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Unfolding

"Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment..." [1] This phrase stuck with me while I was pursuing my Masters in Human Rights in the year 2010. It is during this time that I learned about the various forms of brutality that are fac

Language Matters: Defining Human Trafficking and Slavery

“The way we think about problems is extremely sensitive to the language used to describe them.” - Deborah Stone, Policy Paradox Language is fundamentally how we as humans communicate meaning. We choose specific words to mean specific things. It is al

ISIS, Yazidis and Crimes of Sex Trafficking in Iraq

You’ve certainly heard about the terror in Iraq during the last month with reports of 200,000 Iraqis fleeing for their lives as a radical Islamic terrorists attack, kill and rape tens of thousands. In addition to the obvious human rights abuses, we’r

Slavery Surrounding the Unaccompanied Minor Crisis

News headlines are abuzz of the unaccompanied minor crisis at the U.S.’s southwest borders. Officials estimate that at least 60,000 children have made their way, undocumented, into the U.S. during the last year. In the wake of other major conflicts a

Biram Dah Abeid

A descendant of slaves himself, Biram Dah Abeid began to formally fight slavery and discrimination in Mauritania through an organization he formed at age 19: the National African Movement. He openly addressed the Secretary of State at the time, Colon

Gang Prevention and Intervention Programs

Academics have previously drawn parallels between gang recruitment and the use of child soldiers by armed groups. In examining these two, it becomes evident that there are clear similarities, which opens up a discussion about what practitioners and a

Freedom from Slave Fishing Ships

 2015 became a pivotal year for antislavery activists working against forced and bonded labor in Thailand. Exposés by The Guardian, Associated Press and Reuters revealed enslaved Thai and migrant workers catching seafood products sold by major retail

FAQ: Does John Shaming Work?

You might’ve seen pictures of men, who have been charged with solicitation for prostitution, on billboards or newspapers. This name and shame technique is typically utilized by the end demand sector within the anti-trafficking field which believes th

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place - the Fate of Putumayo’s Children

Up until now (access my previous blogs here), I have talked about the factors leading to the recruitment of child soldiers. I have offered aspects about a child’s socio-economic status, gender, violence within the family, proximity to the operations

FAQ: Will Legalizing or Decriminalizing Prostitution Decrease Sex Trafficking?

Distinction between prostitution and sex trafficking Prostitution and sex trafficking are not synonymous. And although sex trafficking occurs in the same industry that allows prostitution to take place, the two different activities can’t be conflated