For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.”
Deuteronomy 15:11
Today is World Humanitarian Day! Each year, people from around the world use this day as a time to recognize hardworking humanitarian aid workers and remind ourselves and others of the need to persevere in the fight for humanity.
In recognition of this year’s World Humanitarian Day, Jubilee Campaign would like to focus on the efforts being made to end sex trafficking in India. India has the largest number of individuals in human trafficking globally. There are an estimated 14 million people living in India who are suffering as slaves in the sex trafficking industry, and this number continues to grow. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of registered human trafficking cases has increased by 38.3% over the past five years.
Although sexual trafficking has been present in India for years and years, the trafficking of children is a relatively new development. Alarmingly, there are already an estimated 135,000 children forced into the trafficking industry each year. Often times these children are kidnapped from India’s remote tribal areas and thrown into urban districts where sex trafficking is most prevalent. Children, even more so than adults, simply do not have the resources or the power to remove themselves from such situations and thus continue to toil as modern day slaves.
Jubilee Campaign holds the mission statement of serving as a vital voice for those who suffer in silence such as those being trafficked in India. Thus, over 10 years ago Jubilee Campaign helped construct homes near Mumbai–a popular red light district in India. These homes were built in an effort to rescue children from forced prostitution and slavery. Jubilee Campaign continues to financially support Jubilee Home IV, a home for rescued boys and girls who are affected by HIV/AIDS.
So today we hope that you will take a moment to consider how you can participate in World Humanitarian Day and help trafficked victims in India. Jubilee Campaign will continue to support the youth that are cared for and given a new life of hope and joy in the Jubilee homes, and we hope that the support network for these children will continue to grow.
If you wish to financially support the children who are trafficked in India, a great option would be through the purchase of jewelry pieces made by rescued former sex slaves. Rescued women craft jewelry and leather goods to sell in order to help their children and themselves to recover. We sell these handmade goods as a way to help these women and take part in stopping the cycle of the sex trade. 100% of your donations go directly to the work of our partner, Bombay Teen Challenge, to improve the lives of these women and children. To donate or buy one of these beautifully crafted goods go to www.jubileecampaign.com.