Freedom’s dark side
The proximity of Amsterdam’s red light district, a stone’s throw from Zuiderkerk, is a reminder of the ongoing tragedy of modern-day slavery across Europe and beyond. What models can help to counter this evil? How viable is the Nordic model for limiting the spread of prostitution? How can churches and Christian organisations make a difference?
Chair: Jennifer Tunehag
14:00 – 15:30 Session 1:
Introductions
Panel – Trafficking: History and reality of exploitation in Europe
Panelists:
• Esta Steyn: History of exploitation in NL
• Tamme de Leur: Twelve Challenges on Fighting Human Trafficking in Europe
• Anne Abok: Trafficking TO Europe
• Jennifer Tunehag: Trafficking: Our response
Panel – Signs of freedom PART ONE: What is God doing?
Discussion
16:00 – 17:30 Session 2:
Introduction
Panelists:
• Toos Heemskerk: Job creation
• Anne Abok: Media as Prevention
• Maria Ahlin: The Swedish model
• Leo Van Doesburg: Legislative change
Panel – Signs of freedom PART TWO: What can we do?
Conclusions and prayer
Anne Abok was pioneer of YWAM AfriCom West and Media Village Nigeria, and is a filmmaker who uses her films for social change. In 2008 she pioneered Media Campaign Against Human Trafficking (MeCAHT) www.mecahtinternational.org, working in South Africa, Nigeria and Europe. One of her films on human trafficking (Europe In My Heart) achieved a 39% reduction rate in the change of perception of people in rural Benin City, where 80% of the illegal African prostitutes in Europe come from. The film is being used by churches and organizations in Europe and Africa. She and her husband Alex now live in South Africa.
Maria Ahlin (SE) is the founder of international youth movement Freethem – committed to preventing demand for prostitution, pornography and labour exploitation. Freethem exists in Sweden, Norway, Austria and Germany. Besides being on fire for the next generation, she’s got years of personal experience meeting with people in prostitution and male sex-offenders. Maria Ahlin is a frequent requested speaker, and in fall 2016 she’s releasing her first book on youth and pornography consumption.
Leo van Doesburg is Director for European Affairs & Policy Advising for the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM). A Dutchman who lived for many years in Romania, he was awarded the Conscience and Freedom Award in 2011 for diligently promoting religious freedoms in Europe. In 2013 he was honoured by the International Romani Union in recognition of his work against Roma discrimination in East Europe.
Toos Heemskerk oversees Not For Sale’s work in the Netherlands. Previously she worked for The Scarlet Cord, focusing on care for women in prostitution in Amsterdam. She helped start a reintegration program for women wanting to leave prostitution, which now receives funding from the Ministry of Social Welfare. Toos has an advanced degree in social work based on her research of Hungarian woman working in Amsterdam’s red light district.
Tamme de Leur is a independent TV Producer, journalist and documentary maker working with Dutch Broadcasting for over 20 years. He has made several documentaries on Human Trafficking, works as expert on THB in Europe and as lecturer with the Christian University of Applied Sciences in Ede, Holland. He started the first University Minor and Post Graduate courses in THB.
Esta Steyn, born in South-Africa, moved to the Netherlands at age 5. Bachelor degree in Leisure management and project management. Worked as a youth worker, project manager and event organiser. Volunteer with Stop the Traffik since february 2012. Director of Stop the Traffik Netherlands for 2,5 years. Focus point: prevention of sexual exploitation.
Jennifer Roemhildt Tunehag (SE) is a founder and core team member of the European Freedom Network. Over 200 EFN partner organizations now work across 41 countries in Europe to build a bridge to freedom for those who are exploited. Jennifer is a board member of the Freedom Business Alliance (FBA), a trade association helping freedom businesses to become profitable, scalable, and transformational. She also serves on the Human Trafficking Task Force of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). Jennifer and her husband, Mats, live in Stockholm, Sweden.
Session 1
Tamme de Leur: Twelve Challenges on Fighting Human Trafficking in Europe
TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS (THB) IS NOT A STAND-ALONE PHENOMENON BUT A A VERY COMPLEX/WICKED PROBLEM. IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS CRIME AND GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION I SEE TWELVE CHALLENGES THAT TOGETHER SHOW THIS COMPLEXITY. THIS OUTLINE GIVES HINTS TO THE RELEVANT ISSUES, KEYWORDS TO THE SOURCES WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT THIS AREA, THE SPECIFIC APPROACH OR MODEL IN FIGHTING THB IT REPRESENTS AND WITH WHOM YOU SHOULD PARTNER/WORK TOGETHER IN FIGHTING THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGE. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE FRAMEWORK WE ARE USING OUR UNIVERSITY, POST-GRADUATION AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ON THB AND IN OUR JOURNALISTIC WORK, DOCUMENTARIES ON THB.
It is our conviction that in fighting THB we need to work together and learn from each other, on local, national and international level, across different professions and fields. We need to see the future challenges and tackle them as we work together. There is no other way to stop is crime called modern slavery. Read more…
Jennifer Tunehag: Trafficking: Our response
‘REFUGEE’ IS A HEAVY WORD FOR THOSE WHO BEAR IT, AND IT PROVOKES A NEARLY INVOLUNTARY REACTION – PITY, COMPASSION, DISTASTE, FEAR – IN THOSE WHO HEAR IT. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IN RESPONDING WELL TO THE CURRENT REFUGEE CRISIS IS REPLACING THAT REACTION WITH A RESPONSE THAT IS INFORMED BY THE REALITY AND THE HUMANITY OF THE PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE IN OUR COUNTRIES. THIS TRANSFORMATION IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT MIGRATION FROM TURNING INTO EXPLOITATION.
Of the sixty million people forcibly displaced in the world today, over a million arrived in Europe in 2015. The UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 84% of this total come from the world’s top ten refugee-producing countries; in other words and in general, these are people fleeing situations of war, instability, or persecution. Around 50% of this group has come from Syria. Read more…
Suggested reading: Trace exec summary
• Future trends in human trafficking in Europe – full TRACE report
• Combatting sex trafficking history
• Trafficking women after socialism to and through Eastern Europe