more slaves exist today than at any other time in human history…

more slaves exist today than at any other time in human history…

James Jackson – De’Etra Preyer – Joshua Patterson

History

• Slavery has existed in one form or another for thousands of years.

• Changes in the global economy have lead to a resurgence of slavery, and especially human trafficking over the last fifty years.

Background

• Primarily occurs in five countries: Brazil, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Mauritania

• 27 million people currently enslaved

• Defined as the exploitation of men, women, and children for profits not due to the individuals organizing the exploitation.

• Exploitation can be forced sexual prostitution or forced physical labor.

Chilling Facts

• 14% of children living in Haiti under the age of 18 are slaves

• 40,000 women and girls from Burma are force into the sex trade in Thailand every year

• 50,000 women and children are trafficked into the U.S. every year

• In India, a person can be trapped into slavery for a lifetime to pay interest on a debt of $36

Risk Factors

• EVERYONE is at risk / potential candidate

• Does NOT discriminate based on – Gender– Age– Race– National origin

Modern Slavery

• 3 factors in the resurgence of slavery:– Increased population– Economic change– Corruption.

Increased Population

• An ever-increasing world population has begun to put a strain on resources

• As real resources dwindle, exploiters begin to view people as a resource to profit from

• The more powerful the guilty organization is, the more likely people are to submit to that organization as a means of survival

Government Corruption

• “one of the basic ideas about democratic government is that it should have a monopoly on the means of violence. The military and the police are generally the ones who can use weapons and commit violence legally. If anyone in a society can use violence freely for their own ends, without fear of being arrested and locked up, then they can force others into slavery. To do that on any scale requires government corruption, especially police corruption”.

» Kevin Bales

Government Corruption (Cont.)

• Governments that do not work to prevent slavery, actually promote slavery

• Many corrupt governments know that there is a slavery and human trafficking problem and fail to address it due to monetary influence

we can put an end to slavery and human trafficking…

Free The Slaves

• FTS is, “a non-profit organization dedicated to ending slavery worldwide”

• Guiding principles:– We believe that all people have the right to be

free from any form of slavery, and to assert that right. We believe that all people who are or have been enslaved should have the opportunity to realize their full potential.

Free The Slaves

• Free The Slaves works with governments, non-governmental organizations, and policy makers to lead the fight against global slavery and human trafficking

• The primary method of fighting slavery is by raising awareness of the subject

A Few FTS Highlights

• Was the first to testify before the US Congress regarding the pervasiveness of slavery in the global economy and to expose how each of us buys into slavery every day

• Worked with others to convince the global chocolate industry to take responsibility for the slavery in its supply chain and to eradicate slavery at its source

• Advised the governments of 25 countries on how to improve their anti-trafficking efforts, with an emphasis on the need for increased worker protections

how we can help end slavery

National Day of Human TraffickingJanuary 11

• A bill “supporting the goals and ideals of observing this national day to raise awareness of and opposition to human trafficking, was introduced and passed by the Senate June 22, 2007.” (govtrack.us)

• The bill is now being voted on in the House

• For more information on the status of this bill, visit: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=sc110-40

Our Proposal

• Take the same route FTS takes by promoting awareness of the cause

• Partner with pre-existing student clubs and organizations to emphasize the moral aspect and the human rights aspect of the slave trade

• Provide documentaries and information produced by FTS for presentation around campus

CYCLE

PromoteAwareness

Proactive Participation

Education