Photo: Soroptimist delegates at SWCAT

In January
2014, Soroptimists from across the western part of the USA attended the Southwest
Conference Against Trafficking (SWCAT) in Pomona, California, organized by the National Women’s
Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation (NWCAVE). In this week’s blog,
Dawn Marie Lemonds, past Soroptimist International Programme Director and
co-chair of SWCAT writes about the key messages she took away from the event.

On January 17-19  almost 200 people showed up to address the
issues of sexual slavery and sex trafficking at SWCAT. Attendees included
internationally known experts in the field such as Melissa Farley-from
Prostitution Research and Education Organization and Marisa Ugarte from
Bilateral Safety Corridor Coordination,  journalists
who have taken the risk of exposing these heinous practices including Julian
Scher author and investigative journalist, authors, activists, educators,
advocates including members of Soroptimist clubs from around the Western part
of USA and most importantly, SURVIVORS
who took the risk of leaving trafficking and then sharing their stories for us
to learn.  

Our immediate past International President Alice Wells
was the honorary co-chair and served us well with her gracious hosting. Other leaders
of the event included Michelle Bart from National Coalition Against Violence,
Chair Kathy Mc Elvaney and a committee of local leaders- each who addresses the
issue of trafficking through their work and volunteer lives.  For 2 ½ days  the schedule was packed with challenges,
compelling stories, workshops and sharing between the speakers and the
participants. 

Conferences like this bring a chance for sharing
cutting edge information that helps us have more “truth” to share when we
advocate, find more places that we can promote and support, and develop a
larger network of interested supporters. San Bernadino’s District Attorney said
that this conference was the best conference on Trafficking that he had ever
been to! One of the challenges we asked each participant to think about what
was the inspiration for them to become an advocate for this cause.  I believe that each of us took home renewed
commitment to the cause.  

Following are some of the things I am bringing home to
refuel my personal commitment to this cause:

• DEBUNK the MYTHS: Know statistics from reliable and
  evidence based sources for your part of the world – such as the fact that over
  70% of the women and girls who have been sexually exploited in USA are
  Americans, not people from other places. The average age of girls being
  sexually exploited in USA is 12-14 years old!

• ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT- A current way of referring
  to sexual slavery to is to draw a parallel with the issue of SLAVERY with
  ACTIVISM being part of a New Abolitionist Movement.

• USE YOUR RESOURCES/ FIND
  PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT– there are lots of books, blogs and resources that tell the
  truth, help you frame your campaign, and tell your where resources are needed. Read
  and refer people to people/agencies who are doing the work that is needed. The
  biggest need for victim/survivors right now is HOUSING.

• BE BRAVE – After you are empowered
  with information and resources, bring what you know to the people in your life.

• BE CAREFUL-Trafficking is
  increasingly being run by gangs, don’t put yourself in harm’s way.

• DARE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS
  that offer A DREAM to women and girls. We met Cody – a young woman who said she
  “had never been her Daddy’s little princess or her Mother’s precious little
  girl”. She was sexually exploited for 10 years and her stories will never leave
  my heart. CODY told us so much about her journey and the Victory she is now
  achieving for herself and her daughter. CODY found out at this conference that
  she is the Women’s Opportunity Award Winner from Corona, California.

One of the last things I will take away is the sound
of “laughter”. James Pond from Transitions talked about his program in
Cambodia.  He played a recording of girl victim/survivors
of trafficking who now live in a small home in Cambodia where they are safe, going
to school, receive therapy, have responsibilities and expectations of being a
kid in a home, and are supported to achieve their dreams. He asked us to think
of every survivor we have ever known and to think about this laughter being the
sound of their life now. I will keep that sound as part of my challenge.

For more information about this conference
go to www.swcat.org