It’s a scourge on modern society. Millions of children around the world are trafficked or trapped in sexual exploitation with little hope for freedom. We bring freedom. We shine a light in the darkness.
This is the crucial first step. Children are bound either by physical chains or psychological ones and our rescue agents’ job is to bring the girls out of darkness. Posing as customers, they seek to win the child’s trust before making an offer to take them to a safe rescue home.
If Rescue is the starter’s gun, then Restoration is the marathon. This is where the long yet joyful healing process begins. Rescued children are taken to safe houses where they sleep safely, receive education, vocational training, counseling and healthcare, spiritual guidance and, most importantly, love.
We strive to bring children out of darkness, but we’d rather they weren’t there in the first place. We have Prevention Homes in different countries where we care for at-risk children – often siblings of rescued girls – until they of age to find safe employment or higher education.
In some instances, trafficked individuals are completely unaware of the dangers they are about to encounter, and our pre-emptive rescue interrupts the deceptive process. This was the case for all three of these girls.
The UN describes violence against women and girls (VAWG) as one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today remaining largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.
Child Rescue New Zealand believes Universal Children’s Day should inspire each of us to advocate for children to be free from slavery, and take actions that will build a better world for children.