Covenant House International is urging all Americans to support Bill H.R. 1623, a bill that would expand the protection of Megan's Law, mandating reporting requirements for convicted sex traffickers including pimps against minors to engage in international travel, and preventing entry into the U.S. by any foreign sex offender against a minor.  Click here for more information.

We have written about human trafficking a few times, most recently drawing attention to Canada's lack of a national strategy on human trafficking and we never receive any comments on these posts. Maybe the issue of human trafficking is a "no brainer" and people don't feel the need to comment. I wonder too if human trafficking is still largely flying under the radar for most people - they know it exists but the details are vague and repugnant. For a lot of people, the thought of human enslavement whether for physical labour or sexual exploitation is beyond comprehension.

A few years ago, we had a presentation for our youth workers from a young woman who had exited the sex trade; she had been trafficked throughout Canada and United States and her story still haunts me. She is now an educator teaching organizations like Covenant House how the sex trade and trafficking works and how we can assist those trying to exit. She escaped, many do not.

I was recently lucky enough to go to Cuba for a vacation I had been there once before so I knew what to expect: beautiful beaches, warm sun and some of the nicest, friendliest people. I also knew to expect: poverty, unfairness and people lacking very basic supplies.

I worked with homeless and high risk youth for many years and I am a strong advocate for human rights, so going to Cuba caused me mixed emotions. On one hand the tourism industry creates jobs and brings money into the country but on the other hand I am supporting a country that puts tourist's needs before their own people.

In Cuba I had access to a cheap and frequent bus service - but this service is only for tourists as no locals can ride these buses. Instead the locals have to wait in long lines for infrequent bus service or hitchhike. At our hotel we had a doctor onsite and available 24 hours a day and bank open 12 hours a day. The Cuban people do not have this luxury; I went past a bank and there was a line down the block. I am not an expert on Cuban politics but the disregard for their own people is hard to watch and I felt badly that I was receiving special treatment as a tourist.

I knew to expect this unfairness and I had researched what I could do to give back to the local people. I made sure to tip generously as this is what many people working in the tourism industry survive on. I brought tampons, soap, razors and other supplies that are hard to get and gave them out. I brought small toys, pencils and crayons to give to children. These items are considered luxuries and people were very appreciative to receive them.

We have had a debate at Covenant House for many years around using photographs of our youth or "clients" in our promotional materials like the annual report and other donor communications. We have used real youth and we have used models. Most recently we began using stock photography.

The first time we ever used real youth in our general information brochure, two youth that had participated changed their minds after the brochure had been printed. We reprinted the brochure at enormous cost. After that we got more stringent in our "releases" ensuring that youth signed their consent in an attempt to prevent another situation where a young person regretted their decision to be photographed.

We tried models a few times and while it made using the photos "easier", the "look" of the models was not genuine and I felt our communications materials suffered as a result. While we've been back and forth with the model versus real youth debate several times, the advent of affordable stock photography has provided us with good quality, relatively realistic looking youth photos. The drawback is that we no longer have the joy of working with Kent Kallberg, who has been our photographer for many years and always provided us with excellent photographs at a greatly reduced price.  Likewise, we can't show pictures of our programs in action.

A youth worker friend of mine told me about this documentary "Streets of Plenty" by Misha Kleider and Cory Ogilvie. It chronicles the journey of Misha, a student that decides to give up everything and live on the streets for one month in December.

In my opinion, the documentary and Misha Kleider present an overly simplistic view of the Downtown Eastside and being homeless. At the start of this film he feels most homeless are just scamming the system because they are too lazy to work. As movie goes along and he experiences more of the streets and gets more rundown, he comes to a different opinion of homeless people and the streets in general.

The movie does bring up some thought provoking points and was approached and filmed in an interesting way. It's worth a look as it does provoke dialogue especially since Misha makes some very poor choices.
Be forewarned, Misha does try hard drugs in this movie and it was a very silly and irresponsible thing to do. Also there is a lot of swearing and other actions you may find offensive.

Click here to view the film.

As the 2010 Olympics quickly approaches the city is getting visibly busier: transit, businesses and yes: sex trade workers and escorts. With the Olympics comes the increase demand for sex trade workers and escorts both male and female.

The group REED (Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity) is running a campaign called "Buying Sex is not a Sport."

"Buying Sex Is Not a Sport is a grassroots campaign to raise awareness and effect change around sex trafficking and the 2010 Olympic games. The demand for sexual access to the bodies of women and children fuels human trafficking. Women and children in Metro Vancouver and Whistler are routinely coerced into the flesh trade to meet this demand, and a large sporting event such as the 2010 Olympics will only further exploitation through a rise in the demand for paid sex. Demand is an issue we have already flagged in Canada and have been working against for years.

The very workings of human trafficking are a market-based model of supply and demand. There is an uncontrolled male demand for sexual access to the bodies of women (and children) and the supply for this demand is met through violating the dignity of women. It is our conviction that in order to stem the tide of human trafficking we must end the demand for paid sex. Demand flourishes in an atmosphere of anonymity" from REED's website.

For a lot of people, the Olympics coming to Vancouver is a wonderful event. It is a chance for our Canadian athletes to shine, a way to showcase Vancouver, boost the economy and provide a fun and exciting time.

But not everyone feels this way; many people are angry with how our city is treating its poor and homeless. Some people feel that the mass amounts of money being spent on the games could have gone to better uses to help our city and its residents. Others are concerned that there is an attempt to hide the downtown Eastside and push its people out of the public eye.

There have been many stories about this as well as events, protests and discussions featuring opinions on both sides. We invite you to share your opinion about Vancouver, the Olympics and how you feel it is affecting our residents.

Here are some different stories and blogs on the topic:

Homelessness change
Seattle Times
Toronto Star
Vancouver Sun
VANOC

What are your thoughts?

 

 

As we leave 2009 behind and head into 2010 we are wondering what your goals or resolutions are for the year ahead? Or maybe you don't make any?

Our youth usually have many goals and aspirations for the New Year, anything from finding a home, getting a job or to quit using drugs. We make New Year's fun for our youth by staying up late, having lots of treats and playing games. Our staff model that you can have a great New Year's night without drugs or alcohol.

So with resolutions in mind we are hoping that you would share yours with us or send some well wishes to our youth to give them little extra strength to accomplish theirs.

Covenant House Vancouver thanks you all for your kindness and support in 2009 and hopes your 2010 is filled with love, joy and all you wish for.

Happy New Year!!

 

Please enjoy a Christmas poem from Brian & FASS ( Finance & Support Services) dedicated to our staff and youth.

It’s not the night before Christmas and anyway according to CSS(Community Support Services) creatures have been stirring!
 

It is best sung to “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"

 

The Tyee is a Vancouver based blog that consistently reports on issues relating to homelessness, drawing much-needed attention to an issue that concerns most British Columbians.

Click here for today's article on a renovated SRO.  Thanks to Monte Paulsen for covering this topic near and dear to us.

 

There has been much bantering in Hollywood over the fate of film maker Roman Polanski who drugged and raped a 13 year old girl in 1977. Polanski has until now avoided prosecution, having fled the United States, but was recently arrested in Switzerland. It is remarkable to me that there are those who argue the assault was not a "rape rape" (Whoopi Goldberg). A 13 year old girl was drugged and raped by a grown man. What am I missing here?

At Covenant House, we see the wounds sexual assault/abuse leave on young women (and men) and it is devastating. To argue the legality or "fairness" of apprehending Polanski now leads us away from the real issue: children who are physically and sexually abused suffer, sometimes for the rest of their lives.

Supporters of Polanski and the (now) woman herself, who was the victim of Polanski's crime, argue that she is being re-victimized, as this "story" plays out again in the media, her wounds re-opened. So on one hand, the abuse is acknowledged while simultaneously its impact denounced.

The raping of a 13 year old girl is a horrific crime; that the rights of the criminal are of great concern to some is of great concern to me.