HRI:UNArts Apatow Spotlights the International Day for Street Children

It is estimated that in the U.S., 162,000 U.S. homeless youth are child prostitutes and that 57,800 children in homes (including public housing) are estimated to be victims of Community Violence Exposure (CVE).
By: HRI: United Nations Arts Initiative
 
April 12, 2011 - PRLog -- In 1993, Timothy Gannon and Stephen Michael Apatow ran across America for hunger, homelessness and poverty. [1]  The experiences in 133 cities from Washington, Dc to San Francisco, California were nothing short of overwhelming and with unmet needs that prompted the formation of Humanitarian Resource Institute [2] in 1994.

One of the most tragic experiences, during the project, was the visit to a day shelter for homeless youth in Denver, Colorado.  After picking up a number of youth leaders from the local churches, together we learned about the size and scope of the hidden homeless youth crisis.  The homeless kids, we learned slept in crash pads (30-40 to a small apartment) because as minors, they could not enter into the homeless shelters.  During the day, many sold drugs and worked as prostitutes to survive, with the day shelter being the only outlet for care and support.  Sadly, the interfaith youth leaders had no clue, that this was happening down the streets from their churches.  It was from this paradox, that Country Music Association Artist H-II: Stephen Michael Apatow wrote the song "If You Loved Me," included on the album projects "Country Goes Global" [3] and "Outside of the Box." [4]

Last year, H-II: Stephen Michael Apatow engaged the United Nations Arts Initiative Humanitarian Intervention Initiative [5] in relief efforts to help these youth:

"In 2001, Dr. Richard Estes and Dr. Neil Alan Weiner estimated that in the U.S., 162,000 U.S. homeless youth are child prostitutes (Community Violence Exposure: CVE) and that 57,800 children in homes (including public housing) are estimated to be victims of CVE. They also estimated that 30% of shelter youth and 70% of homeless youth are victims of CVE in the United States. One third of street-level prostitutes in the U.S. are under 18 years old while fifty percent of off-street prostitutes are less than 18 years old. Off-street prostitution includes massage parlors, strip clubs, and escort services. According to Estes and Weiner, 12 to 14 is the average age of entry into prostitution for girls under 17 years old in the United States while the average age of entry into prostitution is between 11 and 13." -- UNArts: H-II - Saving 162,000 Children on the Streets in the United States, 7 April 2010. [6]

The U.S. homeless youth discussion only touches the surface of  "UNArts: H-II - Human Trafficking of Children - Global Law Enforcement/Relief Intervention," [7] and the Human Trafficking of Children and Adults:

"According to the "Training manual to fight trafficking in children for labour, sexual and other forms of exploitation" (ILO, UNICEF and the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking):

   * UNICEF estimates that 1,000 to 1,500 Guatemalan babies and children are trafficked each year for adoption by couples in North America and Europe.
   * Girls as young as 13 (mainly from Asia and Eastern Europe) are trafficked as “mail-order brides.”  In most cases these girls and women are powerless and isolated and at great risk of violence.
   * Large numbers of children are being trafficked in West and Central Africa, mainly for domestic work but also for sexual exploitation and to work in shops or on farms. Nearly 90 per cent of these trafficked domestic workers are girls.
   * Children from Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana are trafficked to Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Gabon. Children are trafficked both in and out of Benin and Nigeria. Some children are sent as far away as the Middle East and Europe.
   * Surveys indicate that 30 to 35 per cent of all sex workers in the Mekong sub-region of Southeast Asia are between 12 and 17 years of age.
   * Mexico’s social service agency reports that there are more than 16,000 children engaged in prostitution, with tourist destinations being among those areas with the highest number.
   * In Lithuania, 20 to 50 percent of prostitutes are believed to be minors. Children as young as age 11 are known to work as prostitutes. Children from children’s homes, some 10 to 12 years old, have been used to make pornographic movies."

The size and scope of this crisis prompted the "UNArts: H-II - Operation Incursion - G-192 Human Trafficking" [8] Initiative.

Thanks to the "Consortium for Street Children" this work continues in 130 countries. To date, all countries (except the United States and Somalia) have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and have a legal obligation to work towards ensuring that all children’s rights are integrated into national law. The Convention sets out every child’s right to protection, participation, provision and prevention from harm. It is universally recognized that all children should have these rights ;realized however many government policies and practices still do not include street children.

To learn more about the International Day for Street Children, visit:

http://www.streetchildren.org.uk


Country Music Association Artist H-II: Stephen Michael Apatow is founder of the Humanitarian Resource Institute and United Nations Arts Initiative. Since 1989, national project development and advocacy work included the formation of Humanitarian Resource Institute, to "Bridge Unmet Needs to Untapped Resources." As director of research and development for the Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Law, he promotes leadership development through strategic planning, critical analysis, expert think tank development for background discussions, peer reviewed data compilation and communications that engage decision makers and target audiences on the grassroots level in 192 United Nations member countries. Today, this work continues through the United Nations Arts Initiative and global promotion of "Arts Integration Into Education." He is also a Member/Publisher: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).   As an artist, 2010 marked the release of his first album entitled "Country Goes Global." In 2011, Stephen was named an ambassador for the Vet2011 global initiative that celebrates World Veterinary Year and the 250th year  anniversary for the veterinary profession.

References:

1. Run Across America for Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty: Url: www.runacrossamerica.org
2. Humanitarian Resource Institute: Url: www.humanitarian.net
3. Country Goes Global: AirPlay Direct. Url: www.airplaydirect.com/music/stephenmichaelapatow
4.  Outside of the Box: AirPlay Direct: Url: www.airplaydirect.com/music/stephenmichaelapatow2
5. United Nations Arts Initiative Humanitarian Intervention Initiative: Url: www.unarts.org/H-II
6. UNArts: H-II - Saving 162,000 Children on the Streets in the United States, United Nations Arts Initiative, 7 April 2010. Url: www.unarts.org/news/aiie_thbus472010.html
7. UNArts: H-II - Human Trafficking of Children - Global Law Enforcement/Relief Intervention: United Nations Arts Initiative, 5 April 2010. Url: www.unarts.org/news/aiie_thb452010.html
8. UNArts: H-II - Operation Incursion - G-192 Human Trafficking: United Nations Arts Initiative, 9 April 2010. Url: www.unarts.org/news/aiie_opincursion492010.html

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