Today, November 25th, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The main aim of this day is advocacy. According to the United Nations, who issued the Declaration of the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1993, 71% of all human trafficking victims worldwide are women and girls, and ¾ of them are sexually exploited. A couple more staggering statistics: 1 in 3 women experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime (usually from an intimate partner) and only 52% of women married or in a union freely make decisions regarding their own sexual relations, contraception, and reproductive care.
One way you can participate in this day is wearing orange, which Say NO – UNiTE practices on the 25th of every month to advocate and spread awareness of global issues that women face. Letting others know of the issues that women face worldwide (including intimate partner violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and child marriage) is key in sparking the flame for change in our institutions and societal treatment of women. This is both a domestic and a global issue, as even in the United States, there are an estimated 1.5 million victims of human trafficking in the United States, though this number is likely higher.
Creating real change entails involvement from governments and institutions, and over time, we have seen an increase in government action in the fight against human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual violence. However, we still have a long way to go. Many sex-trafficking victims, for example, are seen as criminals, and fear law enforcement because they are committing a crime, which is prostitution. Shifting the worldwide attitude to recognize all forms of human trafficking as modern-day forms of slavery is necessary in reducing any stigmas that people are holding onto.
Alvis, whose clients involve human trafficking survivors, has committed to joining the fight against human trafficking through many of our community-based efforts. Our CHAT House, which specifically houses survivors of sex trafficking, aims to provide the proper resources and reentry services so women may move past their traumatic experiences. Many of these women are graduates of the CATCH Court, which is a creation of Judge Paul Herbert that focuses on rehabilitation and reentry services for women trafficking survivors.
Our trauma-informed care also serves women who have undergone various forms of physical and psychological violence, and our entire organization has moved toward a behavioral healthcare model over the years to best serve the needs of our clients. Amethyst, an Alvis recovery program, is another center of hope for women in need of integrated behavioral healthcare treatment services.
Many of our residences and reentry locations are places of safety and support for women who need empathetic, person-centered care. We applaud the efforts that other organizations and individuals are doing to help female survivors of violent acts, and we commit ourselves to this battle in our own community.
Alvis is a nonprofit human services agency with over 50 years of experience providing highly effective treatment programs in Ohio. Our vision is that communities value a person’s potential more than their past. For more information on how Alvis can help you or to learn more about how you can get involved, contact us here.