Andrew Linder’s Run Across America to Fight Human Trafficking
Andrew Linder is gearing up to become the first person to run across America wearing a 15lb weighted vest to bring awareness to human trafficking, the ugliest crime against humanity. His journey begins from at the Santa Monica Pier and ends in the heart of Central Park, New York. All proceeds go to Sisters Rising Worldwide.
FACTS about Human Trafficking
Human trafficking, a grave human rights violation, continues to plague societies around the globe, ensnaring millions into a cycle of exploitation and despair. Despite global efforts, the pervasiveness of this crime remains alarming, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimating that over 24.9 million individuals are trapped in forced labor and forced sexual exploitation.
Traffickers prey on vulnerable individuals, seeking better prospects and often luring them with false promises of employment, education, or a better life. Once ensnared, victims face harsh working conditions and physical and psychological abuse and are forced into exploitative situations.
FACTS:
It is a 150 billion-dollar industry
It happens in Every Zip Code
1% are ever rescued
The average age of victims of sex trafficking is 12
14 million are victims of forced labor exploitation
4.5 million are victims of forced sexual exploitation
Combating human trafficking requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses prevention, protection, prosecution, and victim assistance. Andrew chose SRW because sisters worldwide have used this approach for over 400 years and have a proven track record of protecting people from traffickers. They are also the only ones who live in the communities where the most vulnerable live, so know what is uniquely needed to protect individuals and the community.
Prevention initiatives aim to raise awareness, empower individuals, and strengthen support systems. Protection services provide safe havens, medical care, legal aid, and psychosocial support. Prosecution involves identifying, apprehending, and convicting traffickers, ensuring they face justice. Victim assistance programs rehabilitate survivors, restore their rights, and integrate them into society.
Prevention initiatives aim to raise awareness, empower individuals, and strengthen support systems.
Protection services provide safe havens, medical care, legal aid, and psychosocial support.
Prosecution involves identifying, apprehending, and convicting traffickers, ensuring they face justice.
Victim assistance programs rehabilitate survivors, restore their rights, and integrate them into society.
YOUR DONATION WILL SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES
Sisters Rising Worldwide works with vulnerable populations in many ways: provides education, healthcare, and job skills training. They even become lawyers so they can create laws that will protect and empower women, the most vulnerable.
Additionally, we foster collaboration among sisters and their ministries to share best practices, resources, and support to provide professional development opportunities for sisters working with survivors, including trauma-informed care, economic empowerment, and advocacy training through a technology platform that allows sisters to share best practices and resources so they can increase the number of individuals and communities they can serve.
WHY DOES HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPEN?
Human trafficking is a complex issue with deep roots in poverty, inequality, and gender discrimination. Traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities to prey on vulnerable individuals and force them into labor or sexual exploitation.
Economic instability is a significant contributor to human trafficking. When people cannot support themselves or their families, they are more likely to be lured into false promises of employment or a better life. Once trapped in trafficking, individuals are often subjected to harsh working conditions, physical and psychological abuse, and forced into exploitative situations.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Spread the Word
Share Andrew's journey on your platforms using #piertopark.
Donate Now
Click HERE to contribute directly to Sisters Rising Worldwide. Every dollar counts in the fight against human trafficking.
Follow Andrew's LIVE progress on social media to be notified of group runs & meetups along the way.
BE A PART OF THE RUN
About Andrew Linder
My name is Andrew Linder. I'm a current law enforcement officer in Washington DC and I’m taking on a record breaking journey to raise awareness for the prevention of human trafficking worldwide. I will be running from Santa Monica pier to Central Park NYC with a 15lb weighted vest. My reasoning to get into law enforcement was to be able to have an impact in the epidemic of human trafficking. Being able to raise awareness for a cause I’m so passionate about and impact hundreds of thousands along the way fuels me everyday to train for such a feat.