"Evil prevails when good men do nothing."
Attributed to Emund Burke
Are you like me? Have you ever thought, "If I'd been around in the olden days, there would have been no slavery. I would have abolished it single handedly." I've actually thought that. More than once. Ouch.
Are you like me? Have you ever thought, "If I'd been around in the olden days, there would have been no slavery. I would have abolished it single handedly." I've actually thought that. More than once. Ouch.
Did you know that more people are in slavery today than there ever were in the "olden days"?
"It is estimated that there are over 27 million enslaved persons worldwide, more than double the number of those who were deported in the 400-year history of the transatlantic slave trade to the Americas." "Slavery in the Twenty-First Century" by Howard Dodson; UN Chronicle Online Edition
If you're like me, you've been completely unaware of this.
Just what are we talking about here?
"Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Annually, about 600,000 to 800,000 people—mostly women and children—are trafficked across national borders which, [sic] does not count millions trafficked within their own countries.
People are snared into trafficking by many means. In some cases, physical force is used. In other cases, false promises are made regarding job opportunities or marriages in foreign countries to entrap victims.
Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat. It deprives people of their human rights and freedoms, it is a global health risk, and it fuels the growth of organized crime.
Human trafficking has a devastating impact on individual victims, who often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family, passport theft, and even death. But the impact of human trafficking goes beyond individual victims; it undermines the health, safety and security of all nations it touches."
People are snared into trafficking by many means. In some cases, physical force is used. In other cases, false promises are made regarding job opportunities or marriages in foreign countries to entrap victims.
Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat. It deprives people of their human rights and freedoms, it is a global health risk, and it fuels the growth of organized crime.
Human trafficking has a devastating impact on individual victims, who often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family, passport theft, and even death. But the impact of human trafficking goes beyond individual victims; it undermines the health, safety and security of all nations it touches."
US Department of State
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Washington, DC
December 7, 2005
This picture is the only thing a family in northern India has of their son who was trafficked. Family members begged activists to look for him. Free the Slaves Peggy CallahanWhat can be done?
Get curious. Ask questions. Do research. Give. Pray.
What do you suppose will happen when good men and women do something?
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