Human Trafficking, Domestic Abuse: “It’s Slavery”

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – Human trafficking is like modern day slavery according to the organizations waging a battle against it.
And officials say it is a part of daily life in Tennessee as well as here in Chattanooga.
Members of the Women’s Fund of Chattanooga heard the latest on that fight today.

Trafficking is defined as the loss of freedom to another’s control by force.
It’s being called the worlds fastest growing criminal enterprise.
But organizations which have formed to fight domestic abuse and trafficking are posting some major victories.
The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga is one of them.

KARA FAGAN "And now., because of our work and our partner ship with our sister funds in Nashville and Memphis….Tennessee is the number one state with the most aggressive laws on the books."

A fund-raiser was hosted by Kara Fagan’s group and the featured speaker was Rev. Becca Stevens, chaplain of Vanderbilt University and founder of Magdalene House in Nashville.

REV.BECCA STEVENS "I am founding director of a community that has worked with women who have come out of lives of trafficking,addiction, prostitution . So addressing those universal issues of sexual violence and what it looks like for us in local communities to gather together to use our voice about healing."

Most of the victims of trafficking are women and half are underage. Rev. Stevens says Magdalene House tries to pave the road for young women to return to a normal life-style, by finding safety and even a job.

REV. BECCA STEVENS, FOUNDER, MAGDALENE "We have over a 100 women on our waiting list….we have 15 to 20 women who would love a job tomorrow..if it were available."

Kara Fagan says her organization is urging all communities to join in a fight that is shared by 85 percent of the counties in the state.
Rev. Stevens told the group it’s a tough job…but it can be done.

REV. BECCA STEVENS " ..you know the line between victim and criminal is very thin."

Today’s event was head at Stratton Hall on the UTC campus.
For more information here is the local website: <http://chattanoogawomensfund.com/>