Welcome to the Rotary Club To End Human Trafficking

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for ending human trafficking / modern slavery. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.

President's Message August-September 2023

The Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking is a very proactive and dynamic club that is setting the standard of excellence for e-clubs around the world. As we begin the second month of the Rotary year, we are already making a huge difference in our global community.

Heading into the 3^rd year of our Strategic Action Plan, the Club’s emphasis has pivoted from planning to Focus on Action. This month’s Action Day centered on one of the key drivers of slavery - that is, poverty - through economic development. Socioeconomic factors can play a significant role in creating conditions that make individuals vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty, lack of education, gender inequality, and lack of access to healthcare. With promises of good jobs or financial support, traffickers frequently lure victims to work in the sex trade or other forms of forced labor. Lack of job opportunities and low wages can also push people to migrate in search of work, making them vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers. Moreover, countries lacking economic opportunities may have weaker law enforcement and weaker protection systems for vulnerable populations, making it easier for traffickers to operate with impunity. Overall, while the lack of economic development is not the sole cause of human trafficking, it is an essential contributor to the conditions that make individuals more vulnerable to exploitation. Addressing economic inequality and promoting sustainable economic development is crucial to preventing human trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations.

While are members are incredibly active and engaged, for us to make the greatest impact against human trafficking we need even more Rotarians to get involved to help enact programs like the Economic Development Program. We meet twice monthly on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of every month at 7am CST. Our PR, Fundraising, Membership, Programs and Projects, and other committees are always looking for new members and fresh ideas. Please contact us at president@endhtrotaryclub.org to get involved!

I truly believe we are furthering RCEHT’s Strategic Action Plan by increasing our impact, expanding our reach, enhancing participant engagement, and increasing our ability to adapt. Our Strategic Action Plan honors our past and embraces our future. It is our path to achieving our vision of bringing even more people together to create lasting and positive change in ourselves, in our communities, and across the globe. What has not changed are the values that define Rotary: fellowship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership. YOU are living these values.

Yours in Rotary,

Lisa Podonly

Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking President, 2023-2024

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Human Trafficking into Scam Centers

Posted by Matt Friedman

The recent emergence of human trafficking into scam centres across Southeast Asia is a grave and multifaceted issue that intersects organized crime, technology, and the vulnerability of marginalized populations. This illicit activity involves the coerced recruitment and exploitation of individuals, often from educated backgrounds, to work in fraudulent call centres that engage in various types of scams targeting victims globally.

The scam centres, typically located in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines, perpetrate a range of scams, including tech support, online fraud, “pig butchering,” and phishing schemes. They take advantage of the region's lower operating costs, skilled workforce, and access to technology infrastructure to carry out their operations. What makes this problem particularly troubling is the link between human trafficking and these fraudulent enterprises Victims of human trafficking into scam centres are often lured with promises of legitimate employment and better living conditions. Recruiters prey on their desire of adventure and a well-paying job, using deceit, coercion, and even violence to trap them into a life of exploitation. These victims find themselves working long hours in deplorable conditions, subject to physical and psychological abuse, and living in cramped spaces.

Victims of human trafficking into scam centres are often lured with promises of legitimate employment and better living conditions. Recruiters prey on their desire of adventure and a well-paying job, using deceit, coercion, and even violence to trap them into a life of exploitation. These victims find themselves working long hours in deplorable conditions, subject to physical and psychological abuse, and living in cramped spaces.

‘Sound of Freedom’: A Joint Statement from Anti-trafficking Organizations

Posted by Dr. Lauren Pinkston

Every great story has a villain and a hero. We believe that the heroes of the anti-trafficking story are the survivors of sex and labor trafficking.

Shedding light on the issue of human trafficking is paramount, and while the movie Sound of Freedom aims to create awareness about trafficking, its portrayal perpetuates an oversimplified, dramatic depiction of rescue that reinforces outdated stereotypes.

As a movement, we acknowledge the significant investments that were made to bring this movie to cinemas around the world, and we welcome critical conversations about human exploitation and suffering.

There is potential for weak narratives, however, to widen the gap between general knowledge and the actual complexities of human trafficking.

We hope that Sound of Freedom acts as a starting point to initiate broader conversations about modern exploitation.

With this in mind, we have created a list of important things for viewers to consider as they process the movie’s content.

The following statements were drafted through roundtable discussions at the 2023 Asia Region Anti-Trafficking Conference, and informed by the voices of survivors and practitioners across the sector.

Human Rights - A Political or Humanitarian Issue for Rotarians?

“Whether or not the ethical climate in business is higher or lower today, each of us has an opportunity to speak up for higher standards. And for each person willing to voice his conviction, there are others who are willing to follow and be influenced by that kind of leadership”. (RI President Robert A Manchester 1976)

The global reverberations following the unlawful killing a few years ago, of George Floyd in the USA, poses a particular predicament for Rotarians. That is to say, if we do publicly comment on that unfortunate situation, would we be guilty of contravening Rotary’s policy of political neutrality. If public servants appear to be violating basic human rights and we adopt former RI President Robert Manchester’s exhortation of speaking up for higher standards, would we be seen to be crossing the line. This article offers a few thoughts on this dilemma, touches upon Rotarians’ implied human rights responsibilities and informs readers of a Petition submitted by the Rotary Club of Norwich St Edmund, England, to the Board of Rotary International (RI) asking for the reinstatement of previously recorded exhortations for Rotarians to make every effort to ensure that peoples basic human rights are protected.

The former RI President, Kalyan Banerjee proffered this question at the RI Convention in New Orleans – Why are we in Rotary ? He answered his own question. “I believe we are here because we care, and because we see both what’s wrong in the world and what is right”. He stressed that we should take a hard look at what needs to be changed and then do our best to change it. In reminding us of his favorite Gandhi quote (you must be the change you wish to see in the world), he declared “I believe we are in Rotary to change the world – for why else would we be Rotarians ? We are not here to listen to the naysayers, the doom mongers, those who say the world can be no better than it is, so why even try to change ? We are here because we believe in change.”

Forced Labor in Cleaning Companies

Forced Labor and Exploitation in Cleaning Companies in Asia and around the world

In recent years, there has been growing concern over the prevalence of forced labor and exploitation within third-party cleaning companies.

These companies, often operating within the shadows of society, subject vulnerable workers to deplorable working conditions, including forced overtime, debt bondage, and the withholding of identification documents.

One of the most distressing aspects of forced labor within this industry is the imposition of excessive and involuntary overtime.

Workers, desperate to earn a meager income, find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of never-ending work hours.

Direct Donation

DONATE TO THE ROTARY CLUB TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOUNDATION

As the only global Rotary Club focused on Ending Human Trafficking, this club is uniquely positioned to partner with global organizations developing education and prevention programs and partner with Rotary clubs around the globe who are committed to ending human trafficking in their communities.

Consider a donation of $100 or more. There are also several companies that offer a match to your donation so consider that as well.

You can donate via PayPal

Zelle deposits can be sent to treasurer@endhtrotaryclub.org

The Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking is a registered 501c3 charitable organization the U.S.A. (EIN=87-0896985). If you have questions, or wish to make a contribution in another way please contact treasurer@endhtrotaryclub.org

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Last Update

Site last updated: 4 September 2023

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Thursdays at 7:00 AM

Online via Zoom
Eden Prairie, MN
United States of America

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 AM Central Time. Contact President@endHTrotaryclub.org for the meeting link.

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