With over 27 million slaves living in the world today, it is true that there are more slaves now than at any other time in human history. This is absolutely true and should under no circumstance be taken lightly. But it must also be acknowledged that these slaves ultimately represent the smallest percentage of the global population in bondage at any one time in that very same history.

If you’ve read any of my recent posts on the subject (see panel to your right), you’ll understand that the fight for global abolition is just beginning. Questions surrounding definition, policy, will, and ability have kept governments from acting for generations.  For the victims, it is a matter unimaginable fear and uncertainty that has kept most from speaking out.

But today, on Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, solace can be drawn in knowing that the plight of these voiceless millions are at least being discussed.

The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) just released its first ever Global Report on the subject and although the message wasn’t overwhelmingly positive, a significant progress is being made.

(continued on pg. w11…)

In August of 2007, I was fortunate enough to visit Dubai while its construction boom was still in full swing. I remember sitting on the top level of the big-red tour bus in sweltering sauna like temperatures while listening to the crackling English coming from the discount variety headphones provided for the tour. (continued on pg. w10…)

In continuing with my earlier discussion on modern day slavery, I am now going to focus on what the governments of the world have contributed to the mess.

Not wanting to be all doom and gloom, I’ll start by suggesting that there are indeed pockets of light to be found in the middle of this seemingly unending tunnel of despair. In a future post, I promise to shine some of this light for you. But for the time being, there is solution in understanding that broken policy, broken execution and finally broken government need to be addressed before the possibility of ending slavery can be considered.

Firstly, there is an issue of policy

The creation of an admirably minded policy can be conceived and outlined without too much controversy or concern. Its execution however, is an entirely different monster. Execution regarding the abolition of human trafficking has been fumbled into oblivion with contradiction and missteps for longer than you can possibly remember. 

To put things into perspective, allow me to formally introduce to you the tiered grading system the United States has been using since 2000. (continued on pg. w11…)