Meg's update: April 14th: Human Trafficking Meeting

Ms. Jessica Lenz-Child Protection Specialist Consultant with UNICEF was our guest speaker at today's meeting. Ms. Lenz has for the past years been involved in programs geared towar protection and reintegration of Child Soldiers in Uganda. Jessica, through a power-point presentation, showed how human trafficking of girls as also boys, was a first step in the exploitation of the child soldier. Several reintegration programs have been offered - one being the DDR; her criticism of this program was the methods used were too negative, having the victims relate their sufferings without any healing methods offered. Her approach has been to invite the victims to speak about the lessons they learned while in the army, how those experiences have made them stronger within themselves, and skills they have to be used for fuller reintegration into their communities. The programs are community-based with parents of the children being very much a part of the healing process. I found Jessica's presentation both creative and hopeful for a redeemed life for child soldiers.