You are here: Home › Get Involved › Social Justice › Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Stop The Traffik Poster

What's the problem?

People shouldn't be bought and sold.

People trafficking is one of the world's fastest growing illegal industries. It is happening right here, right now, on your doorstep. It is devastating the lives of millions of people each year.

Men, women and children are trafficked within their own countries and across international borders. Trafficking affects every continent and most countries.

Due to the hidden and illegal nature of human trafficking, gathering statistics on the scale of the problem is a complex and difficult task. There are no reliable national or international estimates as to the extent of trafficking. Figures are usually counted in the countries that people are trafficked into and often fail to include those who are trafficked within their own national borders.

How can I get involved?

1) Find out more information about the issue

Share it with friends and family. Add some of the statistics about human trafficking to your Facebook or MySpace status updates. By helping to raise awareness among as many people as possible, hopefully more people will be challenged to take action and fight against it. ‘Stop the Traffik' is a movement that fights against human trafficking and has a great website where you can learn more. It also has some great suggestions and resources on how to take action.

2) Raise funds to support victims and services combating trafficking

Monetary funds help to provide services, advocacy and support to people who have been lucky enough to escape from slavery and the effects of trafficking. You could organise an event at youth or ask your school principal if your school could host a gold coin donation mufti day with funds going towards the fight against human trafficking. Funds can be sent to Stop the Traffik, The Salvation Army International Development Office or to a safe refuge for victims of human trafficking.

3) Make up care packages to be sent to people who are recovering from trafficking

When people escape from slavery, they often have nothing. No house, no clothes (except for what they're wearing), no toiletries or personal belongings. You could gather a few friends and make up some care packs. Grab a shoe box, decorate it nicely with some wrapping paper and include such things as: shampoo and conditioner; deodorant/perfume; toothpaste and toothbrush; a hair brush/comb; moisturiser; sunscreen... If you want to do this, contact us once you have finished preparing the care packages and we'll let you know where to send them.

4) Buy fair trade goods

Chocolate is a great place to start. Make sure that the chocolate that you buy is fair trade. That is, ensure it is produced without any slavery in its production. When choosing your chocolate (tea, coffee or hot chocolate etc) at the supermarkets keep an eye out for the Fairtrade Certification logo.

You could also write to your local supermarket manager expressing your concern at the lack of fair trade options, and request that they stock fair trade chocolate and other items. Supermarkets will not stock a product if no-one will buy it, so show them there is a demand for it.

5) Pray that people will be freed from slavery conditions

We believe in a powerful God. We believe that through Jesus we can make a difference. God's heart breaks at injustice like this. Ask for God's insight into how to combat this evil and ask him to end the injustice in this world. Ask him to break the hold of slavery and to provide freedom for every trafficked person. Use the information you gather in suggestion one and pray intelligently. Get your youth to join you in praying for the victims of slavery.