January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month — Become an Abolitionist!

Awareness is the first step required for change.  When it comes to human trafficking, the ever-increasing exposure of this crime is beginning to reach more people, and that’s a good thing.  Yet, human trafficking continues to grow.  Action is required from every one of us who finds this abuse of human rights offensive.  And who doesn’t?  Well, sadly, there are apparently lots of people supporting human slavery – from those who buy sex to those who buy or kidnap people to be farm workers, factory workers, soldiers, prostitutes, domestic workers, mining workers or restaurant workers.  It’s happening in every country, and it targets men, women, and children of all ages, races, nationalities, and religions.  Until the demand for slavery is reduced (and I hope ELIMINATED), we will not see an end to this horrific crime.

What can we do to “be the change we wish to see?”  

•  Stay informed – sign up to receive updates from an anti-trafficking organization, such as the Polaris Project – www.polarisproject.org

• Encourage lawmakers to enact and enforce anti-trafficking legislation.  (And kudos to the state of California for its recently enacted California Transparency Supply Chain Act, aimed at eliminating global forced labor.  Companies with $100 million or more per year in sales must describe the extent to which they verify risks of human trafficking and conduct independent and surprise audits of their suppliers.  They must also disclose whether they require suppliers to certify that the materials they use comply with laws regarding human trafficking and slavery, and whether employees receive training to reduce the risk of slavery.  The new law directly affects about 3,200 companies doing business or headquartered in California, but impacts a very large number of supplier companies.)

• Buy fair trade products

• Be an informed consumer by finding out where products come from and the conditions of those who make them before you buy.

• Volunteer with an anti-trafficking group or organization

• Donate to an anti-trafficking organization

• Fund raise

• Attend an event

• Report suspected human trafficking

• Spread the word to get more people involved

   Working together, we can and must eliminate human trafficking –

                  BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE FOR SALE.

Tags: abolitionist, child labor, fair trade chocolate, forced labor, forced prostitution, freedom, human trafficking, polaris project, sex slavery, sexually exploited children, shop ethically, slave-free, slavery, stop human tarfficking