imagine freedom for the captives

I thought I would share with you an article I wrote for the ImagineNations 2007 conference magazine......

Imagine freedom for the captives, imagine release from darkness for the prisoners, imagine comfort for those who mourn, imagine joy instead of shame.

In 2007, in our world …

Millions will suffer sexual violence and assault. In many places, sexual crimes aren’t even recognised, giving the victims no hope for escape. For many, including children, the abuse will lead to them contracting AIDS.

Up to one million women and children will be taken from their homes and forced into prostitution. People trafficking is the second most lucrative crime in the world, after drug trafficking, bringing in $32 billion (US) annually. The average age of the children is 13.

It is estimated that up to nine thousand young Nepalese girls are sold into sexual slavery each year and that India’s brothels are filled with approximately 160 thousand Nepalese women. Extreme poverty is a trap which forces many parents to sell their daughters, many times not knowing what type of work they will be employed in. Innocent girls are forced into prostitution, suffering abuse from brothel owners and customers. They are in financial debt to the brothel owner, they have no hope for escape and nowhere to go. Even once they have paid off their debt, after many years, the girls don’t know any other way to earn money and they remain as prostitutes. Prostitution is not illegal in Mumbai, yet if a girl is found soliciting clients she will be locked up overnight by police, and often she will be raped. She has no choice but to remain in the brothel.

On the streets of Mumbai, the most populated city in India, around 300 thousand children are homeless. Up to 80 % of the homeless girls will be sexually abused before they turn 13. Many girls will be forced into prostitution or will have no other choice to support themselves financially than by becoming a sex worker.

This year Penrith Christian Life Centre will partner with Biju Thampy and ‘Vision Rescue’ in Mumbai India on a mission to release the victims of sex trafficking and help young girls in danger of being forced into prostitution or sexual abuse. ‘Vision Rescue’ aims to rescue girls from sexual exploitation through a range of services. They will be setting up a café close to where girls solicit clients and will provide a counselling service through the café, offering other services to these young women such as vocational training camps and free medical check-ups. ‘Vision rescue’ will also provide accommodation, rehabilitation centres, and prayer and ministry for healing, to help the women begin a completely new way of life.

It is Pastor Biju’s dream to see many young women escape the trap of sexual exploitation through ‘Vision Rescue’. He says “for those who show the earnest desire to be rescued, it is necessary to remove them from their setting, which would require us to rent a house to accommodate them. A fully-fledged rehab center would help us to boldly see our vision of rescuing at least one girl a week come true. It also means recruiting staff to care for them, even nurse them since most of them would require medical help initially.”

Biju says, “It is the right of every human being to be able to live freely, to be able to know their creator and to be respected by fellow human beings. They are created in the image of God, and the love of Christ compels us to make a difference in their lives. As Christians it is our responsibility to defend the basic human rights of these precious defenceless girls. A simple decision to care for them, to show a secure place to live, to train them up to earn their living, just to be there for them can save the lives of those who see these brothels as their future.”

.... Since the conference, 3 other churches from around the world have partnered with Biju Thampy to support 3 more homes for girls in different cities of India. That means that more than 200 girls will be saved in the next year! Imagine what we can do in the years to come ...