Saturday, July 30, 2005

International Slave Trade – Where’s the Outrage?



Continued from previous page

Slavery takes many forms throughout the world. In some poor countries, people sell themselves into slavery in hopes of getting out of debt, using themselves as collateral. In other case, parents sell their own children. These children wind up in a variety of jobs-- including making carpets in Pakistan, rolling cigarettes in India, harvesting cocoa in western Africa, and serving as jockeys for camel races in the United Arab Emirates. Roughly 2 million child slaves—some as young as five--are forced into prostitution. So-called sex tourists travel to countries where child prostitution is prevalent and tacitly condoned. These countries include Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

In the U.S. and elsewhere, the public is outraged when children are molested and exploited, when workers are underpaid and endangered. And this is only fair and right. And many faith communities and humanitarian organizations have issued statements condemning human trafficking.

But where is the average person's outrage for the poor souls living in chains? Where is my outrage? Where is yours?

U.S. government hot line on human trafficking: (888) 373-3888.

Return to main page to comment on article.
  • Main page

  • To find out more, visit these Web sites:
  • World Vision

  • Iabolish.org

  • Anti-Slavery International

  • Newark Archbishop John J. Myers' statement on human trafficking

  • U.S. government Web site for victims of slavery
  •