Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery is Happening in my Neighbourhood - What Can I do about it?
July 27, 2015
The Human Trafficking (HT) or Modern Slavery (MS) workshop at the Young Mercy Leaders' Pilgrimage was designed to be an inter-active one.
Tables were arranged to accommodate five students and staff members sitting together as a group throughout the session. After a brief introduction, which included some questions and answers to ensure everyone understood the terminology of MS. Students were invited to pick up the bundle of laminated photos in the centre of their table and to spread them out; and then to stand up and walk around their table taking time to look at each photo and the caption underneath it.
When everyone had done this, each person was invited to pick the photo that ‘spoke’ most to their heart. In some instances two people chose the same photo.. After this they were asked to show their photo to the group and to share why they chose the one they did. This led to good sharing, moving out of head level to a deeper, more heart or feeling type of sharing.
At the end of this exercise, we took time for anyone who wanted to share their photo with the whole group, as each table had different sets of photos.
Following this, we watched a short video clip of survivors of HT who spoke about their experience of being trafficked during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva. These were powerful testimonies, including a young student at university in a another country, who was befriended by someone who turned out to be part of a trafficking ring. Another, a young girl was captured by rebels in Burundi and given to one of the commanders, where she was exploited like a ‘child-soldier’ for seven years, including having two children with him. A young man who spoke briefly was an example of labour exploitation. After this we took time to reflect and then shared comments or questions in the larger group.
Participants were invited to turn over their photos where they would find a true story about a child, woman, youth or man who had been trafficked into some form of slavery i.e. sexual exploitation; slave labour; indebted bondage. The room fell very silent as each one read the story on the back of their photo. Underneath the story were three similar questions for each one to answer and then to share with the others at their table. As I walked around the room I overheard some perceptive, reflective comments that indicated these young people are becoming more aware of the horror of modern slavery.
In terms of returning home to their individual schools / colleges, we spoke about raising awareness about MS. Students shared that they would now be more alert particularly when someone appears alone and doesn’t belong to a friendship group. Dangers around ‘grooming’ on line were highlighted. We also spoke about the precautions a young person should take if they want to meet or date someone they only know on-line i.e. take a friend along or meet where a group of friends are hanging out.....
At this point I distributed the attached hand-out. This highlighted the true story of an 8 year girl, who was caught up with her younger sister and a male cousin, into a pornographic ring in the street where she lived (see Jasmine’s story on hand out). The children managed to hide their trauma, from their single mother, which was possible because they were back home by 6.00pm each evening when she returned from work. The abuse ended when Jasmine was 10 and the neighbour moved away.
Also on the handout is an overview of the work of MIA Global Action to oppose HT and to raise awareness about it, in order to protect themselves and others.
To finish the session we watched a short YouTube clip of Morgan Freeman speaking about what each of us must do to save our beautiful and precious world. In this context he spoke of the imminent dangers of climate change. I suggested that we view the film clip at another layer of personal responsibility i.e. to ensure that ‘this is’ a beauty-full and safe world for each person living on Mother Earth.
Speaking with some of the students and members of staff after our session, they shared that listening to the survivor’s stories was very hard, because it was no longer just facts but real people sharing their pain and suffering. They also said these stories touched them deeply. At the same time they helped them understand more about the exploitation, danger and ease with which traffickers operate. A number of them mentioned they are more conscious of their personal responsibility to raise awareness about human trafficking. Most agreed that now they would speak to a parent, or an adult in the school if they had any concerns about a young person, or when they see something that doesn’t seem or feel quite right....
- Denise Boyle fmdm, Mercy Global Action
