exists in our world.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Human Trafficking Roundtable continues to work on ending modern slavery here in the United States and with our partners around the world.
Below is a statement from Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations:
Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on International Day of Remembrance of the Victims ...
March 12, 2013
The Tragedy and Triumph of An Empty Stomach
... as my grandmother used to say there is always a BUT ...
Those words serve as a pivotal moment in a powerful sermon of hope preached by the Rev. Laetitia Wells at Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church in New York on Sunday. Using Jesus' familiar story of the prodigal son as her text, the Rev. Wells explored the role of hope in our lives.
Supply pastor of St. Paul Presbyterian Church in High Point, NC and works as a mental health counselor at the Hughes Center for Exceptional Children, the Rev. Wells is in New York as part of the Presbyterian delegation ...
January 11, 2013
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
January 11, 2013 marks Human Trafficking Awareness Day. 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Because of the groundbreaking work of our ancestors, slavery was outlawed in the United States. However the legacies of chattle slavery continue to haunt our society even as we turn to face a new form of slavery: human trafficking.
You can learn what the United Nations is doing on human trafficking by going to UN GIFT (UN Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking). To find out more about a specific country, you can access the US State Department's Trafficking In Persons Report ...
December 2, 2012
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Today is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Human Trafficking Roundtable has ways for Presbyterians to get involved in ending modern day slavery.
Below is the statement from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Eighty-five years have passed since the entry into force of the Slavery Convention, yet this dehumanizing practice has acquired new manifestations in the 21st century.
Every day, in all regions of the world, women are trafficked, sold and locked in brothels for sexual exploitation. Little girls are forcibly married, sexually abused and used as domestic workers. Children work in ...
December 2, 2012
Actions for the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
UN Resources:
- Slavery Abolition Day
- Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking
- Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
PC(USA) Resources:
Prayer:
Prayer (Jer. 31:15-17 adapted)
A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.
But God, you say to us:
Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears;
for there is a reward for your work.
God, as you have promised, so we pray,
that exiles shall come ...
August 4, 2012
Why are the hands red?
"Why are the hands red?"
The children's summer program from the First Chinese Presbyterian Church of New York City had come to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations to learn about child soldiers and to participate in the Red Hand Campaign.
Due to the size of the group - 74 children and 12 counselors, we met at the Church of the Covenant. As always, we are grateful to our partners there.
After words of welcome and opening prayer, Elodie de Bethmann and Johnstuart Winchell started the day with singing. The counselors followed with another song. Great energy and enthusiasm ...
May 7, 2012
A conversation on human trafficking
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations invites you to
A Conversation on Human Trafficking with
Noelle Damico
Associate for Fair Food, Presbyterian Hunger Program
Thursday, May 10
10:30 AM – Noon
Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
777 UN Plaza, 7th Floor
Noelle Damico brings extensive experience and expertise to the topic. She has been a keynote panelist at the US Department of Justice’s National Human Trafficking Conference in 2010, a keynote speaker at the Houston Rescue and Restore National Conference in 2011, and a keynote speaker at the Freedom Network USA’s 2009 conference. She has also ...
February 22, 2012
Responding to child labor trafficking
What can we do to address human trafficking – particularly child labor trafficking?
The participants in the Central New York Presbytery Partnership Group seminar at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations identified the following ideas to use in their congregations, schools, and communities:
- Learn about the Presbyterian Human Trafficking Roundtable
- Use Fair Trade products
- Find a list of products from the PC(USA)
- Learn about the PC(USA)’s Global Marketplace
- See Fair Trade USA’s products page - companies listed here are not evaluated by the PC(USA)
- Use Sweat-Free T-Shirts for groups or sports teams
- Support the Presbyterian ...
January 6, 2012
Human Trafficking Awareness Day, January 11
January 11 is designated as Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The PC(USA) Human Trafficking Round Table provides the following information for this day:
January 2012 – Over 12.3 million people are estimated to work in conditions of forced labor world-wide according to the International Labour Organisation. On January 11th, consider marking human trafficking day with prayer and action.
Use these liturgical resources suitable for Sunday worship.
Learn more what products of slavery are produced with child and slave labor through this interactive website from Anti-Slavery International.
Estimate your “slavery footprint”.
Learn about the work of the UN Global Initiative ...
November 21, 2011
Take opposition to sex slavery and trafficking on the road
Looking for a stocking stuffer?
Consider a TassaTag.
TassaTags are 4"x6" bright, hand-woven cotton luggage tags. TassaTags serve a much larger purpose than simply helping you spot your luggage.
Each purchase of a TassaTag supports ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking), a non-profit children's rights organization whose mission is to protect children in the US and abroad from commercial sexual exploitation. ECPAT-USA is a partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
TassaTags are fair trade products. Women at The Regina Center in Nongkhai, Thailand make the tags. This project enables women to stay in their villages and ...
March 19, 2011
What do we do?
We ansered that question on Friday for a group from First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Indiana. At the end of a long day, at the end of a long week, the group arrived at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United...
April 30, 2010
Oración por la tragedia humana que esconde el problema migratorio
Many thanks to our colleague in ministry, the Rev. José Luis Casal, General Missioner of Tres Rios Presbytery for sharing this prayer. Santo Dios, Tu presencia trasciende todas las fronteras creadas por los seres humanos pero tu amor cruza por...
April 30, 2010
A prayer for the human tragedy behind immigration
Many thanks to our colleague in ministry, the Rev. José Luis Casal, General Missioner of Tres Rios Presbytery for sharing this prayer. Holy God, Your presence transcends all human made borders and your love crosses all boundaries. Help us join...
January 30, 2010
Seeking Peace
Seeking Peace is one of the enewsletters published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. It comes out about every other week and contains ideas for ways that individuals can work for peace and justice. Subscribe online or by sending us an...
January 18, 2010
National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Insisting that fighting modern-day slavery is a shared responsibility President Barack Obama urged all Americans to educate themselves on the signs and consequences of human trafficking, declaring January to be National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Work on human trafficking is...