In 2011-12 SI Cannock began to support the Purple Teardrop Campaign http://www.purpleteardrop.org.uk
The main aims of the campaign are to:
- Raise awareness among the general public of the plight of women and children who are trafficked
- Try to suppress the demand for trafficked women by making men who use prostitutes aware that they could be contributing to this trade
- Promote the Crimestopper’s number, 0800 555 111, so that members of the public can give confidential information on locations where they think trafficked women are being exploited
- Support the safe houses which provide holistic care for victims who have been freed from trafficking
SI Poole was the first SI club to actively work on this campaign and they have produced a brilliant youtube video showing their work which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpjquelGIFM . They also have information on how to help the campaign here:
https://sigbi.org/poole/teardrop-campaign-how-you-can-help/ .
For five years Cannock Soroptimists promoted this campaign, its main aim being to raise awareness among the general public of the plight of women and children who are trafficked.
They did this by approaching local businesses, taxi firms and churches, many of whom then displayed Purple Teardrop materials. Through a link with the local College their work has developed into concentrating on the street trafficking of teenage girls, and the club has given presentations to groups of students, using the DVD My Dangerous Loverboy’ as a focus. As a result of this link SI Cannock has taken the work of SI Poole forward with the use of their Loves Me, Loves Me Not Bookmarks and now Posters too.
In 2012 SI Cannock and District held two events which led from this, Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking. The first was attended by 120 delegates from Police, NHS, councils, Women’s groups, churches; the second attended by 80 delegates. These events not only raised awareness of the issue but also enabled groups and individuals to come together and share good practice.