#EndHumanTrafficking: Victims’ voices lead the way
Today, Friday 30 July 2021, marks World Day Against Human Trafficking. A global crime leaving no country untouched. As exploitation is often hidden, it is hard to know what to look for, and how to help. This is why working, and sharing information together, becomes so important.
Inspired by the theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way” – Kendall Alaimo created a painting for the global campaign against human trafficking. The lips and megaphones symbolise survivors’ voices. Other elements highlight the importance of housing, education, justice, economic equity, community and stopping the demand for human trafficking. For more information about this art, click here.
In the preface to the UN Global Report on trafficking 2020, Ghada Waly, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime emphasises the importance of becoming well informed, saying:
“Educating the public raises awareness and fosters a sense of responsibility - as bystanders, consumers and concerned citizens, we all have a part to play in preventing and countering human trafficking.”
The Modern Slavery and Labour Exploitation Advisory Group, an inter-agency collaboration chaired by our own Reverend Chris Frazer (Deacon for Social Justice), has released its second newsletter, which our Movement is honoured to host on behalf of the large band of government agencies and NGOs, unions, embassies, faith-based organisations, and others who make up this group.
We encourage each of you to dive deeply into this report and share it widely. You will be surprised at the variety of industries that are affected by modern day slavery and human trafficking, often invisible to the majority of us. Human exploitation is a Jesus justice issue, and it is essential as followers of Jesus to take the time to know the scale of this problem all around us.
Rev. Chris Frazer, Deacon for Social Justice
At the end of the newsletter, you will also find a handy page summarising what trafficking is, what someone in trafficking might be experiencing, what to look out for, and how to help if you believe someone is being exploited. This information too is replicated on our new End Human Trafficking page: movementonline.org.nz/endhumantrafficking
Rev Chris Frazer is the Chair of the Advisory Group. As she helps to advise on strategic action both at a policy level and ‘on the ground’, we look forward as a Church to finding out more about how we can make a difference.
More resources:
Rev. Chris Frazer has prepared a prayer of confession and included a hymn which might be used in observance of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Download them here.
