Justice Initiative

The Social Justice Ministries Dept of YWAM Network of City Initiatives has three key functions in two prime areas of engagement. The areas of engagement are,

• Anti Human Trafficking Efforts
• Refugee Resettlement

The three key functions are,

• Serving YWAM
• Serving the local Church
• Serving the wider community

Anti Human Trafficking Efforts

• Definitions
• US protocols and procedures
• Our international commitments
• Summary of services and “What you can do”!

Definitions

Human trafficking is a crime against humanity that is growing at an alarming scale. It is modern day slavery and differs from slavery of old in that it emphasizes the disposability of people rather the keeping of people for profit. The legal definition of human trafficking in the United States is, “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person through force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of a commercial sex act, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under 18 years of age. Or the providing or obtaining the labor or services of a person through threats of serious harm to that person or another, any scheme, plan, or pattern that places the victim in fear of serious harm, or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process”. Human trafficking is therefore the illegal use of people through commercial sex or forced labor.

Sadly human trafficking is taking place throughout the world. Men, women and children from vulnerable communities and situations are lured primarily through false relationships, fake job offers and abduction into a life of abuse, no pay, no dignity, no freedom of movement and no hope. Victims are often beaten, raped and sometimes branded. Their documentation is removed and they frequently suffer severe forms of psychological trauma. It is estimated that there are 27 million victims of human trafficking in the world. Estimates state that about 17,500 per year are entering the USA as modern day slaves. The estimated profits of organized crime from human trafficking each year are in the tens of billions of dollars. It is estimated that half of the victims in the United States are under the age of 18. According to Polaris Project, 100,000 children are being exploited in the sex trade in the United States every year.

US Protocols and Procedures

Though we can provide technical assistance on procedures and protocols internationally, our main area of expertise the United States. In 2000 the Trafficking Victim Protection act became law. It has since had three amendments in 2003, 2005 and 2008. This act created a protocol for service provision for victims that have entered the United States from other countries and recognized the reality of the trafficking of US Citizens. Service delivery is different for these two populations.

Non US Citizens
Non US citizens, once formally identified as victims of human trafficking by law enforcement, are eligible for pre certification services (also known as continued presence). This service and the basic needs of the victim are met by the organization that is registered to do this in your community. This organization is usually funded by the Office of Victims of Crime and/or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Victims receive temporary safe housing, temporary social security card and basic needs of food, clothing and health care. Once stability has been established, the victims is served longer term by a designated refugee resettlement agency. This agency serves the victim with case management similar to that of a newly arrived refugee. These services include, longer-term housing, employment assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, ESL, health and mental health assistance and legal assistance. If the victim is assisting law enforcement in some way, they are eligible to apply for a “T Visa” which enables them to remain in the US longer and can lead to permanent residency and citizenship. Family members also be eligible to join the victim. This process involves a complex system of partnerships with,

• Health and mental health organizations
• Employers of good will
• Local and Federal Law enforcement
• Local legal services
• Property managers
• Local County benefits offices
• Education community

To find out about the agencies providing these services in your area please call 303-261-2948 or e-mail phil@gazley.org

US Citizens
The majority of victims within the U.S. that are U.S. citizens are homeless or “runaway” youth. Estimates range between there being 180,000 to 300,000 young people on the streets of the nation each night that are potential victims. A person will approach most potential victims where it could lead to human trafficking within 48 hours of being on the street.

There are no official protocols for victim services for US citizen victims. It is therefore vital that city and state anti trafficking networks strategically partner together with all relevant parties to serve the housing, basic needs, health and mental health needs of a victim. Protocols also need to be developed for communication with law enforcement, education, employment, ESL and family reunification where needed. These services are developing differently within states and cities. The Government is now releasing funding to help domestic victims through the Office of Victims of Crime.

Our International Commitments

We have provided technical assistance for programs in over a dozen countries and have specific commitments to Albania and N.W. Africa. Please call 303-261-2948 for more information.

Summary of Services and “What You Can Do”

• Human trafficking task force training for local churches
• Practical tools for engagement in your community
• Network development for state and citywide partnerships
• Teaching in YWAM schools on social justice, the Holy Spirit, missions, leadership development and community pastoral care.
• Teaching and training for faith and non-faith groups. This includes awareness and direct engagement principles
• Short term anti trafficking outreach training for YWAM communities and local churches
• Provision of anti trafficking materials including for specific countries you wish to focus on
• Short term anti trafficking trips to Albania and Mauritania – Call for more info!
• Case referral to law enforcement, legal and victim service providers
• Ask us about pre certification case management

What You Can Do!

Anyone can do something to stop modern day slavery. We express this through the word “DREAM” as the first letter os the 5 key areas of engagement.

• Direct Services
• Research
• Education and awareness
• Advocacy
• Media

Direct Services – Start an outreach to homeless and at-risk youth in your community. This involves significant time commitment to build trust and relationship. It also involves being available through the night. You can contact us on referrals for receiving training.

Anti trafficking short-term outreaches. Contact us for training on how do an outreach that combines the raising of awareness and direct service.

Research – Community Needs Assessments and data collection are vital to understanding how services should be provided in a community. Contact us for information on how this can be done in your region.

Education and awareness – Spreading the word on the reality of trafficking, how to identify potential victims and encouraging people in what they can makes a difference in freeing victims and exposing traffickers. One useful tool for which we provide training is gas station outreach. This involves distributing materials to gas stations that might identify potential victims in closed up vans. Please see our materials section for tools you can use in your community.

Advocacy – Around the world, the changing of legislation and the exposing of corruption is a key part of the prevention, protection and prosecution so key to ending human trafficking. Get involved by checking out our advocacy Facebook page every month.

Media and the arts – Much is being done to raise awareness about human trafficking through the making of documentaries, music, fine arts and other media and creative means. For information on materials for projects please call us. We will also provide information on current projects we are aware of that might avoid the duplication of projects.

Services to YWAM

• Training on procedures and protocols for engaging in anti trafficking ministry
• Principles for practical engagement
• Speaking and teaching in schools and to staff
• Training for school outreaches including,
  • High school presentations
  • Community Needs Assessments
  • Community awareness seminars
  • How to connect with government, law enforcement and victim service providers
  • Principles for working directly with victims
  • Gas station outreach
• Information on human trafficking in countries and people groups

Serving the local Church and the wider community

• Training on procedures and protocols for engaging in anti trafficking efforts
• Principles for practical engagement
• Speaking and teaching in churches and community groups
• Training for church outreaches including,
  • High school presentations
  • Community Needs Assessments
  • Community awareness seminars
  • How to connect with government, law enforcement and victim service providers
  • Principles for working directly with victims
  • Gas station outreach
• Information on human trafficking in countries and people groups. This can be helpful for missionaries in your church.
• Referrals to anti trafficking originations that best relate to your interest
• Training for the development of church and city-wide anti trafficking networks
• Assist your church in preventing trafficking through awareness in your church and through sex and gambling addiction programs having a trafficking component and through teaching that pornography funds the trafficking of women and children throughout the world.

Serving the displaced in practical ways that demonstrate the compassion of Christ

• Forming teams to serve newly arriving refugee families
• Having a team approach to serving at-risk youth in your community
• Helping asylees in your community to access services
• Helping immigrant families to access health service
• Raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking to refugee and immigrant communities

For information on any of these practical ways to serve, please see our refugee section or please contact us.

Refugee Resettlement

• The process
• A team approach – Co-Sponsorship
• Other ways you can help

The Process

There are approximately 12 million refugees in the world at this moment. These are people that have been forced across an international boundary as a result of race, religion, war, and valid claims of persecution, political reasons and sometimes-natural disasters. Many refugees have horrific journeys to find refugee camps and then often find themselves with few choices. Most refugees and remained in camps upon arrival for five years or more. This is sometimes called refugee warehousing and is a serious social justice issue that receives little focus.

Upon entry, refugees are interviewed by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and upon proof of a valid threat of persecution are asked 3 questions,

• Can you be repatriated? (Can you go home)?
• Is 2nd country resettlement an option? (Can you forge a life in the country where you are now)?
• Would you consider 3rd country resettlement? (Would you be willing to start a whole new life in a whole new nation where the chances are high that you will no longer be a resident in your country of origin)?

In most cases people remain, holding on to the hope of peace and change that would enable them to return home. The answer to the first two questions is usually no. Those that choose the 3rd country resettlement become part of a program that resettles refugees in numerous countries around the globe. The main countries in involved in the program are the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. The different countries have different policies and procedures as to how they serve the individuals and families that come as refugees to their nation. The goals of resettlement are always cultural adjustment, gainful employment, self-sufficiency and productivity in society.

Resettlement in the U.S.
There are eleven organizations recognized by the federal government to serve newly arriving refugees. These agencies provide case management, employment assistance, housing, benefits assistance, health care referrals and cultural mentoring. To be in an apartment in a city after being in a refugee camp is often quite a shock. Churches, community groups and individual volunteers do the cultural mentoring of refugees. This involves helping refugees’ navigate issues like, shopping, public transportation, school registration, financial literacy and learning English.

Our continual goal of is to refer to people to volunteer programs at refugee resettlement agencies in their communities. This is a very practical way of serving the displaced. For information on refugee resettlement locations, please contact us.

A Team Approach – Co-Sponsorship

The ideal way to serve newly arriving refugee families is through a team approach called co-sponsorship. This involves a team of four people or more serving a refugee family in their first four to six months of arrival. Even though the commitment is for this time, it often develops into longer-term friendships. The team acts as cultural mentors to the family and enter the experience as humble learners seeking to serve and help the family develop the stability needed to become self sufficient.

We are able to provide co-sponsorship training for refugee resettlement agencies, churches and community groups. The training is a minimum time of two and a half hours. The co-sponsorship manual can be viewed in our materials section. If you would like to receive training please contact us.

Other Ways to Help

• Go every month to our advocacy Facebook page and write to governments and relevant organizations to advocate against refugee warehousing.
• Help refugee resettlement agencies by collecting donations of furniture and household supplies for the housing of newly arriving refugee families
• Form a team to set up apartments for when refugee families arrive
• Move into neighborhoods that have refugee populations to come alongside and assist
• Volunteer to take refugees to medical appointments.

For information on doing any of these things in your community please contact us.

Services to YWAM

As the world has become increasingly urban, this has naturally caused greater migration and a wider array of ethnic communities in different parts of the world. Wherever we go, we can say that the nations have come to us! In the U.S. we have large communities that include, Bosnians in St Louis, Somalis in San Diego, Sudanese in Minneapolis, Albanians in Cleveland, Liberians in Boston and Ukrainians in Denver. We want to encourage YWAM communities towards engaging with refugees in urban centers through school outreaches, local outreaches, through staff volunteering with local agencies, through church planting and through focusing on the displaced in the pioneering of urban ministry centers. We can provide,

• Demographic information on refugee populations and agencies in your community
• Training for working with specific populations
• Co sponsorship training for schools and local outreaches

Services to faith and non-faith communities

These services include,

• Demographic information on refugee populations and agencies in your community
• Training for working with specific populations
• Co sponsorship training for churches and community groups that are partnering with refugee resettlement agencies. (This is only done with prior arrangement with the resettlement agency)

Serving the displaced in practical ways that demonstrate the compassion of Christ

• Forming community support teams to serve asylees in your community
• Do a trafficking awareness seminar (with a translator) for your local refugee communities
• Develop relationships with migrant workers in your community. Call us if you find out they are not getting paid. We will refer you to legal services if you are not aware of them in your area
• Ask immigrant churches how they need help in developing ministry in their neighborhoods
• Be an advocate for the displaced in your church by communication to relevant professionals, getting people to pray and developing prevention programs for trafficking and employment programs for refugees.

For information on these and anything enclosed please contact us.

Information enclosed includes definitions, policy considerations, and programs from Lutheran Family Services of Colorado and UNHCR.

Prayer

Psalm 116 tells us that God listens to our prayers and that he bends down and listens to us! Without prayer, without the leading of the Holy Spirit we cannot be ministers of the heart of God and living demonstrations of His goodness. This is the core of the YWAM values to which we adhere. To receive our monthly newsletter with specific prayer requests please contact us. For a prayer update please e mail phil@gazley.org

Financial Giving

We are trusting God daily for both our ministry and personal financial needs. You can give online safely through PayPal by clicking the donate button on the top page.

Some Of Our Key Friends and Partners

Contact Info

We do not provide legal advice. Please see a legal professional where needed and where necessary we will refer you to professional legal services.