The Lives That Matter
You live in Bulgaria. Your country has just joined the European Union at the end of the socialist regime. Yourself, and many other women begin to look for opportunities for education and work, a new life outside your country. However kidnappers and traffickers also realise your vulnerability and you are kidnapped into the sex trade.
This is the story of Elena*.
She was rescued in Greece, and without knowing a word of English or Greek, was terrified of the policemen dressed in civilian clothing that had rescued her in an unmarked police vehicle. It was not until they were able to get a Bulgarian translator over the phone that they were able to assure her of her safety. Up until that point, she believed she was being trafficked to yet another unknown destination to be further abused and taken advantage of.
She had only been trafficked days earlier and had already witnessed and experienced so many unspeakable horrors.
Escorted to the rescue shelter, with only the clothes on her back - and her six-inch heels, she was reassured by helpers and the other rescue victims that she was in a safe place.
At the shelter she would be safe, and not only safe but free. In a place that allowed her to dream again and have hope for her future.
(Elena’s name had been changed for her protection)
[This is one of the many stories I had read, sourced from the A21 Campaign, an incredible organisation helping to rescue and restore the lives of Human Trafficked victims.]
Shocking. Confronting. Uncomfortable to read.
A description of someone’s life that is a far-cry from the actuality of ours. However just because it may not be in our scope of living, does not in any way mean that it is irrelevant or unimportant. This is someone’s reality. Not just one person, but more than an estimated 27 million people that have been placed into a reality that is out of their control by people that have decided that personal gain is more important than the indescribable value of life, freedom and basic human rights.
What is even more confronting is that approximately one to two per cent of victims are ever rescued, and the average age of those who are trafficked is 12.
12.
Human trafficking is the exploitation of men, women and children into forced labour, sexual exploitation, slavery, financial bondage, forced marriage, organ harvesting, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers.
To make matters worse – human trafficking is not limited to one country. And the vast majority of victims are deceived into being trafficked. Often people from less developed countries are forced or sold into anything from under-age marriage, to being convinced of financial security for self and family. All only to come to the heart breaking reality of sexual exploitation.
Human trafficking is embedded into many mainstream economic sectors including healthcare, food processing, agriculture and horticulture, the textiles and garments industry, as well as the entertainment and sex industries.
Day to day commodities that we often take for granted like the shoes on out feet or the coffee we had this morning – even the chocolate you’re going to buy this Valentines day//Easter – can be sourced from places that exploit people and put them in extremely difficult and harsh working conditions in which they are abused mentally and physically. Individuals are forced to work extremely long hours making wages that will barely help them support their families or day to day needs.
The United Nations created a legal Instrument adopted in 2000 which entered into force on the 25th of December, 2003 – The Trafficking Protocol. This is the only legal instrument that addresses human trafficking as a crime, falling under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It works combat trafficking, protect and assist vitctims and to promote international cooperation to meet goals that work to reduce and ultimately eradicate human trafficking globally.
Even with this law in place, human trafficking is still growing globally and affects so many people! But you and I can make a difference.
A huge part of reducing human trafficking is raising awareness.
January was National Slavery and Human Trafficking prevention month in the United States, which was not just a statement, but a movement that human trafficking has no place to run or to hide. It was a call to stand up for justice for those who cannot stand up for themselves. A call to help set those in bondage to free. A month in which awareness was raised to bring the issue of Human trafficking to the front seat and to direct people’s attention to something that is often disregarded or spoken about.
As confronting as this all may be, we cannot continue to just talk about all of the injustice, violence and wrong that happens in the world, we need to bring these issues to the light and into our conversations, and be bold enough to not only just listen or read an article like this one, but to be courageous enough to take action. Even if it is just raising awareness. Let us make the decision to be the change and help to put an end to human trafficking.
With Valentine's day coming by really soon, and because #TheSingleLife is very much a thing, my challenge to you is that you would do something to help! Because I know that love gives - I dare you to write a letter to a survivor of human trafficking - you read that right!
Send some hope/encouragement/love a survivors way HERE!
(https://www.a21.org/campaigns/donate.php?linkid=6775&intversion=1&site=true&store=US - for those who missed it)
Whether that be writing a letter, or posting/sharing an awareness post on social media, everything counts towards putting an end to modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
“You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”
- William Wilberforce
For more information on Human Trafficking, how to raise awarenessor how YOU can help;
The A21 Campaign: http://www.a21.org/
End It Movement: http://enditmovement.com/
