ZOE protects the identity and dignity of children and does not show trafficked children.
When ZOE Australia first began, our initial objective was to raise funds to support overseas fieldworkers and contribute funding for ZOE programs in Thailand. Our focus was on how Australians could fight trafficking overseas.
With the growth of the organisation, we began to use our platform in Australia to increase awareness about the global issue of child trafficking and moved into the educational space, providing curriculum for secondary teachers.
Now, at ZOE Australia, we have entered into a new chapter as we expand operations and continue on a journey to prevent child exploitation and child trafficking within Australian borders.
We are expanding our in-country anti-trafficking efforts by creating, enhancing and developing:
- Awareness and prevention resources for those at risk
- Educational curriculum and courses
- Training on best practices
- Support services for children and families
We are also increasing our support of ZOE globally. We will use the lessons learned in Thailand, the USA, Japan and Mexico, to support the anti-trafficking work being done within Australia.
We will continue to prevent children from falling victim to human trafficking and exploitation, as we work alongside law enforcement to rescue child victims of human trafficking and exploitation. We will continue to restore and bring new LIFE to child trafficking survivors and at-risk orphans - globally.
PREVENTION
ZOE works to prevent the trafficking and exploitation of children. Individual, family, social, economic, and demand-related factors, can collectively contribute to increasing the vulnerability of children to exploitation. ZFA offers a range of programs that are designed to build a community of people who are aware and educated about Modern Slavery.
RESCUE
ZOE supports the work of law enforcement to rescue child victims of trafficking. In Thailand, the team at ZOE works with the dedicated men and women in the government’s social services, legal services and law enforcement to conduct rescue operations.
RESTORATION
Our heart at ZOE is to see children find healing, restoration, love and acceptance. Regardless of whether children are with us short-term or long-term, we tailor programs and support to their specific needs. All our parents and staff are trained in trauma-informed care, and receive ongoing support and training so that they are supporting each individual child. Children at ZOE are encouraged to take part in our vocational training program which is tailored to their specific goals and interests.
AUSTRALIA
Human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery are often described as issues that are hidden in plain sight. Due to the hidden nature of this type of exploitation, identifying victims in Australia proves difficult.
According to the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report:
- Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Australia, and traffickers exploit victims from Australia abroad.
- Traffickers primarily exploit women and men in forced labor and, to a lesser extent, women and girls in sex trafficking.
- Traffickers exploit a small number of children, primarily teenage Australian and foreign girls, in sex trafficking within the country.
- Reports show heightened risks of child sexual exploitation, some of which may be child sex trafficking, which may be due to pandemic-related economic impacts.
- A small number of Australian residents may facilitate and engage in commercial sex and child sex tourism abroad, including in Thailand.
Australia’s connection to modern slavery extends far beyond just its domestic cases; Australia is strongly connected to modern slavery through international supply chains and through the exploitation of children in travel and tourism.
"Australians were the biggest exploiters of Thailand’s child sex tourism*"
From the studied patterns of arrests and prosecutions between 1995-2006, Johns Hopkins University
After several Australians were prosecuted for child abuse crimes in the Philippines, the Australian Government developed plans to ban convicted pedophiles from travelling overseas.
“There's most certainly deep concern among countries in our region about the number of registered child sex offenders in Australia engaging in the child sex tourism industry**”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, 2017.
*Sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT)
**This term relates to those who sexually exploit children in the context of tourism and travel.
Are you a secondary school teacher?
Check this free curriculum developed for Year 9 and Year 10 students, written by experienced curriculum writer Mark Easton.
MINISTRIES of ZOE INTERNATIONAL
ZOE International is a Christian organisation with the mission to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of the un-reached people of the world and to demonstrate God’s compassion through rescuing and caring for orphans and other vulnerable children from human trafficking. To learn more about ZOE International visit goZOE.org
ZOE Foundation Australia support the ZOE International vision, strategy and values. The focus of ZOE Foundation Australia is predominantly in the areas of Prevention, Rescue and Restoration.
If you would like to give to ZOE International to support evangelism please send us an email.
*Lyneham, S., Dowling, C and Bricknell, S (2019). Estimating the dark figure of human trafficking and slavery victimisation in Australia. Australian Institute of Criminology
**Global estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, Internaational Labour Organization (ILO), Walk Free and International Organization for Migration, Geneva, 2022
***Minderoo Foundation (2018). Global Slavery Index. Accessed from https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/resources/downloads/
REACHING EVERY PERSON. RESCUING EVERY CHILD.
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