The A21 Campaign

The A21 Campaign is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to fight human trafficking, including sexual exploitation and forced slave labor.^[1][2][3][4] The campaign was founded by Christine Caine, an international motivational speaker, in 2008.^[5] Aiming to "abolish injustice in the 21st century," The A21 Campaign focuses on combatting slavery around the world through educational awareness and prevention, the protection of victims (by providing services such as medical and psychological treatment, as well as legal and vocational assistance for victims of human trafficking in their crisis centers, shelters and transitional homes), the prosecution of traffickers, and various partnerships (including official bodies, community members, other non-governmental organizations and corporations).^[5] The A21 Campaign has teams on the ground in Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Norway, the United States, South Africa, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Australia.^[6]

Of note, A21 founder Christine Caine is featured in a recent chart-topping single "Twenty Seven Million" by recording artist Matt Redman.^[7][8][9] The song was inspired by The A21 Campaign and was written in light of the estimated 27 million world-wide slaves.^{[7][8][9][10][11]} The A21 Campaign was also featured on the Global Freedom Report to raise awareness of human trafficking, while A21 representative Phil Hyldgaard was named a 2012 TIP Report Hero by the U.S. Department of State.^[12][13]

The A21 Campaign is a non-governmental organization that works to “abolish injustice in the 21st Century.” ^[2][4][3] Efforts are currently focused on human trafficking and sex slavery in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Australia. ^[6] Greece, a destination country for human trafficking, and other Eastern European countries, including Ukraine and Bulgaria, are countries of origin, and increasingly countries of destination, for victims of trafficking.^[11] The United States of America, Great Britain, and Australia are mostly destination countries for trafficking victims, while South Africa and Thailand are both sources and destinations for trafficked human beings.^[10][11] See also human trafficking in Greece, human trafficking in Ukraine, human trafficking in Bulgaria, human trafficking in South Africa, human trafficking in Thailand, human trafficking in the United States, human trafficking in the United Kingdom and human trafficking in Australia.

The A21 Campaign was referenced in both the 2011 and the 2012 publications of the United States Department of State publication of the Trafficking in Persons Report.^[14][12]

The A21 Campaign develops global programs and initiatives that encourage students and the general public to be abolitionists in their own way.^[3]

The A21 Campaign partnered with recording artist Matt Redman to release a single titled Twenty Seven Million.^[7][8][9] The song was inspired by The A21 Campaign and was aimed at raising global awareness.^[7][8][9] "Twenty Seven Million" was released on February 27 of 2012, in recognition of the estimated 27 million slaves throughout the world today.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

History

The A21 Campaign was founded by Christine Caine, a leader from Hillsong Church.^{[4][15][5][16]} Her husband Nick Caine is the organization's director, and is supported by teams in Greece, Ukraine, Australia, USA, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Norway, South Africa, and Thailand.^[6]

Christine Caine started the organization in 2008 when she discovered that there was not enough action being taken against human trafficking.^{[2][4][3][10][11][17][18]}

The organization continues to expand throughout the world.^[2]

Work

According to their mission statement, The A21 Campaign works towards:

Prevention through awareness and education.^[19] They have created student programs and curriculum resources for schools, orphanages, and universities to educate potential victims and the general public about trafficking. Notably, they recently released their USA certified high school program called '"Bodies are Not Commodities"', which seeks to raise awareness about human trafficking amongst ninth and tenth graders.^[19] Indeed, people of all ages are equipped with strategies to avoid becoming a victim of human trafficking, and to recognize the signs that may indicate that an individual is being trafficked.^[19] Their goal is for the student programs to prevent human trafficking before it begins, making use of all forms of communication, from their abolitionist A-teams raising awareness to global mass media.^[19]

Protection, by providing care through their shelters and transition homes across Europe.^[19] These shelters and transition homes are safe places for victims to feel empowered to live in freedom.^[19] The A21 Campaign wants to move trafficking survivors past crisis to stabilization, equip them with skills they can use in the future, and assist them with making the next step after they leave the homes.^[19]

Prosecution of traffickers and the strengthening the legal response to human trafficking.^[19] The A21 Campaign offers legal council to every victim in their care, and represents them in criminal proceedings.^[19]

Partnering with local law enforcement, service providers, and community members to meet a comprehensive set of needs for those rescued from bondage.^[19] The A21 Campaign aims to strengthen every aspect of international anti-trafficking efforts so that it can see slavery abolished in the 21st Century.^[2][19]

In fact, The A21 Campaign is one of only a few international organizations addressing the human trafficking problem in Europe.^[11][10] Notably, recent UN findings show that the former Soviet Union, as well as other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, have replaced Asia as the main source of women trafficked to Western Europe.^[11][10] In addition, Western Europe contains many of the highest-ranking destination countries in the Human Trafficking Citation Index.^[11][10]

Of note, A21 representative Phil Hyldgaard was named a 2012 TIP Report Hero by the US Department of State.^[12]

Funding

The A21 Campaign is a non-profit, non-governmental organization.^{[5][16][20][2]} The organization is funded through donations from individuals, faith-based organizations, businesses and other partnerships.^[5][16][20]One remarkable partner of The A21 Campaign is the Row for Freedom team.^[21][22] This UK team of women rowers journeyed the Atlantic Ocean, following an old slave trade route from the Canary Islands to Barbados, and traversed over 2,600 miles in a record setting 45 days to raise awareness and funding for The A21 Campaign.^[21][22]

The organization's Heroes blog chronicles the many ways A21 supporters have used their time, skills and money to partner with the global anti-human trafficking organization.^[23]

References

External links

Some organizations that make reference to the work of The A21 Campaign:

• Mentoring Women in Ministry
• One Voice to End Slavery
• Inspire me Please

Some recent news articles that refer to The A21 Campaign:

• It's a Penalty
• Matt Redman supports The A21 Campaign on his new tour
• The Super Bowl and Sex Trafficking