The majority of us live with the idea that slavery is a dark memory of our nation’s past. That the days when innocent lives were forced to work or sexually exploited are long behind us. Well, the sad reality is that now more then ever slavery thrives and is all around us, but in the shadows.
Just to give you an idea of the gravity of the situation here are some of the numbers. In the United States cases of human trafficking are found in all 50 states, and almost every country.
It is estimated that more than 40 million people are forced to live in modern slavery, 25 million of which are in forced labor situations. And worse is that almost 5 million women are forced into sexual exploitation. This is a life many are forced to endure all their lives, so much so that 15 million victims are forced into marriages against their will.
This raise in Human Trafficking will only keep worsening unless we stand together and fight for those who can not defend themselves. We can read in the pages of scripter the need to be advocates for weak, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” –Proverbs 31:8-9
I know there is an army of believers willing to fight for these children who need to be rescued but the issue many have is they are not aware of the signs showing someone is a current victim of human trafficking.
What are some of the signs to look for to give you a clue that someone needs your help? Well here are some of the key signals to keep in mind:
- Victims will usually avoid direct eye contact with others.
- They will be mostly silent and not allowed to speak for themselves.
- Their physical appearance may seem uncared for, unclean or malnourished
- They may be working or living in locations where there is unusual levels of security like dark tinted windows, gates, cameras or guard dogs.
These are signs that we should look out for but it’s important to not confront the problem alone. The traffickers who are responsible for these victims will be armed and willing to hurt anyone which is why bringing your concerns to the police or non-profit organizations like Zoe International is the right plan of action.
Zoe International and its supporters have taken on the mission to finally end human trafficking with the ultimate goal of reaching every person & rescuing every child. Zoe does this in 3 steps, Prevention, Rescue & Restoration.
The prevent human trafficking by bringing awareness to the very real issue that’s on the rise on a global scale. They Rescue victims in collaboration with local law enforcement when a victim is brought to their attention. And the Restoration of victims is just as important, this is done by bringing them to a safe house to receive specialized care, love, and support.
The mission to end Human Trafficking will take a tribe, a global community to support the effort. Become part of the solution and team up with Zoe Internation. Click the link below to learn of all the different ways you help save a life today!
