The Jewish Coalition to End Human Trafficking - We are all committed to broadening the community's understanding of global human trafficking and the scopeof the problem, and to working towards its eradication.

The Jewish Coalition to End Human Trafficking has become an important resource and liaison in the community. The mission of the Coalition is to provide advocacy, education and support to agencies providing direct services to trafficked victims. In 2008: two JCRC Freedom Seders with human trafficking themes were held – in San Francisco and on the Peninsula – and the Coalition supported these events as a sponsoring entity along with other coalition partners, the NCJW and JCRC.

In realizing its priority goals for the year, the coalition’s steering committee:

  • attended multiple professional training sessions including: San Jose Task Force Training, SAGE press conference and meeting with U.S. State Department Ambassador Lagoon (of the Trafficking in Persons Office), San Francisco Task Force Training, Department of Health and Human Services-Rescue and Restore Coalition Training in Washington, Rescue and Restore e-trainings and the California Commission on the Status of Women Public Hearing;
  • has become a central clearing house in San Francisco for information regarding services to Trafficked person; and
  • launched a program of outreach at local temples in San Francisco and on the Peninsula. The first of these shabbat service sermons on trafficking was held at Congregation Emanu-El featuring guest speaker Kamala Harris and was attended by upwards of 400 congregants.

The Coalition is becoming increasingly recognized as a resource in the community and SAGE (Standing Against Global Exploitation) and the High Road for Human Rights organizations have sought the coalition’s assistance for outreach, education and advocacy on the topic of combating Human Trafficking. Recent events include:

  • a coalition-sponsored town meeting at JFCS with President and Founder of the High Road for Human Rights Rocky Anderson to discuss this national organization’s activism and advocacy in areas of trafficking, genocide and other human rights abuses; and
  • a luncheon sponsored by coalition partner NCJW where Assembly member Sally Lieber, author of California’s anti-human trafficking legislation was the featured speaker.

Events earlier this year included a special presentation, “San Francisco’s Response to the Human Trafficking Crisis,” with Dr. Johnson Ojo, S. F. Department of Public Health. Dr. Johnson’s remarks were followed by a trafficked person telling their personal story.

In the coming year JCEHT will continue to:

  • sustain the relationships that it has been developing since the coalition’s inception in September 2006, and
  • partner with SAGE to formalize the regional chapter of the Rescue and Restore Coalition, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

Future plans include continuing the mission of the Coalition of education, advocacy and outreach, and community service by:

  • further outreach to the Jewish Community through Shabbat Service sermons at San Francisco Temples;
  • a presentation on Trafficking and Sweatshops in the Fall, 2009; and
  • screening a film on Human Trafficking.

For more information about the founding members of the Coaltion please click here.

Human Trafficking FAQ

WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

Human trafficking is a series of steps in which a woman, man or child is recruited at home and moved to a distant place through deception, fraud or violence for the purpose of forced labor, slavery or servitude.

WHO IS TRAFFICKED?

  • Mostly undereducated, illiterate, lower class people, often from rural areas.
  • They are often young and hard working.
  • They are economically dependent on the smuggler for the family back home.
  • They are conditioned to be subordinate and accept authority and often believe the smuggler is helping them.
  • They are either "legal" or undocumented.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Badly exploited, including long hours of working and wages withheld.
  • Documents confiscated, such as passport.
  • Complete isolation, including controlling victim's movements, relationships and housing.
  • Threats including harm to family members back home and deportation.

IS TRAFFICKING A PROBLEM IN THE BAY AREA?

  • Globally there are an estimated 700,000 to 2 million people trafficked every year.
  • In the US, there are 18,000 to 100,000.
  • California has become a major entry point for traffickers and victims.
  • Approximately 43% of identified cases in California were in the Bay Area.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

  • Over the past few years, awareness of the issue has started building.
  • It can be addressed on multiple levels-through legislation, education and awareness, law enforcement.
  • Report suspected instances of trafficking or worker exploitation to your local police department, San Jose Police Department's Human Trafficking Task Force Hotline at 1-866-443-6733, or the FBI.
  • National Human Trafficking Resource Center: 1-888-373-7888.
  • You can reach the Jewish Coalition to End Human Trafficking at 415-346-4600.

*Information provided by the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking: www.sbcteht.com