Christian Mission Agency Urges Public to ‘Speak out for Silent Victims’ WILLS POINT, TX — The scourge of human trafficking is accelerating in the United States and worldwide at a rapid pace, according to Christian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org). Marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, GFA is sounding the alarm about the epidemic scale of human trafficking – the trade and sale of people for sex or forced labor. For more information, read GFA’s special report on human trafficking at www.gfa.org/press/human-trafficking. “Tens of thousands of hidden slaves are among us,” said GFA founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan. “The modern slave trade includes young girls who’ve been forced to marry or enter prostitution, migrant laborers who’ve had their passports confiscated and are living in fear of deportation, and children forced to work in sweat shops and other exploitive conditions who make products and clothes we buy.”
And, while estimates vary, the Australian-based Global Slavery Index estimated there were 403,000 people living in modern slavery in the U.S. in 2016. Of the estimated 20-30 million slaves in the world today, four out of every five are women or girls.
Populations in the U.S. vulnerable to human trafficking include: children in child welfare and foster care, runaway youth, children without lawful immigration status, migrant laborers, individuals with drug addictions, persons with disabilities, and those who speak limited English.
“As we remember all victims of this horrific trade, let’s remember that every nation in the world is impacted by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination,” Yohannan said.
The “hidden victims” of trafficking need the church to speak out for justice, Yohannan said. “We need to do all we can to help them.”
Contrary to what many people assume, not all trafficking victims are smuggled across international borders. Many women and girls trafficked for sex in the U.S. are American citizens. The number of people – mostly women and girls as young as five – trafficked within their own country for forced labor or sex has doubled in recent years, representing almost six out of every 10 global trafficking victims, according to a 2018 report by the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime.
Forced Labor, Prostitution, Forced Marriage
The modern slave trade involves forced or bonded labor, prostitution, and forced marriage. In some countries, victims are sold for as little as $90. Those trafficked for sex – about one in every five victims – are overwhelmingly women and girls. Prostitution rakes in huge profits for handlers who control millions of women and girls enslaved in brothels around the world. In some cases, one exploited and abused woman can earn her handlers $100,000 a year.
Since 2011, almost 90 million people around the world have fallen prey to some form of slavery. Generating $150 billion a year, human trafficking is the third biggest international criminal industry behind illegal drugs and arms sales. According to the UN, refugees and unaccompanied children are among the most vulnerable targets, with children comprising a third of all trafficking victims.
Fake Promises, Dark Reality
“Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are lured from their home countries with promises of a new life, only to find a dark reality,” Yohannan said. “Traffickers often keep their victims imprisoned, or controlled by fear and threats of violence.”
In Thailand, hundreds of men forced to work in the dangerous deep-sea fishing industry are reportedly ordered to take amphetamines to keep them working long hours. Those who resist are dragged through the ocean with a rope tied around their neck.
Providing Hope & Support
Providing hope and practical support for those ensnared by – or at risk of – traffickers has become a top priority for organizations such as GFA, working in some of the world’s hotspots.
GFA’s clean water projects in Asia mean young girls no longer have to trek miles on foot in remote areas to fetch water – a daily chore that leaves many girls easy targets for kidnappers and traffickers.
GFA-supported national workers care for women and girls in the red-light districts of some of Asia’s biggest cities – and the Christian organization’s Bridge of Hope centers provide 70,000 vulnerable children in Asia with the opportunity to attend school and help protect them from the peril of forced child labor.
“It’s amazing how the love of God is bringing hope to the poorest and most vulnerable people, and filling their hearts with joy,” Yohannan said. “We need to keep our eyes open, our voices ready, and our hearts soft to reach out and help the victims of slavery, whether they’re in our own home country or on the other side of the world.”
PHOTO CUTLINE: HIDDEN SLAVES AMONG US: Many people around the world may be unknowingly coming into contact with modern slavery as part of their daily routine, Christian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org) reported today – as the Texas-based organization marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30.
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About Gospel for Asia
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019, Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org) is a leading Christian mission agency, bringing vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear the “good news” of Jesus Christ. This has included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,000 wells drilled, over 11,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 200,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news.
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