Know It, Change It, End It

Throughout my college career, I was gripped by the human trafficking epidemic. I looked to join the fight against human slavery in any way that I could- by researching, educating others, forming solidarity with peers, mentors, professors, and other advocates, and even writing my thesis on the epidemic itself and on ways governments and civilians, alike, can see this horrific tragedy come to an end. My passion for this cause, something that would forever steer the course of my life, was ignited on a fateful day when I was late to class. Flustered and rushed, I was multitasking putting my keys into my bookbag, dodging stationary objects, and crafting up a plan to slip through the back door of my classroom and quietly into my seat. Without seeing another soul in sight, I glided, or more accurately fumbled, through the university’s piazza. But, as I approached the building where my class was being held, I saw a small group of students tabling near the entrance. Planning on flinging a flippant response of “Sorry, I’m late to class,” to whatever they were about to ask me or tell me about, I was stopped in my tracks. “Do you have a few seconds to help end modern-day slavery?” the student at the table asked me. With some sort of a combination of intrigue, shock, skepticism, and willingness, I approached the table and allowed this other student explain to me what modern-day slavery was and how we, as students, can unite to bring human trafficking to an end. That day, I signed my name on a petition, I filled out my email to receive more news from the student organization, International Justice Mission (IJM), and I went on my way, despite being even tardier to class. A year later, though, I found myself involved in IJM’s annual Stand For Freedom event, an all-day rally to raise awareness and gain student support for the fight against human trafficking. Two years after that day, I held a leadership position in our IJM campus chapter. Nearly a week ago, February 25th was designated National Shine a Light on Slavery Day. This day is spearheaded by The END IT Movement in order to raise national and global awareness of human trafficking. By marking a red X on their hands and using the hashtag “enditmovement”, advocates all around the world displayed their support for the fight against slavery and attempted to raise awareness among their family, friends, peers, and social media followers. So, what is human trafficking and why should we cause such a fuss about it? Every year, the number of people held in captivity around the world has been growing. The most recent statistic by IJM has human slavery encompassing 35 million people around the world. Another organization called Free the Slaves sees that number reaching as many as 36 million people in an illegal trade generating nearly $150 billion a year. So, with a tragedy threatening the lives of so many people globally, why does it still exist? Human trafficking is hard to pinpoint. It is hard to determine what has caused it and what parameters allow it to exist. The term “human trafficking” or “modern slavery” itself is so broad and far-reaching. It is important, then, to unpack what the term means in order to become aware of where and how human trafficking exists. Human trafficking includes forced prostitution and other forms of sex slavery, bonded labor, debt bondage, and domestic servitude. The International Labour Organization (ILO), “an agency of the United Nations, defines human trafficking as the ‘recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs.’” California legislation affirms that “as codified in the California Penal Code, anyone who ‘deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with the intent . . . to obtain forced labor or services’ is guilty of human trafficking. Depriving or violating a person's liberty includes ‘substantial and sustained restriction of another's liberty accomplished through fraud, deceit, coercion, violence, duress, menace, or threat of unlawful injury to the victim or to another person, under circumstances where the person receiving or apprehending the threat reasonably believes that it is likely that the person making the threat would carry it out.’” Understanding the scope of human trafficking, therefore, is an important step in combatting the epidemic that covers 167 countries around the world, including the United States which is estimated to have 60,000 persons in some form of slavery stated above. A hugely and globally acclaimed epidemic claiming dozens of millions of lives around the world may seem daunting if not completely irreparable. But, I believe there is hope; there is always hope. Our hope lies in continually educating ourselves and enlightening those around us to this persisting tragedy. Our hope also lies in taking action. Taking action can be as simple and equally profound as stepping out in boldness and confidence on various social media platforms, raising awareness for the problem and bringing to light various organizations that are working together to combat it. Using social media to speak out on a global issue is not silly or irrelevant; it is powerful and insightful. Know that your words are powerful, your passion for justice is validated, and your empathy moves beyond international barriers to bring worlds of people together. I love my story of coming to know and love the work of IJM because it is so representative of the power in the binding force of humanity. While my and my friends’ ploys to bring awareness to our college campus of this impending global issue may not have always found success- some passer-byers really were late to class, some gave us a flippant response, and some ignored us altogether- I believe in the power of one life affected. For so many reasons, that one fateful day that I was late to class will stand as a humble reminder of the powerful capacity that one conversation can have to change the world. For this reason, I will continue to believe that raising awareness is made whole in even just one person’s life affected. With this conviction, how will you use your power? Through the course of today, tomorrow, this week, this month, this year, how will you affect another life? And through affecting someone else’s life, how will you change the world? Below are some resources to learn more about the effects of human trafficking:International Justice Mission IJM-The Locust Effect Free The Slaves Factsheet CA Gov- Human Trafficking Facts The END IT Movement