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James Annan

As the youngest child of an illiterate family, being enslaved was not uncommon in Ghana when James Kofi Annan was growing up. He had not begun primary school when he was sent away by his father to work in a fishing village nine hours away from his ho

Beatrice Fernando

A divorcee at age 23, Sri Lankan Beatrice Fernando answered an ad from a local agency looking to employ housemaids. Desperate to support her three-year-old son on her own, Fernando agreed to travel and work as a maid in Lebanon. Unbeknownst to her, t

Justifying Human Trafficking: The Mind of a Trafficker

Traffickers recruit, harbor, transport, provide and/or obtain people for the purpose of compelling labor and/or commercial sexual exploitation. They use force, fraud or coercion to exact work and profit from others. Fraudulent brokers, corrupt offici

How Forced Marriage Leads to Slavery

We always say that the forms of slavery are not exclusive of one another. Many times, one form causes another, or multiple exist in the same situation. Below are some example fictional scenarios of where forced marriage plays into slavery. Sex Traffi

Restoring Basic Rights of Children Demobilized from the Conflict in Colombia

In the past 15 years, the topic about boys, girls and youth involved as combatants in illegal armed groups in Colombia has become more and more visible on the national public agenda. It has been brought up in conversations about management of the int

Fighting Back Against Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is a form of slavery in the world today. To continue our series on this topic, here are the stories of some very brave girls who are fighting back against their communities’ traditions. Sonita Sonita is from Afghanistan, and her famil

Capsizing Boats and Trafficking

I imagine all of us have seen the horrifying pictures of capsizing boats in the Mediterranean as women, men and children are fleeing from conflict and warfare. The picture I’ll never forget is the one of a boat with over 500 people, the size which c

Intersectional Justice

As we continue on our journey for peace and justice it is important to remember that oppression is complex and multifaceted. Individuals experiencing one injustice may also be experiencing another injustice at the same time. A person who is African

Modern Day Enslavement and the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The movement for a national day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began shortly after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. It was first observed three years later.  In 1994 former Pennsylvania US

SEX-TRAFFICKING PREVENTION – THE FORGOTTEN "P"

SEX-TRAFFICKING PREVENTION – THE FORGOTTEN "P" Sex trafficking is one of the worst tragedies occurring in the 21st century. Studies show that modern slavery is more prevalent today than during the Transatlantic Slave Trade’s most prolific years. The