As you all may or may not know, I'm on the board of directors of a brand new organization called Confere Inservitus. Charlie, the executive director, and his fiancee Becky are Marshall and my best friends in Pittsburgh, and Charlie went to grad school with us. Charlie has been passionate about starting this organization from the moment I met him (he was the first person I ever met from GSPIA...we met up to go salsa dancing before orientation). It's been such a great experience working with him on forming this organization. Charlie, me, and a bunch of other wonderfully talented people have been working hard to get this organization off the ground. I'll let Charlie explain the rest (copied from facebook):
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to let everyone know that our non-profit to prevent human trafficking, Confere Inservitus, is moving forward. We chose the name Confere Inservitus because it means “Coming Together Against Slavery” in Latin. Our mission is to confront the causes and manifestations of human trafficking, slavery and severe forms of exploitation. We will prevent human trafficking by collaborating with service providers, law enforcement and other anti-trafficking organizations. With their assistance we will use information technology to identify the most vulnerable and at risk populations and design interventions where they live.
To really get this project off the ground, we do need some help.
We are hoping to raise at least $3,000 dollars this holiday season to build our information sharing network. I know this seems like a lot of money, but if everyone invited to this page gave $20, we would more than exceed our goal.
Please consider donating this holiday season. Checks can be made payable to Confere Inservitus and mailed to 3424 Monroe St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213. If you think you will be able to help, please send me a facebook message [you can contact me for Charlie's email address], or if you prefer, anonymous contributions are also welcome.
If you know someone that may be interested in helping us out, please invite them to this event as well.
Below you’ll find more information on human trafficking as well as a very brief description of how we’re planning to confront it. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at cayhap@confereinservitus.org.
Thanks for your support!
Charles Yhap, MID
Executive Director
Confere Inservitus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world today. In terms of illegal revenue it is second only to drugs and the arms trade. A wide range of estimates exist on the scope and magnitude of modern-day slavery. The International Labor Organization (ILO)—the United Nations agency charged with addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues—estimates that there are at least 12.3 million adults and children in forced labor, bonded labor, and commercial sexual servitude at any given time. Of these victims, the ILO estimates that at least 1.39 million are victims of commercial sexual servitude, both transnational and within countries.
According to the ILO, 56 percent of all forced labor victims are female. Targeting vulnerable people, human traffickers use creative and ruthless ploys designed to trick, coerce, and win the confidence of potential victims. Very often these ruses involve promises of a better life through employment, educational opportunities, or marriage.
Confere Inservitus is dedicated to confronting the causes and manifestations of human trafficking, slavery and severe forms of exploitation. Our two phase approach is unique and will allow us to develop a strong track record of successful interventions. The first step will be to collaborate with service providers, law enforcement and other anti-trafficking organizations to collect and analyze information on victims that have been trafficked to find out what made them vulnerable. Once an opportunity for successful intervention has been identified, we will seek to form partnerships with organizations operating in the areas where victims originate. Collaboration with these organizations will enable us to tailor responses to the local conditions and address the vulnerabilities of these at-risk populations.
Your donations will help us to get our project running and off the ground, focusing on several initial key steps:
• Cover costs associated with attaining 501(c) 3 non-profit status
• Advertise our incorporation as required by Pennsylvania law
• Create informational materials
• Begin constructing an information sharing network to gather information on victim vulnerabilities
• Analyze information to understand who victims are and where they are coming from
• Take preventive actions in source countries to reduce the vulnerabilities of at risk populations
