"I've never done it before, so I think I can do it."With this quote from Pipi Langkous, my colleague completed the briefing of a new project six months ago. The intention was to support an NGO in launching a new initiative to combat human trafficking. "What do we get?!', I thought. I'm not trained for that, Am I? Usually I drag a group of talents or board members through a beautiful nature reserve for connection and dialogue. But this? Become the project leader of a new NGO that aims to bring the Don Corleone's and Pablo Escobar's trafficking cases to justice. Never thought.
With this Pipi long-stocking attitude, my colleague had convinced the client that my role in this project would help bring this new initiative to success. The business perspective of my colleague and myself would mean the right connection in the world of charities and benefactors. The right mix of hard result-oriented businessmen and soft engaged world improvers.
First I read in order to get a good ice cream at the next meeting, I thought. If I then go on my mouth, at least I still have some factual knowledge with which I could dress my departure. The amount of information I found staggered me.
"The trafficking of vulnerable women and children for sex is a lucrative business, through which criminal networks flourish financially.”
At present, 40 million people worldwide are living in horrific conditions caused by human traffickers. 70% of them are children and (young) women who are trafficked for the exploitation of their bodies. Raped, abused, Dishonored; without any perspective. Often young African women are sold to pimps in Europe, with a debt of €35,000 spent on the trip and buying off the family. This debt must be repaid in the years to come along a highway in southern Italy or at the window in Antwerp.
Running back home is made impossible by family involvement. In 2019, only a meager 11,000 traffickers were arrested and tried. This means one conviction against 3600 victims. The trafficking of vulnerable women and children for sex is a lucrative business, through which criminal networks flourish financially.
The next meeting with the project team suddenly took on a completely different load for me. These were not tree-hugging world improvers, but fighters in a harsh world of violence, injustice and crime. Any initiative is of course welcome, with fortunately enough philanthropists willing to invest in these well-intentioned ideas. I felt emotionally involved. My role in this project was to support the start-up of this new NGO by looking at the process with business glasses, through tight business indicators. "What is our promise and what does it deliver?"I heard myself say in one of the first meetings. I had to deal with myself very quickly. KPIs, S. M. A. R. T. objectives, Lean methods and things like that come. Of course, I brought as much of it as possible to the table, but the real motivation came from the content.
Every day, others gain financial gain by exploiting a ‘product’ that is damaged for life. This "product" – as they are seen by the traders – are young children from another country: orphaned, neglected and traumatized. I only had to imagine for a millisecond that this would happen to my own child and the millions of euros to destroy this criminal world will be needed endlessly.
I've never worked so hard on a project.
"The Pablo Escobar of human trafficking loses a few products (victims) to local lawsuits, but can continue unrestrained to exploit the growing market force of supply and demand.”
Why aren't these guys arrested?
The lack of priority and resources limits countries and international organizations to be able to really address the problem. This means that the organised crime behind this trafficking in human beings is not properly mapped at the level where it is needed, namely across national borders. The investigations that do take place are largely initiated at the micro level in the reception of the victims and rehabilitation back to society.
In these cases, the lawsuits are aimed at seeking justice for the rescued victims and not disrupting an entire network. The leaders of these international criminal circuits remain out of sight and can continue to exploit their victims unrestrained. In short, the Pablo Escobar of child sexual exploitation loses a few products (victims) to local lawsuits, but can continue unrestrainedly to exploit the growing market forces of demand (mostly in Europe) and supply (mostly in East Africa).
"Where we can get the animal traffickers, we can also get the human traffickers.”
Then what is the solution? (And the project I was working on.)
Conducting – intelligence-based-research that provides sufficient evidence for an international lawsuit. Using it on the ground with our own investigators, we can identify the criminal networks behind human trafficking, use analysts to build files, develop strategies for Public Diplomacy and – if necessary – ensure international coordination with relevant authorities.
A proven method that has been successfully used for more than 5 years Most wanted list has brought down the world's largest ivory supply chain and brought it to a halt. A copy-paste of this method to the networks active in human trafficking could be the right solution to give the heads an extra sleepless night.
Using the insights and support of judges, diplomats, NGO officials and prosecutors from all over the world, a solid business plan has been put together. They all put their signature Under this method that provides clear evidence for future success. Where we can get the animal traffickers, we can also get the human traffickers.
But, it costs money. A lot of money, to set up a new NGO so that a team of investigators, with the use of the right diplomatic channels and the waterproof technological means can begin their first investigation. Let alone the care and attention that it requires to move in this international playing field of justice and police while respecting a very vulnerable target group.
The plan is ready and is available for inspection by a number of philanthropists and foundations who are committed to saving this target group. Take a moment for myself to reflect and write this piece.
Back to Pipi Longstocking. I had never done it before and thought I could. I think I will never be able to grasp the amount of information from this vast world of international relations and Justice. I can say that the suffering caused by the ever-increasing crime has given me the motivation to strongly connect with the end goal and thus the success of the project. But what has really strengthened me to show more of myself than I thought I had in me is the trust I have received from my client.
This trust was based on the gut feeling the right click in the first conversation. With retroactive effect, it was only later that we realized that we had entered into a cooperation based on complementarity. By seeking help and support for a project on the elements that they themselves were a little less good at (business language and mindset), my role and influence really came to life. This way we could use the power of our difference. Indeed, some things you can not do yourself, or you are simply less good at than the other. So you need the other one for that. This means that you must be able to step over your own prejudices in order to enter into cooperation. This sometimes also means leaving your ego at home for a while. Put a small dose of Pipi Longstocking there (no guts no glory) and you exceed your own abilities, both for profit if non profit.
"The Sustainable Development Goals Are A to-do list for people and the planet, and a blueprint for success.”
The side effect is that I (unconsciously) also started to open up more to the world of NGOs and world improvers. If you are also curious about this piece, you should especially delve into the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are seventeen goals to make the world a better place by 2030. The SDGs have been agreed by the countries that are members of the United Nations (UN), including the Netherlands. The goals came about on the basis of global input from organizations and individuals. They are a global compass for challenges such as poverty, education and the climate crisis. They are the successors of the Millennium Development Goals, which ran from 2000 to 2015. Behind the seventeen goals are 169 targets to make it even more concrete.
SDG Goal Number 17 is aimed at strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development. "The Sustainable Development Goals Are A to-do list for people and the planet, and a blueprint for success,” said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon at the launch of the SDGs. a successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, business and civil society. Common principles and values with a shared vision and goals are necessary for sufficient impact at the global, regional, national and local levels.
What is needed for this? Stepping over your own boundaries, postponing judgment in order to be able to enter into a dialogue with the other person on trust. World improvers are not just tree-hugging money-pissers with a well-intentioned idea. On the other hand, businessmen are not just opportunistic money machines looking for more shareholder value at the expense of our planet and future. As soon as you are willing to delve into it, the reason and urgency is more than obvious to make today's world a little more livable. A better world doesn't start with yourself, it starts with you opening up to the other. Leave your ego at home, listen to Pipi Longstocking and have confidence. More will come to you than you could ever have expected.
Niek van Droffelaar, The Transformation Group
