“Defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our time,” states Condoleezza Rice, U.S Secretary of State (TIP Report, 2007).“Together with our allies and friends, we will continue our efforts to bring this cruel practice to an end. Thank you for joining the new abolitionist movement. Together we can make a difference, and together we can build a safer, freer, and more prosperous world for all.”
Two-hundred years ago, William Wilberforce was a light in the darkness. A voice that cried out “Abolition” on behalf of thousands of Africans who were being trafficked in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. His heart broke for those who were deemed no better than work animals…
“Africa, your sufferings have been the theme that has arrested and engaged my heart . . .Your sufferings no tongue can express, no language impart.” – William Wilberforce, Speech on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, April 2, 1792
His Christian faith, mercy and justice, drove his endless campaign that led to the outlaw of British slavery in 1807.
So, if slavery no longer exists, what is Condoleezza Rice talking about when she stated in 2007 that “defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our time”?
Unfortunately, trafficking in persons is a booming trend – a new form of the global slave trade. According to what study you look at (FBI or ILO), it is estimated that the slave trade generates between $9.5-$32 billion in revenues each year. The extent of this criminal activity rivals drug trafficking and illegal arms trade. It is also estimated that 27 million individuals are living enslaved throughout the world today. Not only are men, women and children toiling in brick kilns and brothels in third world countries, but they are serving as domestic servants and sex slaves in our own backyard.
“Slavery…I didn’t know about all these forms that existed. I think it’s largely because we aren’t expecting it. It is hidden. Generally people would not believe that it is possible under modern conditions. They would say, ‘No, I think you are making it all up,’ because it is just too incredible…” Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hull, UK, 1999
What exactly is human trafficking? According to the Trafficking in Persons Report (June 2007), it can be defined two ways: a). Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or b). The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
In other words, if a person is considered to be a slave today, he or she is not free to pursue his or her own destiny, and he or she is subject to physical, mental and sexual coercion, violence and abuse by their ‘owner’.
What are some modern-day examples?
Child soldiers in Uganda
Families working in brick kilns in Pakistan, India and Nepal
Uzbekistan women trafficked to Bangkok as sex slaves
Poor, rural families sell their children, unknowingly, to sex traffickers for money
Ukraine women answer ads for nanny or modeling work and find themselves locked up in brothels throughout Western Europe
Thai women trafficked to LA and forced to work 16 hours for 70 cents a day in a lock-down ‘garment factory’
I know this is overwhelming, but so was the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Just like William Wilberforce, today thousands of men and women are crying out for justice and mercy. Over the next month, I want to highlight not only what modern-day abolitionists are doing to fight human trafficking, but I want to put names and faces to these statistics.
Each man, women and child who has been a victim of this crime has a face, a name and a story. These voices need to be heard. Yes, we do live in a fallen world that is plagued with hurt and destruction, but we serve a just and merciful God that heals and restores. He listens to the cry of his children. So let our voices ring out for all to hear…
Please visit http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/ and http://www.theamazingchange.com to find out how you can join the fight against slavery.
I recommend watching Amazing Grace, a movie about Wilberforce and the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and reading the book Not For Sale:The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone.
