Poverty
What is poverty and what roll does it play in
human trafficking?
Essentially, poverty refers to lacking enough resources to provide the necessities of life—food, clean water, shelter and clothing. Poverty is a root cause of human trafficking. Poverty makes individuals vulnerable to traffickers; children, women and men are promised jobs or education. Traffickers use poverty as a weapon and a means to control their victims. Every year, millions of vulnerable children and women are trafficked for sex around the world.
There are an estimated 50 million people
held in slavery today.
Human trafficking generates about $150 billion a year—with two-thirds coming from commercial sexual exploitation.
Right now, children, women and men are being enslaved, abused and exploited. The problem seems so overwhelming, what can we possibly do? If I look at the 50 million people in slavery, I will think I cannot do anything. So, I will look at one and then another one and so on. There is an anonymous quote that says,
“To the world you may be one person but to one person
you may be the world”.
Here are some of the things the Bible says about the subject.
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” —Proverbs 14:31
“Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:9
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” — Psalm 82:3
Rahab’s Rope provides vocational training and educational services for women and children as a means to combat human trafficking and its link with poverty. This is why our product sales are so important to us. Through product sales we are able to provide work for over 1000 people, including artisan groups as well as those that come to our centers. Today I am sharing some simple testimonies from older teenage girls that were living in poverty and came to one of our centers.
Ruth’s Story
“Learning and working at the Rahab’s Rope center has really helped me, my mom and my family. Oftentimes my dad does not work or give my family anything that helps. Now, I am able to give the money I make to help run the house and support my family”.
Jean's Story
“Before coming to Rahab’s Rope we worried a lot about money. My dad does not give any money to support the family because he buys alcohol with the money he makes. Through the skills I have learned at Rahab’s Rope I can now help my mom and my family survive.”
Sara's Story
“Before I came to Rahab’s Rope, I could not buy anything that I needed for myself, and my parents had no money to give. Now I can buy the everyday things I need to live with the money I earn. It makes me happy to be able to support myself.”
Rani's Story
“When I first came to the Rahab’s Rope center, I had no friends and believed I hated friendships. I learned many things at Rahab’s Rope center and made many friends. I feel so blessed. My dad committed suicide three years ago and we were really struggling financially. Now my mom and I together can pay for our house and food.”
