Time to Re-Abolish Slavery

I just returned from the Global Forum on Human Trafficking. It was a 2 day event where 1500 activists, slacktivists (that's me), abolitionists, and interested stakeholders gathered to hear about the existing problems and then to hear about proposed solutions to these problems. Every speaker who came to the stage shared sobering and unacceptable facts and heart-wrenching stories of people they met as they learned about this human tragedy. Some were rescued and have great follow-up stories to their lives...some were not, and their whereabouts are unknown. We thought we had abolished slavery in the 19th century. Didn't we have a "great Civil War" to end the trafficking of humans? The problem has only grown since Abraham Lincoln was President. In 1865 there were about 8 million enslaved people. That number is now up to 30 million.

There are still too many stories about individual suffering under slavery, forced labor, sex trafficking, and debt bondage. I heard the statistics over and over again as each speaker took to the stage. Everyone had one number correct...30 million modern day slaves. If I play a numbers game, and I figure that for every 10 humans enslaved, there are 5 business people involved in the supply chain transactions, that puts the total of people in the world either in, or involved in human trafficking at 45 million. That would make it the 30th largest country by population in the world...right between The Ukraine and Tanzania. Even if I just use 30 million, that is still a country in 41st place between Sudan and Peru. If it were a state in the US, it would rank 2nd, right behind California, and well above Texas. When I think about it in those terms, I am floored by the sheer size of the global problem.

Here is the sad fact...slavery is an acceptable condition in our world. Imagine if an entire country were enslaved, the UN would denounce it, sanction it, and ask the US to invade it to overthrow the obviously cruel and unjust government. If it were an entire state in the US, there would be a civil war to right that wrong. But since it is widespread throughout every nation, it doesn't get the same reaction and outcry. Since it is a lucrative business the stakeholders are able to buy silence and acceptance.

This silent curse is now being exposed by groups such as the International Justice Mission, CNN, Al Jazeera, and Not For Sale. I got to see the bravery, and "pull no punches" attitudes of these organizations. They are cooperating and asking the world to join them. This is not really a political battle, it is a very black and white battle of good v. evil. Every human being should be against it. It is not a difficult choice.

There is excitement about new approaches to raising awareness and new ways to combat this evil. I am happy to have our company be a part of a new wave of social enterprise. If we have success, it means that lives will be forever changed for the better, and that we will get to tell good stories of emancipation, of repatriation, and of change.

We thought we abolished slavery in the 19th Century...we were wrong. It's time to re-abolish it in our lifetime.

Chow!