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| Courtesy:un.org |
We have heard about Human Trafficking, a.k.a Trafficking In Persons, a.k.a Modern-Day Slavery; the movement of human beings from one place to another through the use of deception, abduction/force, coercion, blackmail, etc for the purpose of exploitation. No wonder they call it 'modern-day slavery'! I mean if the purpose is to exploit the individual, then its akin to slavery, right? Some people are truly going through a lot in this world.
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| Courtesy:twitter.com |
People can be exploited through forced prostitution, domestic servitude, child labour (including using children to beg for alms), organ removal (yep, we've heard stories of people who're abducted and their kidney, eye, etc removed), and other exploitative acts that debase human beings.
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| Courtesy:www.mercyworld.org |
When we hear of human trafficking, our minds are quick to go to the girls in Italy and other parts of Europe and the Western World, we forget that there is more to it. We have brothels in our neighbourhoods where under-aged girls and boys are used for prostitution, and in some cases the money they make are not even given to them. I recently read the news about a woman that travelled from Port-Harcourt to Lagos to recruit young girls in secondary schools into prostitution. The girls would dress up for school in the morning, divert to the brothel where they'd work from morning till afternoon, then change back into their school uniforms and go home after school hours. They woman would pay them little to nothing from the money they made for her. Some people may argue that the girls going to Italy knew what they were going there to do; yes, some knew that they were going to Italy to work as prostitutes(Yep, that's work o, if you doubt me, try it), but what they didn't know was that the money they make will not be paid to them, or that they would be made to have sex with as many as 20 men daily (no exaggeration, we've heard stories from the victims) irrespective of the weather, or the time of the month (for the women).We are quick to condemn the madams that move these girls to Italy or run the brothels, but could we be enablers ourselves?
Did you know that when you contract an 'agent' to bring a maid for you (Yes I said 'maid', that's the appropriate word for it), and you pay the agent monthly for the services the maid renders, without paying the maid anything, you're involved in human trafficking? If you hire a maid, pay her for the work she does in your house and treat her like a human being.
When you have a small child you're fostering and you do not send that child to school, rather he/she is made to work from morning till night or involved in such work that is hazardous to the child's overall growth and development, you're also guilty of human trafficking and child abuse. Yes, it is that serious!
Therefore, before we point fingers, let us examine our own selves, check our households, our neighbours and friends. Caution your friends and neighbours against abusing children living with them. Report them if necessary as you might just save that child's life.
As for me #IGiveHope to victims of human trafficking, not just because it is my job, but because I have seen the effects of these acts on children and young men and women, scars that do not heal for years. Tomorrow 30th July is world Day Against Trafficking In Persons. The focus is always on the victims and ways to make life better for them.
Do not be an enabler of human trafficking. #endtrafficking #IAmPriceless
Have a good weekend. I think I'll just rest this weekend, it's been a busy week at work. Whew!
Hugs...
Very well said. I think if we all looked at our slavery footprints, and the trafficking that enables it, we would all be shocked. Thank you for raising this.
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