ECPAT-USA and its mission to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation are very dear to my heart. Being a Board Member of this venerable organization is part of my identity, and fighting human trafficking is part of my vocation as an Episcopal priest.

July 30 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. In recognition and to raise awareness, I will be participating in ECPAT-USA's 5 Boro Survivor Solidarity ride on August 1. The Survivor Solidarity Team will be biking through various "hot spots" in New York City. These spots have been identified by ECPAT-USA’s Survivors' Council as locations of their own trafficking. We'll begin in Hunts Point and end in Staten Island. 

To get an understanding of what some of these hot spots look like, you can listen to this 30 minute podcast produced by the BBC. It features a tour I organized with fellow Episcopalians and anti-trafficking advocates last year. As you'll hear, the mechanisms of sex trafficking are insidious and surround us on a day-to-day basis. But there are people and organizations, especially Survivor Leaders, who are bringing hope and change to end this enslavement and abuse. 

The Survivor Solidarity Ride will symbolize the empowerment of ECPAT-USA’s Survivors' Council. Please consider joining them in solidarity by making a donation to support ECPAT-USA programs. Together we can demonstrate our unity and commitment to creating a world where every child can grow up free from the threat of exploitation and trafficking.

ECPAT-USA is the leading policy organization in the United States seeking to end the trafficking of children. They focus on prevention through private sector engagement, legislative advocacy, youth empowerment and community education. Visit their website here.

In peace and with gratitude,

Adrian