April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Facts about Human Trafficking:

* Victims of human trafficking are usually kidnapped or enticed by promises of a well-paying job in a foreign country. Once they arrive, their legal documents, money, and identification are taken away, and they are brought into a room with other victims who are also held hostage. They are then violently beaten, raped, starved, and forced into sexual slavery or bonded labor.

* Child trafficking is happening everywhere in the world, including very likely our own home towns. An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.

* The average age of sex-trafficking victims is 14 years old, and over 80% are female. Victims are often forced to have sex up to 20 times a day, and are often threatened with harm to their family if they do not cooperate.

* The number of people trafficked in the United States alone is between 14,500–17,500 each year.

* Human trafficking is the third most profitable criminal activity, following only drugs and arms trafficking.

* Estimated global annual profits made from the exploitation of human beings through trafficking is $31.6 billion.

* In 2006 there were only 5,808 prosecutions and 3,160 convictions throughout the world. This means that for every 800 people trafficked, only one person was convicted in 2006.

* In a state of malnutrition, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, unsanitary living conditions, forced abortions and HIV, these women and children work day after day in highly guarded facilities with no hope for their future.


While everyday should be Child Abuse Prevention Day, April has been designated as the month to focus our efforts on reducing, or better yet eliminating, the scourge of child abuse and victimization. One of our sponsors, Chelsea Dischinger, focuses her efforts on stopping child trafficking. Through Justice Juels, she strives to help out organizations that fight human trafficking by donating most of her profits to their cause. Some information about Justice Juels:

Justice Juels was founded by Chelsea Dischinger, a stay-at-home mom who had a desire to make a difference with her life. Once she learned about the horrific Human Trafficking Industry she decided to start a company to support her family and help raise money for this cause. Justice Juels is a for-profit company who donates more than 50% of their profits to organizations who are involved in the fight to abolish Human Trafficking worldwide.

Justice Juels is a handmade jewelry company that donates the majority of its profits to organizations that rescue children who are victims of slavery and human trafficking. Rather than asking for outright donations (though these are accepted as well), Chelsea started a business so people can purchase a great product and make a difference at the same time. Her goal is to raise $1 million for the cause.

Chelsea is a national ambassador for Stop Child Trafficking Now, a unique organization that not only rescues victims, but goes after those who buy and sell children. Dischinger says "We need to rescue the kids, but we also need to put a stop to this industry in general. SCTNow does this by forming undercover task forces made up of ex marines, navy seals, etc... who want to help out. They go on undercover missions and collect evidence on the people who are kidnapping, buying and selling the kids. Then when they have all the evidence they need to convict them they hand it over to the FBI who makes arrests. The goal is to get these men off the street so there is no longer a demand for the kids. Without a demand there will be no reason to kidnap and sell the kids. SCTNow is the first organization to do something like this and I am so proud to support them."

For more information about Child Trafficking or Child Abuse, or to learn about ways you can help, please visit:

* Stop Child Trafficking Now (SCTNow)

* Child Welfare Information Gateway

* Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA)

Important Phone Numbers

Trafficking Information and Referral Hot line
1-888-3737-888 1-888-3737-888

Trafficking in Persons and Worker Exploitation Task Force
1-888-428-7581 1-888-428-7581

National Domestic Violence Hot-line
1-800-799-SAFE 1-800-799-SAFE

National Sexual Assault Hot-line
1-800-656-HOPE 1-800-656-HOPE

Please look for an upcoming giveaway offered by Chelsea and Justice Juels, hosted here, and please visit Justice Juels to support her mission.