LIFT International
{{Short description|Anti-human trafficking organisation in Southeast Asia}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
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| formation = 2009
| founder = Daniel Walker
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| type = Non-profit organization
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| website = {{URL|https://www.liftinternational.org/}}
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LIFT International, formerly known as Nvader, is a faith-based, non-governmental organisation (NGO), whose mission is "combatting sex trafficking."{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7325528/Kiwis-to-rescue-of-sex-slaves|title=Kiwis to rescue of sex slaves|last=Sachdeva|first=Sam|date=2012-07-22|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2017-03-27|language=English}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9262016/Paying-the-price-to-stop-slavery|title=Paying the price to stop slavery|last=Bathgate|first=Benn|date=2013-10-09|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2017-03-27|language=English}}{{Cite news|url=http://rotarydistrict9980.org/Stories/dunedin-rotarian-fighting-world-s-darkest-trade|title=Rotarians' Fighting World's Darkest Trade|work=District 9980|access-date=2017-03-28|archive-date=2017-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200940/http://rotarydistrict9980.org/Stories/dunedin-rotarian-fighting-world-s-darkest-trade|url-status=dead}} Nvader investigators go undercover in brothels in Southeast Asia to rescue victims of sex trafficking. Victims are identified, removed from the premises, and placed into aftercare facilities. Nvader investigators collect evidence to be used in prosecuting those guilty of trafficking and trafficking-related offences.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzlawyermagazine.co.nz/news/lawyer-set-to-leave-firm-to-fight-against-sex-trafficking-191966.aspx|title=Lawyer set to leave firm to fight against sex trafficking|last=Crossley|first=Kathryn|website=NZ Lawyer|access-date=2017-03-28|archive-date=2019-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104221101/https://www.nzlawyermagazine.co.nz/news/lawyer-set-to-leave-firm-to-fight-against-sex-trafficking-191966.aspx|url-status=dead}}
Background
Nvader was founded in 2009 by Daniel Walker (a pseudonym),{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10891044|title=Undercover investigator's harrowing story|last=Donnell|first=Hayden|date=2013-06-18|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=2017-03-28|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}} a former police detective from Christchurch, New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/63013361/daniel-walker-is-a-sextrade-saviour|title=Daniel Walker is a sex-trade saviour|website=Stuff|date=7 November 2014|access-date=2017-03-27}} The organisation became operational in 2012 and its first deployment to Southeast Asia occurred in October 2012.{{cite web|title=Nvader is now operational|url=http://www.nvader.org/news/blog/nvader-is-now-operational/|publisher=Nvader.org|date=September 2012|accessdate=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603040930/http://www.nvader.org/news/blog/nvader-is-now-operational/|archive-date=3 June 2016|url-status=dead}}
During those same years, while working for American organisations, he conducted undercover investigations inside 13 countries in total. He would pose as a potential client, or a sex tour operator, in order to find victims of sex trafficking. He would use cameras to record transactions and speak to victims to gather evidence that could be used to prosecute those guilty of trafficking and trafficking-related offences.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mindfood.com/article/mission-possible-sex-slavery-daniel-walker/|title=MiNDFOOD - Mission Possible|last=Enting|first=Carolyn|date=15 August 2014|website=MINDFOOD|language=en|access-date=2017-03-28}}
Walker noted that during this work best practices were often not applied. He often went on solo missions and was not properly debriefed. Walker applied the knowledge gained during these four years toward the creation and operation of Nvader.{{cite magazine |last=Ramsey |first=Keith |date=October 2013 |title=How are TEAR Fund's Programmes Beating the Traffickers |url=https://issuu.com/tearfundnz/docs/tearcorrespondent_october13_nocrops |magazine=TEAR Correspondent |location=tearfund.org.nz |publisher=TEAR Fund |access-date= 1 May 2016}} Some of the best practices the organisation uses include deployments of no longer than two weeks at a time and debriefing sessions for workers after every trip. Investigators work in a team, receive daily briefing and debriefing, clinical psychological supervision, and team members' spouses are included in planning and decision making.
In 2018, Nvader changed its name to LIFT International.{{Cite web|title=LIFT International, Our Story|url=https://www.liftinternational.org/our-story|access-date=2021-01-20|website=LIFT International|language=en-US}}
Work
Nvader rescued women and children from sex work in Laos and Thailand, with victims coming from other places such as Myanmar and Vietnam.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/77467449/ralph-simpson-gave-up-a-cushy-law-job-to-help-fight-sex-trafficking-in-thailand|title=Ralph Simpson gave up a 'cushy' law job to help fight sex trafficking in Thailand|website=Stuff|date=7 March 2016|access-date=2017-03-28}} Thailand and Laos serve as source, destination and transit countries for all types of human trafficking. The 2015 United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report notes that "sex trafficking remains a significant problem in Thailand's extensive sex trade".{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/245365.pdf|title=2015 Trafficking in Persons Report: Laos & Thailand|last=|first=|date=|website=www.state.gov|pages=215-217, 330-334|access-date=24 March 2017}} The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2014 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons reports that between 2010 and 2012, 26% of human trafficking victims in East Asia, South Asia and the Pacific were subjected to sexual exploitation.{{cite web|title=Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2014 |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/GLOTIP_2014_full_report.pdf|publisher=UN Office on Drugs and Crime|accessdate=7 June 2016}}
Nvader's strategy included partnering with law enforcement agencies, building relationships with other NGOs, working with UN agencies and government departments.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellgully.com/Shared%20Documents/Pro-bono-report-2014-2015.pdf|title=Bell Gully's Pro Bono & Community Report 2014/2015|last=|first=|date=2015|website=www.bellgully.com|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210074623/https://www.bellgully.com/Shared%20Documents/Pro-bono-report-2014-2015.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Successes
In 2014 New Zealand publication Stuff reported Nvader as having as successfully removing 40 women and children from sex trafficking in Southeast Asia and helping to prosecute 14 sex traffickers during 2013. By February 2014 Nvader had rescued 22 more women and children. Nvader's noted goal is to rescue 200,000 sex trafficking victims by 2024.{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/9768331/Charity-Women-kids-used-as-sex-slaves|title=Charity: Women, kids used as sex slaves|date=2014-02-27|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2017-03-27|language=English}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.liftinternational.org/ Official website]
Category:Organizations that combat human trafficking