Human Slavery in Modern Times

In 1789, William Wilberforce made his first major speech on the abolition of slavery, but 220 years later more men, women and children are trapped in slavery than ever before. In 2008, an estimated 27 million people were enslaved; lured into the sex industry, abducted to be child soldiers, trapped in unpaid labour, forced into marriage.

Sex Slavery

Price ListUN.GIFT

Today, human trafficking is the largest smuggling business in the world, with a minimum of 2.5 million people in forced labour or sexual exploitation as a result of trafficking at any given time 2. An estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year, with many more being trafficked domestically. Women and children make up the majority of victims trafficked and are usually sold for sexual exploitation, which makes up 79% of the human trafficking business 3.

Often victims are lured across borders with the hope of new jobs and a better quality of life, but sometimes they are stolen. What lies in "greener pastures" is a completely different story – one of abuse, violence and entrapment. Unsurprisingly the UN reports that Australia, The Middle East, Western Europe and the USA are top destinations for victims of human trafficking 4. In Western Europe, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom are all top destinations.

Slavery in War

Child in a rebel campPierre Holtz | UNICEF CAR

Today an estimated 300,000 children are involved in approximately 30 conflicts in the world serving for both government forces and rebel groups 5. These children are exploited as child soldiers, porters, spies, messengers, human mine detectors or sex slaves. They are denied a childhood and often subjected to, and forced to commit, horrific violence. Many children are abducted from their homes or recruited by force; some join armed groups to escape poverty or collapsing society, or to avenge family members who have been killed.

Since 1994, Human Rights Watch 6 has reported on the recruitment and use of child soldiers in more than a dozen countries including Angola, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, DR Congo, India, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uganda. In 2007, Africa had the largest number of child soldiers, estimated at more than 100,000.

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under heaven:
a time to keep silence and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time of war and a time of peace;
a time to plant, a time to heal and a time to build-up.

— Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 [NLT] (Abridged)

Actions being taken by two causes helping those affected

The A21 Campaign: Abolishing Slavery in the 21st Century

Restoring Hope to The Broken, Abused and Forgotten. The A21 Campaign is a response to the tragedy of human trafficking, one of the largest smuggling businesses in the world. The goal of A21 is to raise awareness, take legal action and offer rehabilitation services to rescued victims of human trafficking in order to fight this injustice from a comprehensive approach.

The Reason

Initially A21 will be based in Thessaloniki, Greece, one of the highest ranking destinations for human trafficking in Europe. In Greece an estimated 1,838 women and children are sold for sex everyday, a shocking one every 47 seconds. As many as 20,000 women and 1,000 girls have been sold into Greece's sex trade industry to date.

The Strategy

In 2008, A21 successfully established a project centre and a small-scale restoration facility that can house up to four girls at a time. Here, the transition out of slavery begins as victims receive necessary police support and medical care. A21 is currently at Phase 3, setting up a permanent large-scale home that will be able to house a larger number of rescued victims. Counselling, vocational training and medical care will continue to be given were necessary. A21 employ a number of attorneys, social workers, a professional counsellor/psychologist, an education and training officer in addition to many volunteer staff.

For more information please visit www.thea21campaign.org

Watoto Child Care Ministries — The Gulu Project

Rescue a Child. Raise a Leader. Restore a Nation. The Gulu Project is a response to the plight of child soldiers and other war affected children in Gulu, Uganda. Watoto Childcare Ministries have been established in Uganda since 1994, providing holistic and residential care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Through the generosity of people from around the world, Watoto "Villages of Hope" with homes, schools and medical clinics have been built. In 2008 Watoto opened the first children's village in Gulu and already 72 formerly war affected children have been placed in a new home and now have a real hope and future for their lives.

The Reason

An estimated 30,000 girls and boys were abducted by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army during a 22 year war in Uganda. The northern territories of Uganda were particularly ravaged and so Watoto is committed to restoring the lives of both children and other civilians affected by war in Gulu.

The Strategy

Watoto educators and social workers have come alongside the Laroo School for War Affected Children to help restore the education system and the lives of the former child soldiers enrolled in the school.

Meanwhile, Watoto has been involved with the training of 50 volunteers in trauma rehabilitation and trauma counselling. Watoto is setting up an extensive rehabilitation centre where former child soldiers, wives of LRA soldiers and the general community can be helped before re-integration into the community. In addition, Baby Watoto in Gulu is opening to serve as a rescue centre for orphaned and vulnerable babies in the region. Watoto is also working alongside local government to restore Gulu Hospital and Gulu town.

For more information please visit www.watoto.com

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