It’s 2020 and the harsh reality is that MILLIONS of people being held as slaves around the world. In its simplest terms, human trafficking IS modern day slavery. As today marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we’ve put together this starter guide to help you continue the fight against slavery today.
LEARN
Learn what trafficking is, how to spot it, and report it by checking out this guide by A21.
Learn how to spot signs of trafficking. You can start by checking out the U.S. Department of State’s and learning about Indicators, how to ask questions, and where to get help here.
If you are in the U.S. and believe a person may be a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Myths, Facts, and Statistics: The Polaris Project covers it all. Polaris systemically disrupts the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom.
What does Abolition look like today? Take a look at modern day abolition and it’s different phases.
Looking for more facts and statistics? Check out IJM’s Slavery at a Glance.
Dive into End Slavery Now: Learn about slavery today, connect with an organization and browse ways to get involved in the fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Read a Book: Scroll through this index on books related to human trafficking.
Stay connected and keep the conversation in sight by following accounts that share information day to day.
ACT NOW
Get active in your community. The National Humam Trafficking Hotline offers a directory of organizations and programs around the U.S. to help you get involved. LEARN MORE.
Reach out to local, state, and federal officials and let them know you care about the fight against human trafficking. Find your officials here.
Be a part of the Global Freedom Summit on October 17th, 2021. During this online broadcast, you’ll be equipped with tangible and practical actions to advance the fight against human trafficking. LEARN MORE.
Join the Fight Against Trafficking and sign this pledge to continue education yourself on the issue. SIGN HERE.
Tell Congress to support our Youth: This petition asks to pass a relief package to keep vulnerable young people safe and prevent longer-term homelessness during COVID-19. SIGN HERE.
Contact Congress and Demand Equal Rights: Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and demand equal rights for ALL workers. Help protect potential labor trafficking victims from exploitation and abuse. SIGN HERE.
Sign up for the Aruna Virtual Run: Run or walk for an enslaved woman by name whom the Aruna Project staff personally know and are working to free from the brothels. Thanks to local race sponsors covering race expenses, 100 percent of registration fees and donations go to bringing and sustaining freedom to women in desperate need of new beginnings.
Sign the petition to shut down Pornhub and hold Its Executives accountable for aiding trafficking. SIGN HERE.
Report exploitive accounts on Instagram. Follow acc0untless and check the link in their bio for exploitive accounts to report. You’ll also find cybertips and petitions you can sign.
SHARE
Click each link to find shareable content to spread awareness….
Can You See Me: Download the A21 social media kit for captions, and images to share on your social media.
GIVE
Become a Freedom Partner through the International Justice Mission. Your monthly donation supports children and families suffering from trafficking and violence. LEARN MORE.
Become a Sponsor of Freedom through A21. Your monthly donation helps to reach the vulnerable, rescue victims, and restore the lives of survivors. LEARN MORE.
10 Ways to Give through Love146. Learn more about donating to Survivor Care Wish Lists, changing toner, selling on ebay, and more.
WATCH
THE CNN Freedom Project - A series that shines a light on modern-day slavery, by “traveling the world to unravel the tangle of criminal enterprises trading in human life. “
Face to Face with Slavery: Follow two volunteer filmmakers as they journey to the front lines of slavery around the globe to meet survivors and activists face to face. Their poignant half-hour film uncovers the inhuman brutality of hidden slavery in Nepal, India, Ghana and the Congo–and bears witness to the inspiring grassroots movement that is bringing thousands of people from slavery to freedom.
Rotten: A Netflix docuseries travels deep into the heart of the food supply chain to reveal unsavory truths and expose hidden forces that shape what we eat.
The Traffickers: Nelufar Hedayat goes deep into the global black market to meet The Traffickers, the people who buy, sell and smuggle illicit goods across continents and those trying to crack down on this huge international trade.
Very Young Girls: Critically acclaimed by the New York Times and Film Festivals around the world, Very Young Girls is an expose of human trafficking that follows thirteen and fourteen year old American girls as they are seduced, abused, and sold on New York's streets by pimps, and treated as adult criminals by police.
Slave Free Today Documentary Library: Scroll through a list of free documentaries to watch and learn from.
A21 media library: Filled with videos covering everything from child exploitation to labor trafficking, and sex trafficking. WATCH HERE.
Half The Sky: A four-hour series shot in 10 countries: Cambodia, Kenya, India, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Liberia and the U.S. Inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book, the documentary series introduces women and girls who are living under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable — and fighting bravely to change them. Traveling with intrepid reporter Nicholas Kristof and A-list celebrity advocates America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde, the film reflects viable and sustainable options for empowerment and offers an actionable blueprint for transformation. WATCH HERE.
BAHT: A short, informative film which helped acquire funds to build new safe houses in Cambodia. WATCH HERE.
SHOP FAIRTRADE
Being a conscious consumer is just one way you can help in your every day…
Using tools like ResponsibleSourcingTool.org or Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor can help you make better shopping choices.
Switch to Fair Trade Coffee - When ordering or making your daily cup, dig a little deeper to make sure your beans are Fair Trade. The simplest way? Look for the Fair Trade Certified logo on the packaging. LEARN MORE.
Here’s 5 Ways to Build a Slave-Free Closet:
Support Ethical Brands
Choose Quality over Quantity - Shop Less, Choose Better
Buy vintage or second hand
Appreciate the clothes you have
Sites to Shop from
Made Trade: Shop from Fair Trade home decor, kitchen+dining, bed+bath, furniture, clothes, + more!
The Parative Project :Shop Flags and Tees. Currently, partnered with Somerset in Mumbai, India. There are 25 women employed there who used to be trafficked and are now experiencing above a living wages, healthcare, counseling, retirement, and community. These women hand sew the flags.
The Aruna Project: Headbands, bags - The Aruna Project creates lifelong freedom through employment marked by holistic care to sexually enslaved women.
Rapha Freedom Store: Home, accessories, and bag - 100% of the profits from your purchase goes directly back to helping their programs operate.
Aid Through Trade - The Original Roll-On Bracelet and employs about 200 female artisans in Nepal.
Prana: Sustainable clothing for women and men.
Print Natural: A custom T-shirt and Apparel company specializing in eco-friendly screen printing on fair trade, organic t-shirts, and apparel.
Rug & Relic: Fair Trade, Handmade Turkish Rugs.