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.
During the press conference, Antonio Maria Costa spoke about a great number of worrisome trends that have taken shape. Below are a few quick points listed early on:
- Of the 155 countries that provided information, a large number of them have not taken it seriously to the extent that 40% have not convicted a single person. Suggesting instruments put in place by the UN to assist these countries are not active. (chart taken from report)
- 80% of human slavery is based around sexual exploitation but he went on to warn that, “this may be an optical illusion in the sense that it is the most commonly reported because it is the most commonly visible.” He especially noted this to be true in richer areas like North America and Europe.
- Globally, minors represent approximately 20% of the problem but make up to the majority in some locations.
- Women play a large part not only as victims, but also make up a very high percentage of traffickers in Eastern Europe and much of Africa.
(Related media regarding Slavery and the Economic Crisis and on an Individual Level found can be found at the bottom of this page.)
Regardless of the grim message given out during the press conference and discussion panel, it is important to know that the fight is just beginning and that the UN appears to be in it for the long haul.
Philanthropy and National Government answer the call
Not only are the international organizations stepping up their efforts, but national governments and powerful members of the private sector are making it clear that 2009 can be the year where the tide finally turns.
In October, former President Bill Clinton spoke out during the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative Conference on the topic of slavery, “this is something I intend to take up next year” while referring to Kevin Bales book “Ending Slavery: How we Free Today’s Slaves”. He further accurately concluded that “it’s hard for me to believe that we can solve it [slavery] on a sustainable basis unless in every country there is an economic model that can at least minimize the inequality trap.”
Without a doubt, any pledge from a large philanthropist organization is a reason to rejoice. In the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2007 Annual Report, not once were the words “trafficking” or “slavery” mentioned, but with $131,450,000 worth of revenue, and a reported $7.3 billion already committed for the coming years, his pledge to fight slavery in 2009 is extremely promising.
Working on the momentum that George W. Bush’s administration helped bring about, Barack Obama spoke out on trafficking during his campaign. “This has to be a top priority… What we have to do is to create better, more effective tools for prosecuting those who are engaging in human trafficking… Sadly, there are thousands who are trapped in various forms of enslavement here in our country… It is a debasement of our common humanity.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged “to do all that we can to end this modern form of slavery. We have sex slavery; we have wage slavery. And it is primarily a slavery of girls and women.”
During the recent Senate confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged “to do all that we can to end this modern form of slavery. We have sex slavery; we have wage slavery. And it is primarily a slavery of girls and women.”
Coming out and using the word slavery is in itself a big step forward
Frederick Douglass spoke out in caution shortly after Lincoln’s congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment that “it has been called a great many names, and it will call itself by yet another name; and you and I and all of us had better wait and see what new form this old monster will assume, in what new skin this old snake will come forth.”
His words could not have been more true with everything I’ve been commenting on in the last few weeks.
As mentioned in an earlier post, the United Arab Emeriates, a former Tier 3 country has been contributing an incredible amount of energy to changing their image.
Even with the Harper government still in power in my country of Canada, baby steps have been taken by making the end of human trafficking within and without of our national borders a priority. In early 2007, a motion (C-153) was unanimously passed in the House of Commons that we need a national strategy to combat human trafficking. Furthermore, amendments to the criminal code for mandatory minimum prison terms of five years for the trafficking of children have been put in place.
Whether it be baby steps as just mentioned, or major steps, whether by strong words by the new US administration and promises by philanthropist organizations, the acknowledgement and new commitment is something beautiful to behold.
Related Media:
This blog is simply a description of what I see around me in the world today. Using whatever relevant knowledge I have acquired throughout my life time, my intention is to continue writing articles that are interesting to me, with opinions and biases that are absolutely my own. 
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