TONIGHT -"Bearing Witness in Darfur: Who Will Be My Sister's Keeper?"

Thursday, November 29th, 7:00pm
First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist, Sanctuary
6 Eliot St. (Across from the Monument)
http://www.jamaicaplainforum.org

Since her first visit to southern Sudan in 2001, Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, co-pastor of Jamaica Plain s Bethel AME Church, knew that she wanted to stand in solidarity with the women of that country. She had served as a medical missionary during several trips to Botswana, Cote d Ivore, and South Africa, but it was on delegation of several other African-American ministers to Sudan that, Rev. White-Hammond participated in the liberation of over 6,700 enslaved women and children. Bearing witness to the untenable realities of slavery taking place in the 21st century changed her life forever.

Upon her return to Boston, she co-founded My Sister s Keeper, a humanitarian women's group that partners with women in Sudan and their efforts toward reconciliation and reconstruction of their communities. Since it s inception in 2002, My Sister s Keeper has listen closely to the concerns and opinions of the Sudanese women. It has assisted in community-initiated economic development, healthcare and education projects in Gogrial County, Sudan. Furthermore, by mobilizing resources in the United States on their behalf, My Sister s Keeper works to lift up the plight of Sudanese women to the World.

This event will be in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov. 25th), World AIDS Day (Dec. 1st), and Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).

Sexual Slavery: Can You Really Define It?

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is doing just that. According to a recent article in Front Page Magazine, "a prostitute or a victim of trafficking is entitled to justice but only if he/she has been "forced, tricked or coerced" into doing what the DOJ calls "sex work" - and only if they can prove it."

In addition, the DOJ is more sympathetic to those victims in third world countries as opposed to a young woman from Massachusetts or California. Most shocking is that a minor, yes a child, used in "commercial sex acts" is not considered "coerced" or "duped" as defined by the DOJ. The most vulnerable, those who need this protection the most, are subjected to less because they cannot defend themselves or prove their own case.

Why is the DOJ failing? How are those connected to legalizing "sex work" opposing abolitionists in a new way? Read the full article, "Stopping Sexual Slavery" by clicking here.

Darfur Too Dark Too Far - Featuring Simon Deng

Darfur Too Dark Too Far: FREE Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 5:00 PM - Reception to Follow Ames Courtroom, Austin Hall, Harvard Law School 1515 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Award-winning filmmaker Hafiz Farid has recently released his award-winning film, Darfur Too Dark Too Far (http://www.darfur2dark2far.com/). This powerful documentary film addresses the horrific crisis in Darfur, as well as the root causes of genocide… slavery, racism and oppression in the name of religion. Darfur Too Dark Too Far was awarded Best Social Documentary in the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, Best of the Best in the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival, and Excellence for Cinema for a Documentary in the Los Angeles International Independent Film Festival. A panel discussion will follow the film screening, featuring: Simon Deng, iAbolish American Anti-Slavery Group; Former Sudanese Slave; Human Rights Activist Dr. Jerry Ehrlich, Pediatrician, Doctors Without Borders Hafiz Farid, Award-Winning Filmmaker/Director; Executive Director, NoCane, Inc. Dr. Lori Heninger, Executive Director, HiTOPS, Inc., Teen Health & Education Center; Former Director, Children and Adolescents Program, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children

To RSVP: Click Here