Somaly Mam Foundation Established to Combat Sex Slave Trade
New Foundation Helps Victims of Human Trafficking
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Human trafficking is an international scourge that allows unspeakable crimes against young children and women. It is a modern day form of slavery and is often hidden and ignored, said co-founder Nicholas Lumpp. The Somaly Mam Foundation, with the help of US supporters and volunteers, is dedicated not only to helping the victims of these horrendous crimes rebuild their lives, but to stop this atrocity worldwide and provide justice to criminals engaging in these horrific acts of violence.
Each year, more than 1 million young children and women are sold into sexual slavery. Nearly 30% of the victims are between the ages of 9 and 15, and some as young as 5 or 6 years old. The sex slave trade has become the third most profitable criminal industry, behind only narcotics and weapons. Legislation is slow to catch up to the problem, and funding is minimal at best.
The Somaly Mam Foundation, created in September 2007 by Lumpp and Greenberg, is dedicated to educating the world on the effects of human trafficking through ongoing awareness and financial support. The Somaly Mam Foundation will fund international efforts to rescue and reintegrate young children and women who have fallen victim to these crimes.
Initial assistance from The Somaly Mam Foundation will benefit Cambodian-based AFESIP, run by Somaly Mam, a former victim sexual slavery who has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of women and young children. As one of the most prolific activists fighting sexual slavery today, Mam drive stems from her personal experience and passion to care for the victims forced to participate in these dehumanizing crimes. As the Somaly Mam Foundation continues to grow, efforts will move forward with continuing assistance to AFESIP, as well as expanding support to other organizations throughout the world helping combat these crimes against humanity.
Our Foundation strives daily to educate the world on whatis occurring and place the victims in positive environments, furthering the commitment to terminate this brutal trade, said co-founder Jared Greenberg
Most Americans are uneducated on the facts and statistics of human sex trafficking. The Somaly Mam Foundation, with the help of supporters and volunteers worldwide, plans to increase global awareness on this issue and terminate the violent exploits of human trafficking.
About The Somaly Mam Foundation
The Somaly Mam Foundation is a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the ongoing efforts to combat human sex trafficking by rehabilitating those affected by the sex slave trade throughout the world. This U.S.-based foundation aims to create awareness worldwide through educational campaigns and assistance, impacting the lives of thousands of victims every year
Comments
Thank you for being courageous enough to bring this subject matter into the open where we all can band together and create possibilities for these women and children who are enslaved and cannot see what is possible outside of their prisons.
I have just watched your show. Then looked up this website. I just wanted to say you are truly the bravest woman i have ever seen. Also You are Gods warrior. I have prayed that God will send an army of angels to protect you and your children. That he will bless you in every thing that you do. Also that he will make your efforts and this cause known world-wide. That he will shame governments for their lack of co-operation and the corruption that you are dealing with. I pray that God gives you the stength and power to succede in rescuing all the girls and that he will bless your finances and send you rescources to help re-train and heal them physically and mentally.May God truly Bless You I thank you for who you are and want to meet you one day . It would be an honor. Thank you Doug Hughes
UN.GIFT website http://www.ungift.org aims to be an extension of UN GIFT activities worldwide. We would like it to evolve into a vibrant online community where people exchange views, showcase their work, talk about their experiences and strengthen the fight against human trafficking. With your help we can make it a valuable resource and a tool to take this fight forward. The organized crime of human trafficking needs a fitting organized response.
United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) was formally launched in London on 26 March 2007. It is designed to have a long-term impact to create a turning point in the worldwide fight against human trafficking. 27million people are trafficked each year. UN.GIFT intends to take action against human trafficking in all its manifestations – commercial sexual exploitation, bonded labour, organ trade, camel jockeying, forced marriages, domestic labour, illegal adoption, and other exploitative work – through creating partnerships at a global level with all sectors of society.
The ultimate goal of the Global Initiative is to contribute to ending human trafficking– estimated to have a total market value of about $32 billion worldwide. UNODC has a two-pronged strategy for achieving this goal – increasing public awareness of the problem and coordinating existing but disparate efforts by international and national groups, governments and non-governmental organizations and by concerned individuals to end the practice.
Numerous regional GIFT events will culminate in Vienna with a Global Forum against Human Trafficking from 13th to 15th Feb 2008.
The objective of The Vienna Forum is to raise awareness, facilitate cooperation and partnerships among the various stakeholders. It will bring together representatives from Member States, UN system organizations, other regional and international organizations, the business community, academia, non-governmental organizations and other elements of civil society. The Forum will allow for an open environment to enable all parties involved to take concrete steps to fight human trafficking, within their spheres of action.
The Forum will be a catalyst for solution-seeking ideas and address three overriding themes on human trafficking: 1.Vulnerability: why does human trafficking happen;
2. Impact: human and social consequences of human trafficking;
3. Action: innovative approaches to solving complex problems.
· It is time to join forces to prevent human trafficking.
· Give this global problem a global solution.
· Rally under the banner of the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking.
· Get involved!
· Together we can save people and put traffickers behind bars.
Tushar
I have just finished reading Somaly’s book ” the road of lost innocence “. I feel so ashamed as a man that this is happening to beautiful little girls and women. I cried so many times reading that book. I agree with every word that Doug Hughes has written in his comments. It would be a great honour to meet you Somaly and wish that you would visit here in Australia. Thank you for fighting for these helpless girls who are violated purely for greed and pleasure of evil men and then thrown aside like filthy rubbish to die. Somaly you deserve a Noble Peace Prize for your Humanitarian work. Thank you and God Bless you.
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