The online voice of cambridge campus students
 
by Renee Pikula



Just Cause Ministries: Fighting to abolish sex-slavery locally and globally and helping to empower and support national and international organizations to do the same.



In this day in age, we would love to believe that slavery is over, that we as a society joined forces to put an end to this horrible injustice….Well, this is not the case. There is still slavery TODAY happening right in our own back yards.



What is human trafficking you may be wondering? Well by definition, it means "the transporting of humans for the purpose of exploitation, trafficked by force, fraud and or coercion for the purpose of profit." Yes, unfortunately this is still happening in our society today and is on the rise.



Due to the "hidden" nature of trafficking activities, gathering statistics on the magnitude of the problem is a complex and difficult task. The Following statistics are the most accurate available, given these complexities, but may represent an underestimation of trafficking on a global and national scale. Each year an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders (some international and non-governmental organizations place the number far higher). Of that number, 70% are female and 50% are children. Each year, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. In Minnesota alone, we are ranked 13th out of the 50 states, and we have seen a 64% increase in child prostitution as of recent studies. According to reports, the "motto" these traffickers are going by is, "You can sell drugs or a weapon once, but you can sell a girl or boy fifteen to forty times a night." Demand is the most significant factor fueling human trafficking. This movingly describes the impact of demand on the girls, women and boys who have become exploited commodities.



 

Who is Just Cause Ministries and what we are doing to make a difference?

My name is Renee Pikula and I am a current student at Anoka Ramsey Community College. With my aunt and another friend’s help we decided to form a non-profit organization called Just Cause Ministries. Just Cause Ministries is now officially a non-profit Christian organization that is helping to raise awareness of human trafficking locally and globally. Our focus is on the area of sex trafficking specifically. We are an organization of vision and excellence driven by what we like to call our three R’s:

1. Raise awareness and Inform

2. Raise Money

3. Rescue Missions



Our ultimate goal is to have our own 200 unit building to help rescue those in slavery. This building will be local and will be set up with complete total care, life skill training and a built in daycare to help these victims on the road to recovery.



We at Just Cause Ministries are excited to be joining in this fight to make a difference for the better. We WILL be the voice of those held in captivity! In order to make a difference however, we need the help of each and every person out there! It is only when we take a stand together that change can truly happen. How can a crime of this magnitude be happening in this world today let alone in our own backyards? It is time to take a stand!



For more information about Just Cause Ministries and human trafficking, please check out our website: www.justcauseministries.webs.com where you can also find upcoming events, volunteer/information meetings and many more statistics and government reports helping to shed some light on this darkness. Or, email [email protected].



Thank you for helping to make a difference!



5/30/2012 04:25:52 pm

Great info, thanks

Reply



Leave a Reply.