Opportunity to Meet with Congress Members

WOGA members in California, Colorado and Florida are taking the opportunity offered by the International Justice Mission (IJM) to meet with our congress members. New legislation has recently been introduced which will increase U.S. support to eradicate child trafficking in countries that have the will to end the crime but lack resources. “The Child Protection Compact Act of 2009” will provide $50 million over three years to select “focus countries” through the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP); focus countries will receive support in building public justice systems that investigate crimes against children and prosecute perpetrators in numbers sufficient to deter and eventually eliminate the crime. The legislation also authorizes increased assistance for care for survivors of trafficking.

IJM has a process for training those who are willing to meet with their congress members. Two WOGA: LA members will be meeting with their congress person this month.

As bills work their way through to final passage, it is very helpful to have as many congressional co-sponsors as possible. This is the goal of IJM's current campaign - to have people meet with their congress members and ask them to become co-sponsors of the bill.

There is still a long way to go for this bill, so please pray for its passage as it moves through the many stages. And pray for many co-sponsors! For more information and for ways to get involved in the campaign, go to the IJM website at: http://www.ijm.org/justicecampaigns/cpca#learn_more