Fighting the Sex Trade
The Universe
(June 22, 2003)
I NEVER knew that so much good
could be done with so little finance until
Danny Smith came flying into my in 1992. As described last week by
David Alton, he set up
Jubilee Campaign , a small but
influential charity working for human and religious rights around the
world.
Danny’s new book, Who says that you can’t change the world? Tells the wonderful stories of the many dramatically successful campaigns that Jubilee waged on behalf of imprisoned and persecuted Christians – rescue of children left to die of neglect and abuse in hidden rooms in China or from being shot to death on the Brazilian streets of Rio De Janiero; the rescue and recovery of child prostitutes in India and the Philippines and the arrest and prosecution of their abusers.
These are just few of the success that
have marked this charity among the best in terms of swift, direct and
effective action in helping the persecuted and the abused.
The tenacity and ingenuity of Danny and his team supported by David Alton and so many dedicated and committed MPs has shown us that, helpless as we sometimes feel in the face of enormous human suffering and the villainy of corrupt abusers of human rights, change can be achieved. We can make this a better and more just and loving world by working together in effective action for justice.
When Danny arrived on my doorstep he came on impulse; driven by the desire to do something for the children he knew were being exploited and abused with impunity by military and international sex tourists in the Philippines. It was Danny’s own courageous undercover investigations of British sex tourists that brought us into a partnership. He in England who were operating a sex tourist business inviting foreigners to come to the Philippines and abuse young girls and boys.
He secretly taped them in England and later, through a series of hair-raising adventures that you have to read about, he ended up in the Philippines helping me to focus on the case of British sex tour operator, Michael Clarke and having him arrested and convicted of trafficking.
There is the shocking story of Victor Keith Fitzgerald whom we observed bringing small children onto his yacht and who was eventually abusing them. He then got a retrial when the bishop and clergy testified on his behalf and paid his bail.
Danny recounts his meetings with Fitzgerald during the trial in the book.
He shows the connivance between the sex tourists and the sex club operators and corrupt local politicians who give permits for them to operate a slave trade in women and children.
You must, too, read Danny’s account of
the American paedophile Mark Harvey who organized an international agency
providing young boys to foreigners.
The records that he kept of the children and their customers is a harrowing tale of depravity that was overcome by the resilience and ability of committed Filipinos and organizations like Jubilee Campaign to respond and support the work of the frontline child protectors around the world.
This is a book that will inspire and challenge the reader.
It is strongly written, full of
inspiring stories of the courage and determination of very wonderful
people.
Who says you can’t change the world? (Harvest Spring) is launched on July 2. Call Jubilee at 01483 894787
