Emma Thompson's 'Journey' Exhibit Spotlights Sex Trafficking

Two-time Academy Award-winning British actress Emma Thompson is focusing her attention on the issue of human trafficking of women and young girls by co-curating an interactive New York City art exhibit titled Journey.

In an interview with "Good Morning America," Thompson reveals that she got involved with the cause when she realized that trafficking wasn't just an international occurrence. She discovered it was a local phenomenon happening at a massage parlor down the street from her house. The aim of 'Journey' is to emphasize that prostitution in slavery and commercial sex is happens closer to home than many think -- sometimes literally around the corner.

Thompson remarks that in many ways, human trafficking is much easier to commit than dealing with drugs or weapons: "You can make $150,000 from one girl in a year...because moving people around the place is easier than moving guns around."

She explains that girls and women were often forced into the sex trade by a male relative or family friend who lured them out of the country with job offers. This was the case of Elena, a Moldovan girl who Thompson encountered in 2006 through her work with the Helen Bamber Foundation, an organization that helps abuse victims. Elena was led to the United Kingdom with the promise of a job as a receptionist, but was forced into the sex trade at age 19 after her passport was taken away once she entered the country.

It was partly due to her conversations with Elena that Thompson was moved to take on this project. The art exhibit uses seven shipping containers to chronicle the seven stages of a trafficked woman's experience. Thompson hopes that the exhibit helps people understand the plight of those forced to work in human trafficking, which numbers about 2.5 million individuals at any one time, according to the International Labor Organization.

"Journey" is showing in Washington Square Park in New York City through November 15.

WATCH Thompson speak about the exhibit:

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Comments

[endslaverynow]

07:56 PM on 01/05/2010

Kudos to Emma Thompson for her courageous and very public stand against human trafficking! It is so awesome to see a celebrity using their voice to make a positive impact on the world.

This is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. But it's going to take all of us working together to end modern slavery. Fortunately there are some great resources available to fight human trafficking, and now they're all listed in one place: http://www.endslaverynow.com

If you want to help, End Slavery Now has a fantastic TAKE ACTION list with over 100 ideas that make a difference: check it out at http://www.endslaverynow.com/take_action

The best news is, now there's a way to find each other and take action -- The New Underground Railroad was launched on January 1, 2010. http://www.endslaverynow.com/newundergroundrailroad/

Please join us! Together we can end slavery in our lifetime.

[TeresaTMT]

10:01 PM on 12/14/2009

You mention that Emma Thompson discovered that trafficking is not just an international occurrence, that it was happening right near her home. But, do you think people realize that trafficking of women and children is also happening here in NYC, and not just to foreign born citizens, but also to Americans? Why is it that young American women being sexually exploited and trafficked are being arrested instead of protected? Please check out my blog on domestic trafficking and share your thoughts. http://blogs.journalism.cuny.edu/teresatomassoni/2009/12/14/sex-trafficking-in-times-square-victims-or-criminals/

[TeresaTMT]

09:59 PM on 12/14/2009

You mention that Emma Thompson discovered that trafficking is not just an international occurrence, that it was happening right near her home. But, do you think people realize that trafficking of women and children is also happening here in NYC, and not just to foreign born citizens, but also to Americans? Why is it that young American women being sexually exploited and trafficked are being arrested instead of protected? Please check out my blog on domestic trafficking and share your thoughts. http://mikedempsey.typepad.com/graphic_journey_blog/2009/11/toms-nyc-against-sex-trafficking-journey-blog-5.html#comments

[kerristarr]

03:20 PM on 11/13/2009

Does anyone know if they plan to show this exhibit anywhere else? I'd love for it to come to Dallas. If anyone knows anything, or knows who I should talk to about organizing that, please let me know. [e-mail] Thanks!

[Marcia G. Yerman]

04:47 PM on 11/12/2009

Emma Thompson was featured in the film Fatal Promises.

My interview with her and background on the movie can be read at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-g-yerman/emma-thompson-featured-in_b_290429.html

[abern]

12:25 PM on 11/12/2009

A Conversation Among Men About Sex Trafficking

On December 2, 2009, CATW will present a program at NYU titled "A Conversation Among Men About Sex Trafficking" in commemoration of the UN’s International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. Panelists include some of the anti-trafficking movement’s most passionate speakers, such as the author/activists Victor Malarek (The Johns) and Aaron Cohen (Slave Hunter); and the poet Jonathan Walton.
The causes of human trafficking are multifold with male demand acting as a primary, but certainly not sole, contributor. Gender and racial inequality, poverty, organized crime, national and international policies, globalization, financial and political crisis also lead to the rise of this human rights violation. However, male demand for the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children is the most direct cause of the expansion of the enormously profitable sex industry, creating the economic incentive for sex trafficking. Without demand there would be no supply.
For 21 years, CATW has fought extensively to end male violence against women and girls and to achieve gender equality. CATW has especially worked to challenge the demand for commercial sex that promotes sex trafficking. This panel is designed to explore the political role men must play to end violence against women and girls, especially sex trafficking. Please join us for this politically unique and unprecedented program.

December 2, 2009

At: The NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development

133 E. 13th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003

Time: 6:30 – 9:30pm

[Philosim]

09:33 PM on 11/11/2009

11 of 12 cases of trafficking are not cases of sex trafficking but of labor trafficking. Most of the NGOs receiving funding are ultra conservative anti-abortion groups, the same crowd that slipped Stupak into the health bill. It's a moral crusade, they use the most outrageous and horrifying stories to enact draconian laws. Anti-trafficking laws were promoted during the Bush administration into what they are today - anti-immigration, anti-woman legislation.

[Tulka2]

04:02 PM on 11/11/2009

Heard Thompson interviewed on NPR and she said she will be sitting down at the exhibit most of the time and is waiting to discuss it with all. Heads up, New Yorkers!

[DreamerWeaver]

04:20 PM on 11/11/2009

Emma Thompson is great. I admire her beauty, and talent, including her exceptional comedic timing.
Emma Thompson is someone who can make a difference when she chooses a cause such as this one: she will get needed attention on the problem of sex trafficking.
I heard the same interview on NPR.

[Tulka2]

05:02 PM on 11/11/2009

Hey, Dreamer. We should call it sex-slavery. Sex- Trafficking sort of glosses over that. As if. As if the women involved ever see any money. See what i mean?