Set My People Free: The Call of the Church against Human Trafficking
Human trafficking today assumes many forms, is exacerbated by several factors including social and economic inequality, conflicts, and the climate crisis, and inordinately affects the most vulnerable whose desperation is often exploited. Organised by the United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) and hosted by the Anglican Diocese of Tanzania the consultation offered the opportunity for provinces and churches to explore one of the most pressing challenges of our times.
The chains you see around the statues of the slaves are the actual ones used
The consultation brought together Primates and their representatives from across the Anglican Communion, alongside human rights activists and survivors, experts in the field, government representatives, theologians and USPG staff and trustees. The key aims of the consultation were:
To provide an opportunity for senior leaders in the Anglican Communion to reflect on contemporary human trafficking, its causes and consequences, and invite them to make a commitment to address this issue.
To strengthen capacity and collaboration among churches in addressing human trafficking through the sharing of good practice, information, and networking, focussing on preventive and restorative justice.
To suggest what USPG might be able to do as a consequence of the consultation to support and facilitate the work of the churches in addressing human trafficking.
To highlight the particular issues of human trafficking within Tanzania and the region of East Africa and USPG’S role in this area.
How is your value determined? The twin divides of poverty and exclusion
On day two we were taken by ferry to Zanzibar. The focus of the day was the exhibition on historical slavery. Visiting the Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ in Zanzibar we came face to face with the horrific historical slave trade. The Cathedral was built over the site of the slave market with the former whipping tree marked at the altar by a white marble circle surrounded by red to symbolise the blood of the slaves.
The slaves were led outside and lined up in order of size. One by one they were tied to a tree and whipped with a stinging branch to test their mettle. Those who did not cry or faint fetched a higher price at market.
Standing by the altar it was sobering to know that just below our feet, are the remains of the dark, damp, stone-walled holding cell where the women and children were kept until sold. Many suffered and died there through heat and starvation.
As I moved through the exhibition, reading the reality of historical enslavement, my reflection was a repeated, what’s new? One poster, for example, acknowledged that, “The significant increase in demand for slave labour and products from the interior between 1800 and1850 led to an expansion of the caravan system. Traders from the coast pushed further and further inland in the search for better sources and prices. When purchased would be brought back to Zanzibar for expert or local use. The caravan trade brought huge financial rewards to individuals in Zanzibar and caused the entire economy to grow, benefitting even the smallest traders and producers.”
Fast forward to 2013 and, as I pointed out in my presentation to the consultation,
A 2019 article in the Foreign Policy magazine stated, “The coerced movement of people across borders is as old as the laws of supply and demand. What is new is the volume of the traffic -- and the realization that we have done little to stem the tide. We must look beyond our raw emotions if we are ever to stop those who trade in human lives.”
Looking beyond our emotions entails coming to grips with the reality that despite a universally accepted definition of what people trafficking is, with a raft of countries adopting such a protocol, plus billions of dollars purportedly being spent on raising awareness, the fact is that the exploitation of people continues to grow, with no country being immune.
What then is the role of the church today in collaborating with others to address slavery and exploitation within their respective communities/countries?
At an online meeting of the United Nations Network on Migration one participant reminded us that, “we are all migrants”. That sense of belonging, our interconnectedness to all people and our planet, brings with it rights and responsibilities. As followers of Christ, we are called to pick up the mantle of inclusion and care for all people, widening our vision beyond our own doorstep into uncharted territory.
By Rev Chris Frazer
