It's hard to believe slavery still goes on. Right now, someone living close by could be a slave. I'm casting my mind around, but I can't think of anyone who lives with strangers and looks unhappy. But how could I tell?
Globally, the average cost of a slave is $90. That's incredible. A play station costs about three times as much as a person. Why should human beings be so undervalued?
Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms. These include forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography. See more facts at DoSomething.org
At a conference of religious leaders and police chiefs in London to discuss what measures could best combat trafficking, the Archbishop of Westminster said young people in Africa are being sold the dream of living in the UK only to be tricked.
Schools for football excellence in Africa entice youngsters with a promise of a career in the Premier League. As soon as they arrive in England they are enslaved. A recent Home Office report estimated that as many as 13,000 people in the UK have been trafficked into activities such as prostitution, domestic labour, factory work and working on fishing boats.
Often, young people believe they are entering a better world, when in reality they are entering a nightmare from which they cannot escape.
Pope Francis described trafficking as "an open wound on the body of contemporary society; a crime against humanity".
I urge you to look around your area. Your intervention may help a poor victim. Combined, society can work wonders.