In Honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Renewal Center for Battered Women Ministry, Inc.
Presents
Tell Your Story: Dispelling the Darkness of Sex Trafficking
October 12, 2024
What Is Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking involves dealing in or trading in something illegal. It is a form of human trafficking carried out for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced labor, or other illegal acts.
A working definition of sex trafficking is a crime that involves the exploitation of an individual through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary labor or a commercial sex act. Exploitation refers to taking advantage of someone for personal or financial gain while stripping them of autonomy, dignity, and safety.
Sexual abuse and trafficking are not new phenomena. Although the terminology has changed over time to reflect modern language, women and children have been exploited since before biblical times and across every culture in the world.
In the United States, sexual abuse and rape date back as far as 1492, during the founding of America under Christopher Columbus. This history reminds us that sexual exploitation has long been present and continues to require awareness, education, and action.
Scripture and Reflection
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. They shall be called the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61 1 through 3
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be. That which is done is that which shall be done. There is no new thing under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1 9
Sources
Sources: Columbia University https://freedomandcitizenship https://allintulane.edu www.rainn.org/articles/casaveact.org
Freedom and Citizenship Initiative
Tulane University All In
RAINN
CASA and VAWA resources
renewal.center 