Slave labor and human trafficking continue to be a relentless evil that steals the dignity, safety, and liberty of millions of individuals worldwide. This detestable practice lurks in the shadows of our modern life and unknowingly, our dollars end up in the hands of the bad guys. Sadly, even companies we trust to provide us with goods that we need in our daily lives are profiting through slave and child labor.
I know for me this problem can feel so big and hard to address that I feel paralyzed and unsure how to respond to this heartbreaking injustice. The layers and ways that people are used and abused are complex and deeply embedded in the systems that run our world. Those that are held captive to this injustice truly are the “least of these” and have no voice to combat the situations they find themselves in. As believers, if we don’t take the time to see the unseen people groups of this world, who will?
Human Trafficking Happens in Our Own Communities
I recently heard a story about trafficking from another foster parent that lives in the same area that I do that opened my eyes to how ubiquitous this practice is, even in my own community. They had an undocumented teen girl placed under their care but since she did not have a birth certificate, her social worker was unsure how to legally place her in the home she had been matched with. For a short time, this foster family embraced this girl, even though the proper documents were not put in place.
Soon an unknown “uncle” from another state claimed the girl as family. Because this young woman was undocumented the proper steps to vet this supposed family member were neglected and she was promptly released to the care of two men from a neighboring state. This young girl spoke little English and was uneducated about her rights in this situation. Not long after she was released to these men, she contacted her former foster parents saying she was unsafe. She was being trafficked. The foster parents did all they could to help her but were unable to locate her. They contacted the FBI and sadly, they confirmed this was an all-too-common story. Thankfully, a few months later, she contacted them again to let them know she had found safety. We are grateful that her story ended in a positive way but that, sadly, is the exception.
So now we know… slavery, trafficking, and child labor exist in our communities. What do we do? How can we make a difference and become a voice for the voiceless? Well, there is no easy answer to that question, but there are a few first steps we can take to start seeking justice in captivity.
7 Steps to Help End Modern Slavery
1. Learn the indicators of human trafficking. You can read up on what to be aware of or seek out training that helps you to be able to identify what these scenarios may look like. For most of us, we are very unfamiliar with this world and unaware of what we should be looking for.
2. Be an informed consumer. This can feel tough because we consume so many products in our daily lives! But there are a few easy ways to get started. First shop second hand. You are not only being less wasteful and saving money, but also you are not funding companies that may have inhumane labor practices. Also, many thrift stores fund other noble causes. You can also check out this list to be more educated about which brands and products are the worst offenders.
3. Volunteer or support anti-trafficking organizations. You can do a fundraiser to support these efforts, invest time working for the organizations, and more!
4. Raise awareness about this issue. Once you get more informed on the problem, use your social media, your business, your faith community, and more to raise awareness about this issue. Offering trauma-informed training for others in the organizations you work in is helpful, along with helping others become more aware of how to spot this issue in your community.
5. Report suspicious activity. Once you are informed about the signs of trafficking, make sure to report suspicious interactions or activity. We cannot shine a light on the problem if it remains undetected in our communities.
6. Support vulnerable populations in your community. Those in foster care, in poverty, struggling with addiction, in unstable housing, and more are most likely to find themselves in a situation where they are trafficked. When we offer those at risk support we are stopping to end the cycle of enslavement. Become a trained foster parent, mentor, advocate, and more in order to reach those who are most in need around us.
7. Pray that God would set free those who remain in physical captivity. As believers, we know that God hears our cries! We need to lift up a cry of prayer to the Lord on behalf of those who may not have the strength to cry out to the Lord on their own. May he break the chains of injustice that continue to steal from the lives of those created in the image of God.
What Did You Do to Care for the Least of These?
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow's cause” (Isaiah 1:17). Many of us find ourselves in such comfortable settings that it’s easy to want to shield our eyes from the darker forces of evil at work in our world. But God calls us to avoid the trap of comfort and be people who bring the Kingdom of God down to Earth! When we meet our Maker he will ask, what did you do to care for the least of these? Let’s get busy providing the one who made us an epic response that looks like love in action while we are here on Earth.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fcscafeine
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.