CHASTE Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe is a charity which actively works for the global eradication of Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation, the provision of practical care and support for those who have been trafficked, and the suppression of demand which drives the supply of women and the girl child into the sex markets of Europe.
Providing Protection
The CHASTE Round Table on Housing responds to the imperative of safety which all those trafficked into the UK in enslavement to a trafficker or pimp for prostitution require. Just as in Domestic Violence, it is absolutely essential for a place of safety to be available for escape from the vicious cycle of abuse to occur. CHASTE is committed to an exciting vision of releasing the churches capital of human commitment, prayerful involvement and properties into this UK wide initiative of providing safe housing for those who are seeking to escape the cycle of abuse. The CHASTE Round Table has seen the provision of two safe houses in 2006 with a third ready for completion at the beginning of January 2007. The Medaille Trust and the Salvation Army Jarrett Community have been at the forefront of this pioneering work. If you would like to get involved in this process or have a safe house project that you are moving forward please be in touch with us.
Creating co-operation across the European churches to enhance the response to our Global responsibility of pastoral care, prophetic protest and cultural leadership focused on the arena of children, young women and some men being illegally trafficked across borders for the purposes of commoditised sex. An estimated 1,420 women were trafficked into the UK in 2000 for the purposes of constrained prostitution. This has now been updated to an estimated minimum of 4,000 owing to the work undertaken by Operation Pentameter in 2006, involving all the Constabularies of the UK police force.
Training
CHASTE enables churches in countries of origin, destination and transit to identify those particularly at risk to being trafficked and exploited and to develop coherent programmes to respond to the challenge. CHASTE is currently involved in training priests, chaplains, congregations and the communities they serve. We are enabling the church to address some of the wider issues which are involved in trafficking and to build the pastoral capabilities locally that are required; in both countries of origin and destination. For further details of our training please look at our resources and events pages. If you would like CHASTE to facilitate some training for your organisation please be in contact with us.
Forming Supportive Networks with churches and faith communities in countries of origin to practically support with finance, pastoral theology and training the churches' engagement at grass roots level in the areas of combating procurement and effecting rehabilitation and reintegration of the trafficked woman/child. To this end CHASTE begun a programme of internship in countries of origin. CHASTE is also developing a programme which will directly involve churches in source countries, to help them work on programmes of prevention and return and rehabilitation.
PARTICIPATION IN NETWORKS OF CHANGE
CHASTE is on the Advocacy steering group of Stop the Traffik as the key Ecumenical agency working on counter trafficking strategies for Trafficking against Sexual Exploitation. CHASTE works closely with the Set all Free campaign and presented a seminal paper at its inception in 2005. CHASTE is committed to strengthening these networks in order to build our consolidated strength against those who abuse the lives of women, children and men in this appalling trade.
ADVOCATING CHANGE
Increasing Awareness of Sexual Trafficking and Advocating for Policy Changes by the UK Government and the EU. The recent CHASTE Time for A®rest campaign helped to persuade the Government to sign the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. This Convention will enable the 30 countries who have now signed to address coherently and with the force of integrated legislation and dedicated budgets the multiple issues of demand, the welfare and rights of those who have been trafficked and sustained action against those who traffick people across international boundaries and within their own countries.
Facilitating Research – CHASTE is working in close co-operation with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre to develop Research on all issues pertaining to Trafficking in Sexual Exploitation. In order to address issues of demand it is essential to understand the make up of the market, to engage users and those who are in the age profile for using prostituted sex whether here in the UK or abroad whilst on holiday or on business. It is important for everybody to understand the nature of abuse involved in Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation and its relationship with the burgeoning sex industry in the UK. Whilst on this site you will be able to find a range of articles, academic papers, theological reflections, books and films which can resource you and your communities in your understanding of this menace to our humanity and common dignity. We hope that you are enriched in your research into these resources and empowered to join us in the work of assistance to the brutalised and resistance to the evil of Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in our time.
Releasing Captives
CHASTE works closely with law enforcement agencies, such as the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) to support the suppression of trafficking and the prosecution of the perpetrators. This work particularly focuses on the provision of safe housing, counselling and victim care.
International Cooperation
CHASTE is currently supporting capacity building in networks across Churches and NGOs in Albania, Lithuania, Romania and Nigeria. Will you help us in this important work in prayer and giving?