Lunch to raise funds to stop human trafficking

A HIGHTON resident is hosting a lunch this Sunday, October 22 to raise funds and awareness to stop human trafficking, slavery, and exploitation.

Fyansford’s Provenance Winery will host the sold-out inaugural Be Hers Lovely Lunch in support of Australian charity Be Hers, which runs events and online awareness campaigns to educate and empower everyday women to use their freedom and fight for the freedom of vulnerable women and children around the world.

Be Hers ambassador Megan Jolly said Be Hers was founded in Tasmania and raises awareness of human trafficking not only in Australia but also internationally.

“They put lots of support in place – not only do they help people when they are trafficked, but they also support them afterwards, when they go back into the community.”

According to the United Nations, human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.

Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world.

Traffickers often use violence or fraudulent employment agencies and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims.

The Australian Federal Police says it is unknown how many people are trafficked to Australia, but cites research from the Australian Institute of Criminology suggesting that for every victim of human trafficking and slavery detected, four are undetected.

 

Ms Jolly said human trafficking even took place at major sporting events and festivals in the United States.

“I went down a little rabbit hole looking into it and discovered how it happens, and how often it happens in Australia.

“In Greece alone, only 1 per cent of children who go missing get found; it’s just so sad.

“And the more we spoke to people, the more we realised there just wasn’t much awareness in Geelong.

“But apart from drugs, it [human trafficking] is the biggest crime network in the world, so we hope we can run an event every year.”

Sunday’s event will include survivors who will share their stories, and a silent auction featuring more than 40 items donated by local businesses.

Ms Jolly said she hoped to raise at least $5,000.

Writing on the Be Hers website, founder Melody Towns said something amazing happened when she started to share stories about the injustice of human trafficking.

“Each person I shared with, their heart also broke. They wanted to help but didn’t know how.

“But with each person and each opportunity, and just by using our own voices, our own gifts and talents and our own resource we have been able to see change.

“Together, we have been able to do so much more than just one person ever could.

“And in partnership with everyday people and those on the ground doing the rescues we have been part of a significant change where lives are being restored.”

For more information on Be Hers, head to behers.org.au