World Day Against Trafficking in Persons – 30th July.
Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. It marks the day in 1949 when the United Nations General Assembly declared to fight modern slavery worldwide.
Modern Slavery
Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain, including:
• Human trafficking
• Sexual exploitation
• Adult and child labour
• Forced marriage
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VICTIMS ARE CHILDREN
The Far-Reaching Scope of Modern Slavery
In 2016, a little more than 40 million people across the world were caught in the grip of modern slavery, according to a report in 2017 by the global human rights agency, International Labour Organisation.
People end up trapped in trafficking situations because they are vulnerable, often due to poverty and marginalisation. They are tricked and coerced into making risky choices or taking jobs in exploitive conditions in search of opportunities to survive and provide for their families.
Beyond the obvious physical dangers of their exploitation, victims can battle suicidal thoughts, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder and can develop addictive behavioural patterns.
Facts
50,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported by 148 countries in 2018.
50% of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, and 38% were exploited for forced labour.
Female victims continue to be the primary targets. Women make up 46% and girls 19% of all victims of trafficking.
Globally, one in every three victims detected is a child.
The share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled, while the share of boys has increased five times over the past 15 years.
Source: UNODC Human Trafficking FAQs
Road to Slavery
The scope of this crisis is dauntingly large and painful for its victims, and, unfortunately, there is no quick fix.
According to the report in 2017 by the International Labour Organisation, modern slavery needs to be tackled by changing laws and boosting government assistance. And people affected by job loss, natural disasters, and gender discrimination require support.
While these three approaches are targeting modern slavery as a whole, Destiny Rescue is playing a role in ending one side of this issue — child sex trafficking and exploitation.
In 2021, Destiny Rescue liberated over 2,386 people, including 1684 children, across eight countries. So far this year, we have extended into ten countries and continue the research and development stages in others.
Pathways to Freedom
Our teams rescue girls caught in exploitation, but we also tackle the issue’s root causes. Our post-rescue care focuses on combating the risk factors that lead to exploitation and empowering individuals, families and communities.
We have residential homes that care for survivors in certain countries after rescue. For example, in Uganda, our survivors work with a caseworker to receive free education, counselling, life-skills training, vocational training, and help to find a job. These are practical ways to support survivors in finding safe employment.
We also have a community care program where survivors can access the same benefits while living at home.
Every exploited child is only one kind and determined person away from freedom.
If you are that person, please donate today through our secure online payment gateway.
Join us to disrupt traffickers, identify and recover child victims of sex trafficking and support their pathway to freedom.