| Major group affiliation: |
- Children and youth
- Local authorities
- Women
- Non-governmental organization
|
| Involvement in UN Partnerships: |
Yes |
| If yes, explain in detail: |
O.U.R. does not currently have a partnership with the UN, but recently submitted an application for Special Accreditation to the third session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom3) of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development. |
| Affiliation with other organizations: |
O.U.R. works with local law enforcement and governments wherever it is conducting a rescue operation. O.U.R. is also affiliated with the Child Exploitation Targeting Center of Excellence, specialized in research and developing software tools to help in the fight against child exploitation, located on the University of North Carolina- Charlotte campus. Additionally, O.U.R. partners with the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, Indian Rescue Mission, Agape International Mission, Casa Anthus, and Breaking Chains NGO's. |
Statements or documents submitted
Commission on Sustainable Development:
|
Child exploitation/slavery grows from the social problems that develop from rapid urbanization. With underdeveloped legal and law enforcement structures, trafficking rings operate with little fear of punishment. Additionally, poverty, lack of education, and poor urban development endangers children, thereby making them vulnerable of being trafficked. Motivated by a strong desire to stop this global issue, O.U.R. heartily joins the UN in its vision to create “a world which invests in its children and in which every child grows up free from violence and exploitation.” O.U.R.'s mission statement reads: To shine a light to the world on the global epidemic of slavery, and in doing so rescue children from slavery and dismantle the criminal networks holding them captive. Essentially, O.U.R. strives to meet the Sustainable Development Goal to “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.” After over a decade of experience as a Special Agent for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security child crimes unit, and the Central Intelligence Agency, organization founder and CEO Timothy Ballard created O.U.R. to assist and empower international countries, governments, and law enforcement agencies in the fight against child exploitation. Additionally, O.U.R.’s aftercare program works to provide rescued victims with the tools necessary for reintegration into society, so they can live happy, prosperous lives, free from abuse. Specialized in combating this social issue, O.U.R. provides a unique perspective on how to improve urban development to rescue trafficked children and reduce the number of children trafficked in the future. |
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