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Keep up to date with all the most recent news from End Slavery Cincinnati!
ESC Cincinnati

Human Trafficking in 2013 - Pimp-Controlled Prostitution, August 15th 


Join us at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center this Thursday, August 15th, from 6-8pm for the next event in our Human Trafficking in 2013 event series. We will be screening a video developed by Polaris Project to show what pimp-controlled prostitution looks like on the streets and in our communities. A panel discussion with local law enforcement and local activists will follow. 

National FBI Sting


The FBI announced this month that 105 children involved in sex trafficking had been rescued in over 76 cities. Through the reported national 72-hour operation, 150 pimps were arrested for the exploitation of minors. Typical victims were found in the age range of 13 to 16. The youngest victim was reported to be 13 years old. Between 70 and 90 percent of the survivors were sexually abused at a very young age, the FBI stated. Traffickers usually target the youth that have family problems with minimal support and low self-esteem. 

In response to the recent arrests of human traffickers in the Greater Cincinnati area, The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program staff and volunteers coordinated efforts to provide services to identified survivors with the Cincinnati FBI Office, Cincinnati Police Department, and Sharonville Police Department. The Anti-Human Trafficking Program, End Slavery, provided services for shelter, abuse treatment, counseling, case management, education assistance and other support systems to help with their recovery. Food, clothes, and other needed essentials were provided to the survivors as well.

Although this operation allowed us to connect with rescued victims, many victims remain in their trafficking situations. If you are interested in volunteering with the Anti-Human Trafficking Program or End Slavery Cincinnati there are many opportunities. This summer we launch our Street Outreach Program. A trained team of volunteers and End Slavery Cincinnati Staff go out to the streets of Cincinnati to connect with women being exploited in the commercial sex industry and to offer support. As a team, we distribute gift bags which include basic essentials for victims and outreach efforts to spread awareness and understanding. We offer encouragement and a source of hope letting trafficking victims know that we are here to serve them. In conjunction to the development of our program, we have been working alongside outside organizations such as Off the Streets, Taymar's Place, and others to support exploited women in getting the resources they need.

For more information on volunteering, you can visit our website. Also, make sure to check out upcoming human trafficking awareness and education events
 
The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program encourages all residents to contact the 24 hour local hotline to report suspicious behavior, to receive crisis intervention, to access referrals and resources for survivors, and to get more information about human trafficking in the area. The hotline number is 513-800-1863.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on how End Slavery Cincinnati is continuing to engage with the community to combat human trafficking. 

Local Activist Spotlight: 
Carol Thorton-Gamble - Off The Streets


“You don’t have to give up your dreams, we’re just going to work it out right now”
 
After recovering from drug addiction and living on the streets for about 13 years herself, Carol Thorton-Gamble has made a career in helping women who currently find themselves in the same situation she escaped 18 years ago. Carol has been one of the leading minds in the manifestation of Off The StreetsSM program. With peer-based service at the crux of its programming, OTS assists women in prostitution move towards recovery, empowerment, and community reintegration.  But now they are encountering more pimps than ever before with the new movement from “trafficking drugs to trafficking flesh.”
 
Within this dynamic of pimp-controlled prostitution, the victimized women face additional obstacles in their rehabilitation. Carol explains that these women have a bond with their trafficker or “pimp” as he once wooed and provided for them. Once the relationship turned into one of more blatant manipulation, they were constantly told they would be nothing without this man. They therefore “need to learn how to be alright with themselves and be able to stand on their own so they are not wooed back in”. This is a difficult task, as they must learn how to take care of themselves and build the self-esteem necessary to obtain employment and self-sufficiency. People like Carol are there to help them approach such a daunting adjustment.  â€œI encourage these ladies to remember what they wanted their life to be like before it spiraled out of control. I tell them ‘you don’t have to give up on your dreams, we’re just going to work it out right now.’” Carol’s inspirational work has led to the successful rehabilitation of many women and she will continue to challenge any rising obstacles in her work and maintain her positive influence in the community.  

Strategic Planning Coalition Meeting - August 21


Our next coalition meeting will be next Wednesday August 21st from 3-5pm at the Health Foundation. We will be discussing our achievements from this past year and requesting feedback and discussion in planning for our next year's efforts.  We look forward to having many folks attend so that we can hear your thoughts and get a strong plan for next year!

In addition, attending this next meeting will provide the opportunity to become a member of the coalition. As a member, you will be able to contribute to combatting human trafficking in your community through attending coalition meetings and engaging in activities.

End Slavery Cincinnati is always accepting new members! 

If you would like to join the Coalition, please contact us.

House Bill 130 has been introduced to the Ohio Senate!  

 
The bill seeks to increase penalties for those seeking commercial sex with minors, to specifically criminalize advertisement of commercial sex via electronic means, and to allow for more effective prosecution of traffickers amongst other provisions.  A short summary of HB130, known as the "End Demand Act" can be viewed on our website.
Please call or email your senator and let them know how you feel about slavery!  Go to the Ohio Senate's website, input your zip code, and find the contact information for your senator.  Compose your own email, or feel free to use the form provided below courtesy of Abolition Ohio:

 
Senator [last name],

I write to urge your support for a senate version of Sub. H.B. 130,
“The End Demand Act,” that passed unanimously in the House on
6/26/2013. Strengthening Ohio’s anti-human trafficking laws is very
important to me and I will appreciate your leadership on this issue.

Sincerely,
[your name]

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PATH-NKY: Ground Zero to Human Trafficking
8/17/13
Visit the PATH website for more information.

Victim Services Committee
8/20/13, 1:30-2:30pm
The Salvation Army

ESC Coalition Meeting
8/21/13, 3-5pm
The Health Foundation

ESC Street Outreach Training
10/10/13, 5:30–7:30pm
The Salvation Army Downtown
 
ESC Street Outreach
10/10/13, 10pm–12am
The Salvation Army Downtown
 
39th NOVA Conference
9/15/13 - 9/18/13
Hyatt Regency - Columbus
The National Organization for Victim Assistance is hosting its annual conference exploring strategies for preventing crime, and supporting crime victims. Click here for more information and to register. 

NKU: Girls Like Us
10/3/13, 6:30-7:30pm
Northern Kentucky University
Rachel Lloyd of GEMS in NY will be speaking about sex trafficking in our community. For more information or to register, click here

Visit our events calendar for upcoming events and coalition/committee meeting information.

If you would like an event added to our calendar of events, please email us
Copyright © End Slavery Cincinnati, All rights reserved.
 
To report a tip or obtain referrals or emergency assistance 24/7, call:
The Greater Cincinnati Human Trafficking Hotline
513-800-1863  
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center
1-888-373-7888

For more information, visit www.endslaverycincinnati.org or contact us.
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