As you may know, January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the US. There are over 45 million people trapped in slavery today, and modern-day slavery can take many forms. While many slaves are victims of forced labor, thousands more are victims of sex trafficking. These atrocities happen in the United States and in other countries all over the world.
For many people, it’s overwhelming to think of all that is happening around the world, and there seems to be little hope. However, there are various organizations who are working to end modern-day slavery, and seeing great success. If you are interested in learning more about what human trafficking and modern-day slavery involves, and how you can be a part of the solution, these organizations are a great place to start. These are only organizations that I’m familiar with, but all have a verified practice model and are actively working in either the US or abroad. I also included some ways you can get involved after you’ve educated yourself on the issues. I highly recommend following one or all of these organizations on social media to stay up-to-date on their work and learn of other ways to join the fight.
Organizations:
•A21 (Abolishing Injustice in the 21st Century)
Ways to Get Involved: Join an A-team
Ways to Get Involved: Host a screening of their documentary, Nefarious
Ways to Get Involved: Join the Freedom Commons to learn about local and national ways to advocate to end slavery and join or start an IJM campus chapter at your university
Ways to Get Involved: Take the slavery footprint survey to find out how many of the products you use were likely produced by forced labor and petition companies to check their supply lines for forced labor
Ways to Get Involved: Sign some of the many petitions that Walk Free hosts on their website
In addition to these outstanding organizations, here are some other resources you might find useful to inform and inspire your investigation into human trafficking and slavery.
Resources:
Blog produced by IJM which interviews real activists from all over the world. Great inspiration and place to find other justice-minded organizations.
•Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Book discussing many issues that especially involve women, including sex trafficking
•Why Not Today
by Matthew Cork and Kenneth Kemp
Book exploring one church's journey on how they became directly involved in the fight against sex trafficking in India
•Terrify No
More by Gary A. Haugen and Gregg Hunter
Book written by the founder of International Justice Mission, detailing their fight against sex trafficking in the Philippines
•The Locus
Effect by Gary A. Haugen and Victor Boutros
Book written by the founder of International Justice Mission, discussing many issues that plague the developing world, including human trafficking and slavery, and how these issues can be resolved
•A Path
Appears by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Book that brings to light some ways that the issues discussed in Half the Sky are being dealt with by various groups and how you can be involved
I’ll leave you with this quote from one of the greatest anti-slavery activists of all time. If you’re not familiar with William Wilberforce, you can read more about him in my blog post here.
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