January 16, 2008

Human trafficking: We are all stakeholders

Dear Partners in mission,

Our church partner in India is staying on message. Human trafficking of women and children is an issue requiring broad-based involvement if the tide is going to turn on this horrendous modern-day evil. Concerns about human exploitation and trafficking surface early in the Bible. In Genesis chapter 31, Jacob heatedly confronts Laban about stolen possessions, and Laban answers Jacob by stating his greater concern is for the fate of his daughters and children:

The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.
- Genesis 31:43-44

You may remember in this story a large stone is set up as a pillar to remind them both of the covenant that is called the Mizpah: “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” Laban then reminds Jacob that even if his wives or children are ill-treated and even though “no one is there as a witness, God will be the witness between us”(v. 50).

Those in the Reformed family make a lot of hype about covenants. Fast forward to today and the question becomes: Who is watching over the most vulnerable women and children?

Sikh

Bihar, one of the largest states in India, is responding to the challenges of human trafficking. The Diocese of Patna and the Church of North India hosted a consultation in Bihar called “Tackling Newer Emerging Vulnerabilities Leading To Trafficking in Children and Woman in Bihar.” This consultation included a wider range of folks from different walks of life than previous events.

Christian.

This included a brief visit by the governor of Bihar and the deputy chief minister, activists, nuns, police, pastors, government workers, reporters, teachers, village workers, young and old alike. Their faith affiliations varied, but above all their concern was obvious.

A gripping DVD presentation, “One Life, No Price,” prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, included several leading “Bollywood” actors from India speaking out against human trafficking.  While the high- tech impact of the six individual stories on the DVD was noticeable, stories from the front lines were just as poignant and compelling for folks to get involved at some level.

Muslim.

There is an upsurge in awareness about human trafficking, which is leading to more involvement in anti-trafficking initiatives on several fronts in a growing number of countries. The amount of money involved in this modern-day slave trade is mind-boggling.

South Asia is home to one fifth of the of the world’s population. Of that number, approximately 500 million live on an income of less than $1.00 a day, making women and children the most vulnerable of the vulnerable. India is a source, transit, and destination country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. The impact of human trafficking affects every sector of society and has no respect for class, color, or creed.

Hindu.

Our media continues to play a significant role in raising awareness and exposing the complexity of issues around human trafficking. We have heard from several of you that the subject of human trafficking is surfacing in your media sources. We firmly believe that people of faith must be in the forefront of protecting the vulnerable, seeking justice for perpetrators, and restoring dignity by offering re-habilitation to victims.

The importance of this issue has not gone un-noticed by the Presbyterian Women’s office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has chosen to make human trafficking a focus issue over the next three years.

Pray for those involved in addressing human trafficking, and please take time to:

• become aware of the issues surrounding human trafficking
• seek ways to make a difference where you are through your church.

Who from among us will watch over those unjustly separated from their loved ones? Will our covenant commitment move us to involvement? 

In Christ’s Service

David, Sue, and Mary Hudson
Delhi, India