Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.
~Maori Proverb
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Human trafficking - unexpected demand
WARNING: this post is not for the faint of heart or young adults, some may find the content offensive. Admittedly, the topic is difficult - it has kept me up at night. It is the stuff nightmares and scary movies are made of...proceed at your own risk. Seriously.
I have posted many times about the problem of human trafficking, mostly in the context of Asia and Eastern Europe. You can read those posts here, here, here, here, and here.
Human trafficking is often tied to the sex trade. There is a documented correlation between the two.
Human trafficking can be clearly tied to forced labor...and has been for generations.
The business of trafficking in persons (TIP) in Africa takes on a completely new market demand. The drivers of the African market in persons has challenged everything I thought I knew about this issue. It has opened my eyes to a world outside my realm of experience. I am left clueless at how to respond. If there are any wise people out there who would like to provide advice - I am listening.
In Mozambique, the highest demand for humans is body parts. Often these body parts are harvested from living human beings as they are used in traditional witchcraft rituals and this method of harvesting is believed to be the most powerful. Thousands of children go missing for their organs, including their genitals (yes, even from women). I am not making this up, it is a documented reality. A shocking truth.
It may surprise you to learn that Mozambique is on the tier 2 watch list (T2W) for trafficking in persons. It is not a good rating. There is only one worse. The difference between T2W and tier 3 is whether or not the government is perceived to be making an effort to combat this social ill. Other T2W countries are Afghanistan, Russia, and Thailand.
Prosecution is high on the list of priorities for combating human trafficking in 2010. A recent case publicized in Mozambique made the news, not because of the gruesomeness of the event (it is gruesome), but rather because the perpetrators (one of them being the young man's uncle) received a penalty of 20 years for their actions (the difference in the tier rating). You can read a synopsis from the Associated Press here.
Since moving to Mozambique I have researched this topic and learned there is no internationally accepted definition of trafficking in body parts. There is no proven prevention strategy. There is little support for the survivors of these crimes and the prosecution rate is low. As with all human trafficking networks, they are vast and lucrative.
Once again I am confronted with a difficult issue and I do not know how to respond. What to do? I don't know. What is the right thing to do?
I have not talked about it before now because words escape me, yet I feel compelled to tell this story. This is my humble attempt to shine light in a dark corner of our world.
Sheri
I have posted many times about the problem of human trafficking, mostly in the context of Asia and Eastern Europe. You can read those posts here, here, here, here, and here.
Human trafficking is often tied to the sex trade. There is a documented correlation between the two.
Human trafficking can be clearly tied to forced labor...and has been for generations.
The business of trafficking in persons (TIP) in Africa takes on a completely new market demand. The drivers of the African market in persons has challenged everything I thought I knew about this issue. It has opened my eyes to a world outside my realm of experience. I am left clueless at how to respond. If there are any wise people out there who would like to provide advice - I am listening.
In Mozambique, the highest demand for humans is body parts. Often these body parts are harvested from living human beings as they are used in traditional witchcraft rituals and this method of harvesting is believed to be the most powerful. Thousands of children go missing for their organs, including their genitals (yes, even from women). I am not making this up, it is a documented reality. A shocking truth.
It may surprise you to learn that Mozambique is on the tier 2 watch list (T2W) for trafficking in persons. It is not a good rating. There is only one worse. The difference between T2W and tier 3 is whether or not the government is perceived to be making an effort to combat this social ill. Other T2W countries are Afghanistan, Russia, and Thailand.
Prosecution is high on the list of priorities for combating human trafficking in 2010. A recent case publicized in Mozambique made the news, not because of the gruesomeness of the event (it is gruesome), but rather because the perpetrators (one of them being the young man's uncle) received a penalty of 20 years for their actions (the difference in the tier rating). You can read a synopsis from the Associated Press here.
Since moving to Mozambique I have researched this topic and learned there is no internationally accepted definition of trafficking in body parts. There is no proven prevention strategy. There is little support for the survivors of these crimes and the prosecution rate is low. As with all human trafficking networks, they are vast and lucrative.
Once again I am confronted with a difficult issue and I do not know how to respond. What to do? I don't know. What is the right thing to do?
I have not talked about it before now because words escape me, yet I feel compelled to tell this story. This is my humble attempt to shine light in a dark corner of our world.
Sheri
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
shopping at the market
While on my recent trip to Kenya, some new friends and I perused some of the local handicrafts. They shopped. I looked.
Meet Chuck. He comes from a family of clowns...literally. After I learned this I said, "that explains so much." Why? Hanging with Chuck is a lot of fun and he is often clownin' around. Evidence to come in a future post.
In this photo Chuck is posing in front of an interesting sign. Can you read it? If not, it says "welcome to the new proposed market." Does anything about that seem new? or is it just proposed? You decide.
Meet Alyson. Chuck is her boss. She liked the bust of this wildebeest so much she tried to replicate it.
Being in the market was like taking a mini-safari. We also had a giraffe sighting.
This elephant was my favorite. I wanted to take it home. I seem to have a thing for elephants lately.
Did you see anything you'd like at the market? If you were there, what would you be looking to buy - or would you be like me, just looking?
Sheri
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A recent Sunday...
Recently, I spent a lazy Sunday doing nothing but sitting and reading.
I thought you might appreciate the view.
Ahhh, Africa! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful - wish you were here.
Sheri
Monday, October 18, 2010
Deep thoughts: Marital rape - is it possible?
I recently read an article about a Muslim cleric who declared rape in marriage is not possible as sex is part of the marriage relationship. You can read the article here.
As a Christian, female I must admit there was a time I agreed with this cleric. I struggled with the idea of marital rape. Wouldn't standing before God and witnesses and saying "I do" be considered consent? How could anyone prove otherwise? It's hard enough to prove rape when there is not an existing sexual relationship with the perpetrator.
The dictionary defines rape as an act of sexual intercouse that is forced upon a person. That suggests that every time a couple has sex, consent must be given.
At that time, I was surprised to learn that marital rape is a criminal act in all 50 states in the U.S. (and apparently is also illegal in Britain according to the article). A moral code can differ from our legal code of conduct.
I have come around to believe marital rape does exist and is a painful experience. Rape is a violation. The pain of the violation is not determined by whether the person was a stranger; or living in the same home and sharing a bed. Forced sex is rape. Period.
What do you think? Can rape occur in marriage or is the exchange of vows perpetual consent?
Sheri
As a Christian, female I must admit there was a time I agreed with this cleric. I struggled with the idea of marital rape. Wouldn't standing before God and witnesses and saying "I do" be considered consent? How could anyone prove otherwise? It's hard enough to prove rape when there is not an existing sexual relationship with the perpetrator.
The dictionary defines rape as an act of sexual intercouse that is forced upon a person. That suggests that every time a couple has sex, consent must be given.
At that time, I was surprised to learn that marital rape is a criminal act in all 50 states in the U.S. (and apparently is also illegal in Britain according to the article). A moral code can differ from our legal code of conduct.
I have come around to believe marital rape does exist and is a painful experience. Rape is a violation. The pain of the violation is not determined by whether the person was a stranger; or living in the same home and sharing a bed. Forced sex is rape. Period.
What do you think? Can rape occur in marriage or is the exchange of vows perpetual consent?
Sheri
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