Diners Club Ends Relationship with Mail Order Brides Service

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-06-12 03:04:00 UTC
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I am thrilled to report that Diners Club International has officially agreed to end their relationship with Vietnam Brides International, including the "payment plan" that Diners Club Singapore offered so that men could charge women to their credit cards.  This is a true victory for the Change.org community and for all of us who work to prevent the exploitation and sale of women.

Thank you and congratulations to the over 800 of you who signed the online petition and sent messages to Diners Club asking them to end their support for an industry which is rampant with human trafficking and exploitation of women.  Here is the official response we received from Mai Lee Ua, representative of Discover Financial Services, which owns Diners Club:

“On behalf of Diners Club International, which is part of Discover Financial Services, we appreciate [your] bringing this specific merchant relationship with a Diners franchisee to our attention.  Formal steps have been taken to terminate the relationship [with Vietnam Brides International].”

This statement is telling, and it says that you all made a huge difference.  Your letters made Diners Club aware of the partnership one of their frachisees had made with a mail order bride service.  You helped keep an important financial protection in place for women at risk of trafficking and abuse via the mail order bride industry.  You refused to accept that an international company can treat and finance women like objects.  This is one of those rare moments when you can see the important changes your actions bring, and the difference you make in the world.

Thank you for bringing this issue to Diners Club's attention.  And thank you Diners Club International for making the important decision to protect women and girls from exploitation.  Together, we are the change we wish to see.

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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