By Kaitlyn Kelley
Contributing Writer
According to the United Nations, human trafficking generates $9.5 billion every year. The Department of Justice says that the average age of a child entering prostitution is 13-14 years old. Of the 25,269 substantive calls made to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) in 2013, 385 of them came from Massachusetts.
Organizations like Amirah Boston rely on community support to continue to help survivors. To generate awareness and support for Amirah, Simmons Amnesty International will present a benefit fashion show on Feb. 21.
Amirah dedicates themselves to helping victims of exploitation.
“We do this by mobilizing the greater community to create safe spaces that provide opportunities for healing, restoration and re-integration,” writes Amirah on their website. “We use individualized approaches to address the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social and vocational needs of each survivor in our care. Our care allows for survivors to engage with their community in a mutually meaningful manner.”
Fashion for Freedom narrates the transformation from sex slave to survivor. Through music, fashion, spoken word, and discussion, the event will illustrate the tragic realities of human trafficking around the world.
Performances will include Poetry Slam Winners Ashley Rose, Jamelle Adams, and Reed Walker, and music will be provided by DJ X-Rated.
“The ultimate goal is to open up dialogue and provide the opportunity for anyone who has questions, comments or would like to learn more about sex trafficking of women and children,” says Ayana Aubourg, president of Amnesty.
With co-sponsors Simmons Vision 2020, Simmons Islamic Society, the Asian Student Association, and the Massachuestts Women’s Political Caucus, Amnesty International invites the Simmons community to join them at 6 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Linda K. Paresky Conference Center.
The event is FREE and open to all. Donations will be accepted for Amirah Boston.
fashionRIP • Feb 21, 2014 at 9:15 am
Hi i know you have good intentions, thank you for the efforts.
However when you say fashion-i hope you are speaking of eco, fair trade or reFashioned items. Human trafficking is part of a world ideology based on hierarchy, usury, exploitation-the same driving forces that push current consumer trends, Concepts of objectification have infiltrated the agri biz sector – industrialization of livestock eeewww- This segues into the human (DOW acceptable risk aka the price we have on our heads for insurance purposes!) This means that in both the economic monetization lens and the hierarchy, class construct lens “we” have allowed ide that have resulted in slavery, trafficking, sexploitation etc. Both lenses further us from our connection to wholeness, to natural; support systems and what i call super reality! We cannot keep expecting nature to put up with our messes nor can our spirits support the false beliefs that created the thinking that made the mess. Unless we see the fuller pictures it will be impossible to heal. Bandaging the wounds will not stop them from being inflicted.
Thank you,
deborah j barnes
fashionRIP Project
fashionethos