GEMS: Girls Education and Mentoring Service, New York, USA
From the Global Women's Network
| GEMS: Girls Education and Mentoring Service, New York, USA | |
|---|---|
| Logo: |  |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: |
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| Location coordinates: | 40° 42' 52" N, 74° 0' 22" WLatitude: 40.7143528 Longitude: -74.0059731 |
| Executive Director: | Rachel Lloyd |
| Contact number: | 212-926-8089 |
| Contact email: | janice@gems-girls.org |
| Website: | http://www.gems-girls.org |
| Twitter: | http://twitter.com/#!/gemsgirls |
| Facebook: | http://www.facebook.com/girlsarenotforsale |
| Target: | Girls and Women |
| Organization type: | National NGO (operating countrywide or advocating at the national level) |
| Sectors: | Commercial Sexual Exploitation |
| Year founded/registered: | 1998 |
Summary
Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) is the only organization in New York State specifically designed to serve girls and young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking.
About
GEMS was founded in 1998 by Rachel Lloyd, a young woman who had been sexually exploited as a teenager. GEMS has helped hundreds of young women and girls, ages 12–24, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and to develop to their full potential. GEMS provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change.
Mission
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services’ (GEMS) mission is to empower girls and young women, ages 12–24, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS is committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children by changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and revolutionizing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth.
Vision
GEMS’ vision is to end the commercial exploitation and trafficking of children.
Philosophy
We believe that all young women have great beauty and worth, and the potential for future success. The voices and experiences of youth survivors are integral to the development and implementation of all GEMS’ programming.
Activities
GEMS provides a spectrum of continuous and comprehensive services to address the needs of commercially and sexually exploited girls and young women. Commercial sexual exploitation is intrinsically linked to racism, poverty, gender-based violence, and the criminalization of youth. All these factors are an integral part of any discussion, advocacy work or direct service programming that involves sexual exploitation. All of GEMS programs are based on our philosophy and values that each girl and young woman is deserving, and needs support and services to treat the trauma and violence she has experienced. GEMS believes in a multi-faceted, holistic approach to the issue of sexual exploitation.
