There are many things we can do to help eliminate trafficking in persons.  It doesn’t matter if we are company owners, places of worship, parents or simply concerned individuals – we can make a difference.

Places of Worship:

Join the Abolitionist Church Initiative.  A product of the Not For Sale Campaign, this initiative is galvanizing a new generation of Abolitionists and equipping congregations with the knowledge and the collective strength to stand with people enslaved worldwide and with the growing number of emancipated slaves in the United States.

Places of worship can also help parents teach the children values and respect for all people by offering good parenting classes.

Companies:

Join the Abolitionist Company Initiative, another product of the Not For Sale Campaign.  Abolitionist companies ensure their supply chains are slave-free.

Some actions that can be taken by a company:

»        Pledge zero tolerance for slavery and trafficking.

»        Educate your workforce and ensure personnel comply with your anti-slavery policy.

»        Encourage suppliers and other business partners to adopt and enforce anti-slavery policies.

»        Call on governments to revise and enforce laws.

»        Share best practices.

Parents:

It is important we raise our children to draw a clear distinction between people and commodities, and to treat all people with respect and dignity regardless of gender, race or other factor.  Children are less likely to be victimized if they have a healthy sense of self, feel valued and loved, and have realistic expectations of the work world.  Adults are less likely to engage in slavery & trafficking if they developed empathy and caring for others as children.

Everyone:

There are many things we can all do to help end slavery & trafficking, including:

»         Learn more about the issues.

»        Learn the signs of trafficking and report any suspicious activity to notify the appropriate authorities.

»        Support survivors by buying items made by themn as part of their rehabilitation.  NGOs use this income to help them become self-sufficient and to provide other valuable support services.

»        Give some of your time and/or money to one of the many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are working to end slavery & trafficking.  They rely on support of concerned citizens to continue their important work.

»        Buy free trade products when possible.

Ø      Take it the next step and ask shops you frequent to carry free trade products.

»        Shop at companies that keep their supply chains free of slave labor and sweatshops.

Ø      Take it a step further and tell companies you won’t buy from them until they eliminate their sweatshops and slave labor practices.

Ø      Visit Co-op America’s Green Business Network and acquaint yourself with companies who have responsible business practices.

Ø      Visit SweatFree Communities Hall of Shame and learn about some of the irresponsible practices being employed by companies.  While you are at it, look at their information about Sweatfree Shopping.

»        Support all the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.  Two of these goals directly address major factors contributing to slavery: #1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger, and #3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

»        Support the U.N. initiative to end violence against women.

»        Urge your elected senators and representatives to work for the ratification of two important treaties:

Ø      The U. N. Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – other countries that have not ratified this treaty include Iran, Qatar and the Sudan.

Ø      The U. N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – Somalia is the only other country that has not ratified this treaty.

»        If your state hasn’t yet passed anti-trafficking legislation, urge your state senators and representatives to do so.

Ø      In Ohio, three bill are currently in committee: Senate Bill 23 (“Involuntary/Sexual Servitude Prohibit”), Senate Bill 205 (“Trafficking in Human Beings”) and House Bill (“Human Trafficking – revise law”)

»        Speak up when you see people treating others as commodities or objects.

»        Add your voice to those calling for change.

»        Learn nonviolent techniques and become an activist.

»        Help efforts to eliminate extreme poverty in the world.  Poverty ensures there is an abundant supply of victims.

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi