Human trafficking still a scourge

I ATTENDED a youth event on raising awareness about human trafficking. It has opened my eyes to what is happening in the world today.

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings, mainly for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour. The A21 Campaign is an organisation that helps women who have been abducted into slavery.

Slavery has become a global crime and it still exists. There are more than 27 million men, women, and children who are held as slaves today.

Every 30 seconds another person becomes a victim of human trafficking. The average age is 12.

Victims can be forced to service more than 100 customers in one day. Only 1 to 2% of traffickers are convicted and 99% of victims are not rescued.

Hearing that something like this happens every 30 seconds to a young person who still has his or her life lying ahead, breaks my heart; as does the fact that most of them will never break free and escape. We need to be aware and be careful about what we say, what we do and what we post online.

But we can, as a generation, help out in small ways.

Write an encouraging letter to a victim which will be sent to one of A21’s safe houses around the world.

Be a billboard by creating awareness. Take pictures or videos and post them on Facebook, twitter, or a blog. Send donations and create an event or a party where you can raise funds and build awareness for this campaign.

We need to start opening our eyes to reality and get out of our own little world and try to do something about it. We need to take a stand against this terrible crime and bring about awareness to those who don’t know what human trafficking is. We are the generation that can make a difference.