In a community setting when a child goes missing, often search and rescue dogs are called in to sniff an article of clothing to help find the child. In a trafficking situation, the child’s location could be many miles away, and scent may be of little or no help for a timely rescue. What is needed is victim identification, and that’s where the expertise of Guardian Group comes into play.
This month we’re looking at some good news by highlighting the Guardian Group, whose mission is to prevent and disrupt trafficking of women and children in the United States. Their Project 1591®, a title inspired by a U. S. Code with that same number, protects children from being sold for sex.
Basically, they utilize volunteers who have open-sourced intelligence skills,* for instance a retired detective. Once the volunteer has completed online training then based on their skills, they get access to the Project 1591® platform, and become part of the Analysis Team, (a group of seasoned intelligence professionals) who submit self-generated leads of potentially trafficked minors. These leads are then validated by the Guardian Group and if approved are passed on to law enforcement in the correct state in order for them to take action to recover the victim.
With so much happening on the internet, it’s estimated 75% of victims are sold online and 150,000 escort ads, including ads for children, are posted daily. Trying to find one of these would be like finding a piece of lint in plush carpet. The Guardian Group steps in to find victims, a huge support to law enforcement, who often don’t have the time or resources to track down trafficked individuals.
Guardian’s volunteers are growing, now in 33 states and in 8 countries. The work is funded with an appeal to give a doable $15.91 each month. Last year they raised over a million dollars.
Here’s the wonderful news. “Together with our internal Analysis Team, we saw a 278% increase in victims identified compared to 2022. Leading to the most victim identifications to law enforcement in a calendar year since Guardian Group’s PURSUIT® program started in 2018.” You can find the full impact report here.
Often when a child is trafficked, it’s the disappearance into to thin air that is so disturbing. To know that there is a group of dedicated volunteers seeking the lost, and having great success to find the one is heartwarming, hope in the midst. Thank you Guardian Group for your dedicated service to trafficked women, children, and their families.
*(OSINT) is defined as intelligence produced by collecting, evaluating and analyzing publicly available information with the purpose of answering a specific intelligence question.
Let’s pray for this amazing team of volunteers filling a niche that’s having a huge impact.
Father, thank you for the men and women volunteering with Guardian Group who search and find children who’ve been exploited and trafficked. May they be led by your Spirit of wisdom and of revelation and their “steps” ordered on a keyboard by you to lead them to many lost ones. Illuminate the eyes of their imagination, flooding them with light so they know what leads to follow and which ones to not. Let thousands of children come out of the darkness because they were faithful to the task. Then lead law enforcement to the exact location of the children to bring them to freedom.
We ask you to put on donors hearts to give $15.91 per month throughout the year so resources are readily available to this group. Those called to give, let them do so. Further, we ask for your shield of protection on this NGO. Let a firewall be around them and the children and women they are finding. Bless them with courage, perseverance, and hope. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus.
Decrees
We decree the team will find many children. The true Light who, enlightens every man break open the way and bring each one out into a beautiful spacious place. John1: 9 and Ps.18: 19
We decree your armor is placed on volunteers, law enforcement, and those enslaved. You will make the enemy turn tail and run. Ps.18: 39
As you make a way of escape, all the righteous will celebrate all the wonderful things the Lord has done. Ps. 142: 7
So encouraging to hear the Lord has anointed and called so many to look for the victims who have disappeared. Thank you for highlighting this group doing His work!
Yes! Let their work be increasingly effective!
Thank you fir doing this vital work. May God bless it.
Agreed Colleen!