INDEPENDENT NEWS

New Zealand Celebrities Change the Menu for Sex Slavery

Published: Fri 14 Oct 2016 02:01 PM
13 October 2016
New Zealand Celebrities Change the Menu for Sex Slavery
Destiny Rescue Pop up Dinner Shines Light on Child Sex Slavery
New Zealand celebrities will be donning aprons to serve dinner with a difference at Destiny Rescue’s Dark Secret Pop up Dinner on International Anti-Slavery Day, Tuesday 18 October at Auckland’s Bluestone Room.
The special $40 a-head menu will see guests served a tantalising meal by familiar faces like model Colin Mathura-Jeffree, actress Lucy Elliott, Bachelor Jordan Mauger and boxer/trainer David ‘Buttabean’ Letele.
Another special menu, thankfully not available in New Zealand, will shine the spotlight on the dark secret of the near two million children trapped in sexual slavery in countries like Thailand, India and the Philippines.
Destiny Rescue has the goal of ending child sexual slavery. In the past five years, Destiny Rescue has saved almost 1,800 children, kept hundreds from entering the sex industry and currently cares for more than 800 in aftercare programmes and homes restoring them to a life of freedom and success.
Destiny Rescue Managing Director, Lisa Ho, says they are delighted with the support they have had for this unique event. The Dark Secret menu guests receive will be sobering, but New Zealanders know that $40 is a small price to pay to get girls off the menu. In some countries the same amount can buy you a girl for the night, here in New Zealand, that same $40 a month can keep them free from slavery forever.
“It’s shocking and disturbing when you’re confronted with a menu that offers children for sex, but in some countries these menus exist and children as young as seven are forced into unbearable situations.”
Destiny Rescue’s youngest victim rescued was only four years old.
“As global citizens, we must be a voice and give these children a reason and hope to dream again.” she says.
Broadcaster Brooke Howard-Smith will host the night, and guests will hear the experiences of Kiwi rescue agent, JD, who has spent several years in Southeast Asia raiding bars and brothels to rescue children.
Colin Mathura-Jeffree says “We can't begin to fathom the horror sexploitation brings. We have a social and moral responsibility to protect those that can't protect themselves, and through projects like Destiny Rescue we aren't passive to the problem but can be part of the solution to save innocent lives.”
Child sex trafficking is a massive issue we need to fight against, says Professional Boxer and Destiny Rescue advocate Joseph Parker.
“Child sex trafficking is a massive issue we need to fight against. Girls being bought off the menu to be abused is messed up. I hope Kiwis will get behind Destiny Rescue and the cause because it's one worth fighting for," he says.
Unfortunately Joseph Parker is overseas on the night but is showing his support through his social media channels.
For more information including how to donate and purchase tickets to the exclusive event, visit www.girlsonthemenu.co.nz. Alternatively, tickets are available on Ticketmaster.
ENDS

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