Fathers Make A Difference
Who We Are
FATHER-CON is a non-profit organization that was conceived after years of working on the prevention of human trafficking.
FATHER-CON is about CONnection - we are after all, regardless of belief, brand or blessing - battling the same stumbling blocks and striving for success.
FATHER-CON confronts the CON/the lies we each face as fathers about our significance and impact of our presence or absence in our children and communities.
FATHER-CON is a place of CONversation, and FATHER-CON is a CONference to celebrate and get fired-up for the role we are called and equipped to play in ending such threats to our children as human trafficking, cyber exploitation and pornography. A conference to collectively proclaim we will be the fathers we want to be, and our children need us to be.
Father-Con was conceived after years of working on the prevention of human trafficking by getting men to join the effort to curb the demand for commercial sex.
After numerous conversations with men and survivors of trafficking, the unique position of FATHERS in the prevention of human trafficking stood out as dangerously overlooked.
Fathers intersect with human trafficking in several ways:
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Personal behavior with pornography and commercial sex buying;
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Not modeling healthy male responsibility for sons;
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Raising daughters who are vulnerable to being exploited.
Of course, women can also be traffickers and boys can be victims, but the majority of buyers of sex are men, and the majority of victims of human trafficking for sex are girls.
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The deceptive sense of anonymity provided by the internet has lured both adults and children into dangerous ways of thinking and behaving.
What Men Can Do
When men prioritize being trustworthy and create space for children to feel safe and value honesty, the threat of being groomed and exploited greatly reduces.
50 years of studies show that an engaged and attentive father or father-figure can remove many of the risk factors that traffickers exploit in recruiting and grooming of children for sexual commercialization.
Fathers who recognize the significant impact they have on the health, safety, and resilience of their sons and daughters, and those who have a supportive community, are some of the greatest deterrents to exploitation within a community.
Researchers found that the number one factor in developing empathy in children was father involvement.
Richard Koestner, et al., “The Family Origins of Empathic Concern: A Twenty-Six Year Longitudinal Study,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 58 (1990): 709-717.
Affection from dads can help children grow up to be more satisfied with their lives and accepting of themselves.
Riley L. Marshall, Colin R. Harbke, Lisabeth Fisher DiLalla, “The Role of Remembered Parenting on Adult Self-Esteem”.
Our Mission & Vision
Fatherhood for the 21st Century!
Fathers are the solution - wherever you are at - you are needed now more than ever.
Whether you are battling demons or counting your blessings - you are the man who can make things right.
When we play, participate, protect - our children become the resilient and strong people they need to be.
Our Mission:
To bring a revival of the fundamental role of fatherhood to today’s family unit.
Our Vision:
To see loving, engaged fathers at the core of every family unit, and support for all those serving in the role of father figures.
We Rally Men To Rise To The Challenges We Face Daily For The Sake Of Those We Love.
About Father-Con
Father-Con at the plenary session of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 32nd Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Vienna, Austria May 2023.
Men Standing Against Human Trafficking
Join Our Team
We’re always looking to add passionate talent!
Contact us today for consideration or submit your resume, and cover letter to info@father-con.org.