By Christine Crowstaff (http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/free-sarah-campaign.html)

I first came across the case of the '3 US Hikers' in prison in Iran, in December last year.

In April, despite sporadic rumours of imminent release, they were still in prison. I asked to interview Sarah's mother, Nora.

It was speaking to Nora which made me feel keen to take up the case. There was a real feeling of empathy with Sarah. I felt certain that, if she wasn't in prison, our paths would have crossed in some way sooner or later.

The more learnt from Nora, the more I knew we had to take up Sarah's case. I was alarmed to find that she had been in solitary confinement the whole time and that there were serious concerns over her health and that she may even have cancer.

Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and similar organisations had not taken up the case. Sarah, Shane and Josh didn't seem to fit into any 'categories'. There were no corporate media companies supporting them, as Shane was a freelance journalist.

Here were three ordinary families, with no real experience in campaigning and with very limited financial meeans. The advocacy was largely led by the three mothers. Finance was raised through simple fundraising events and online donations.

EARLY YEARS

Sarah Shourd was brought up singly-handedly by her devoted mother, Nora in Los Angeles, California.

From a very young age, Sarah was an advocate for women's issues. When she left school, Sarah went to Mexico to speak out for the 'Feministas' - victims of female genicide.

A few years later, Sarah felt compelled to travel to New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. She set off with friend Shon Meckfessel.

Sarah and Shon found they had something in common, besides a passion for humanity. They both knew Shane Bauer, an investigative journalist who covered humanitarian issues. Shon and Shane had been on the same 'Peace Studies' course at UC Berkely. Sarah, also a UC Berkely graduate, had just started dating Shane.

Shane comes from a rural Minnesota background. Even as a child, he was drawn to speak out for the oppressed and asked his parent's permission to stand up for the Native American chilren when there was a move to exclude them from his school.

"He doesn't have a mean bone in his body" says Shane's father, Al.

[...] read more at: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/free-sarah-campaign.html

SYRIA

Sarah and Shane moved to Syria together, where Shane did the only English language interview with Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk, 'Hamas Leader: "We Will Not Surrender"’, for New American Media.

Sarah got a volunteer role teaching English to Iraqi refugees and began studying Arabic.  She was interviewed about her work with the Iraqi Student Project for the film 'Stranded in Syria' by Josh Vardey.

Nora visited Sarah and Shane at their home in Damascus and was encouraged to see how well they had settled in and was touched by well how they were so obviously accepted and loved.

Sarah wrote in her blogspot, 'Through Unfettered Eyes', that she was aware their chosen path may be risky. She chose to post a perhaps ironic quote from Helen Keller, 'Security is mostly superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all'.

Sarah was about to have an article published, in Women's E-News, about a successful campaign against the introduction of a 'Family Bill' in Syria, which if passed would have encouraged oppression of women: 'Syrian Women Reflect on Rare Political Victory'.

For a while, Shane was away in Fallujah, interviewing Eifan Saddun al-Isawi, head of Fallujah's Sahwa, or Awakening, council, the Sunni militia hired by the United States in early 2007 to fight its enemies in Iraq.

Back in Damascus, Shane devoted long hours to typing up his article which exposed misuse of US funds in Iraq, for a Mother Jones article, 'The Sheikh Down'. Sarah had a few days off work and they felt ready for a holiday.

[...] http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/free-sarah-campaign.html

PRISON

Little is also known about Sarah, Shane and Josh's lives over the next thirteen months. They were only allowed four Consular visits by the Swiss, one visit by their mothers and a total of four short phonecalls (one each for the men and 2 for Sarah,). There has been virtually no communication with the outside world. Their lawyer had been denied access until two days before Sarah's recent release.

We know that Sarah, Shane and Josh were each kept in solitary confinement for the first 5 months, while undergoing interrogation. They were blindfolded when they met for meals.

Sarah continued to be held in solitary confinement. She had an hour a day with Shane and Josh. They no longer ate together, but they would save food to share together in the excercise yard, making 'prison cakes'.

They would tell each other stories and sing songs.

ENGAGEMENT!

It was in the prison excercise yard, back in January, that Shane proposed to Sarah.

"It would have been Shane's way of telling Sarah how much he loved her and that he wanted to love and care for her for eternity... I know he loves her dearly", said Shane's father, Al Bauer.

Shane wove an engagement ring out of shirt threads. Sarah and Shane asked Josh to be their 'best man'.

In May, when their mothers were finally allowed to visit, Sarah proudly showed off her ring and Shane 'formally' asked their permission for the marriage!

For nearly 14 months, Sarah, Shane and Josh spoke to barely anyone except each other. The prison guards didn't speak English to them and Sarah, Shane and Josh don't speak Farsi.

In July, Nora and Cindy came to the UK to raise awareness about Sarah, Shane and Josh's imprisonment. Cindy spoke at the Front Line Club in London about Shane's imprisonment, as a journalist. She discussed the situation with Iranian-Canadian journalist, Maziar Bahari, and Sina Motallebi from BBC Persia, both of whom have spent time in Evin Prison themselves. Also on the panel was Drewery Dyke, Amnesty International's Iran Researcher.

SARAH'S RELEASE: ONE THIRD FREEDOM

Sarah was finally released from Evin Prison, Iran, on September 14th, 2010, into worldwide media attention. Shane and Josh remain in prison, 'awaiting trial'.

What it must feel like to come from spending 23 hours a day entirely alone in a small cell, to find that you are the centre of global attention, can barely be imagined.

At the same time, leaving behind dear friends who have been your whole world for well over a year.

http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/free-sarah-campaign.html

by Melony James, a staff member of Safe World.

“Modern slavery – be it bonded labor, involuntary servitude, or sexual slavery – is a crime and cannot be tolerated in any culture, community, or country … [It] is an affront to our values and our commitment to human rights.” – Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State

In the fight against human trafficking and exploitation of women and children, we often turn to  non-profit organizations for hope and news of developments.

SafeWorld has highlighted the work of some human trafficking heroes  within our webzine, as we are dedicated to helping them raise awareness.

August 2010 was a month that gave those who fight against human trafficking, within the United States, new energy and hope.

PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

On August 2nd, 2010, the US Department of Justice released Project Safe Childhood,  its national strategy for child exploitation prevention and interdiction.  Since its conception, this strategy is making moves in the right direction across the United States. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that this initiative would be the first ever comprehensive threat assessment of the danger children face from child pornography, online enticement, and sexual exploitation. It outlines a blue print that aims to strengthen and improve the fight against these crimes.

please, keep on reading at: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/blog/

"80% of child porn involves imagery of rape and 21% involves torture."

To read more, please, go to: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/onlineabuse.html

The Unrecognised Potential of Women & Girls
by Mahsin
"Every human being has capacity"

"In our society, girls are brought up to believe that their knowledge and intelligence is worth less when compared with their male counterparts"

To read more, please, go here: http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/en/childlabour.html