human trafficking

In the Booth with Ruth – Servaas Hofmeyr, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate

Servaas Hofmeyr from South Africa says, “…because I have been given freedom, I feel the need to speak out for those who do not enjoy that privilege.” He shares what drives him to help in the fight against modern day slavery and how he is able to do this with the charity, STOP – Stop Trafficking of People.

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Servaas Hofmeyr

How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking? 

While busy studying in 2008, I browsed around the web (as one does) and came across an article discussing the effects criminalisation and, alternatively, legalisation of prostitution has had in various countries. I was quite shocked to learn what conditions most of the prostituted women found themselves in – varying from being drug addicts, to suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, to being victims of regular abuse by both their pimps and clients.

Prostitution, of course, is only one channel through which trafficking occurs but as I browsed further I came across a short video clip produced by the A21 Campaign, in which the organisation’s founder, Christine Caine, explained how she first came to the knowledge of this worldwide injustice of slavery. What she was saying in that video touched something inside of me and led me to educate myself…

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In the Booth with Ruth – Bridget Perrier, Survivor of Child Trafficking and First Nations Educator & Co-Founder of Sextrade101

“In Canada there are so many First Nations girls who get caught up in the cycle of exploitation – we are seeing them enslaved as young as eleven years of age. Also there are an extremely high number of murdered and missing First Nations women; it is estimated in the amount of 3000,” says Bridget Perrier, a survivor of child trafficking and First Nations Educator & Co-Founder of Sextrade101. “I truly believe that human trafficking and prostitution go hand and hand. I believe as a First Nations woman that I need to be a strong voice and role model for my people, especially our girls.”

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Bridget Perrier

How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking?

The reason why I became a part of the movement is because of my past as a child survivor and as a First Nations voice. I saw that for First Nations women there was very little representation in the movement. I also used my experience as a trafficked child.  I was exploited at a very young age and felt that all the adults, professional and family, did a lot of nothing to help me, and in some ways, they made it worse. I was tired of being looked down on and blamed by society.

In Canada, there are so many First Nations girls who get caught up in the cycle of exploitation – we are seeing them enslaved as young as eleven years of age. Also there are an extremely high number of murdered and missing First Nations women…

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In the Booth with Ruth – Ruthie ‘Angel’ Jones Patton, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist

“I feel that mainstream media refuses to address the problem because it’s so horrific that people would change the channel or not buy their papers, magazines etc. rather than see a reality they can’t deal with and I think that needs to change… No man, woman, or child should be forced into any type of slavery. Man should not own man.”

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Ruthie Jones Patton

How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking? 

I became involved in the fight against human trafficking via Facebook. I belonged to several child abuse support groups as well as BAAK (Bikers Against Abusing Kids). I had just come out about my own history as an abused child and in discussing my situation on these sites, I started to notice articles about human trafficking. I was stunned to learn about the relationship between human and drug trafficking as well as illegal arms dealing and poaching. I started asking questions within the groups and it’s then that I came in contact with Yvonne, Lynn and Michele who gave me some websites to look into that better explained it all as a whole. One thing led to another and I found myself overwhelmed at just how serious and worldwide the problem is, which is up to and including…

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