Awareness Angels Art Project: May 2016

Monday, May 16, 2016

Human Trafficking Awareness Ribbon Angel

Human Trafficking Awareness Blue Ribbon Angel Information Picture

Human trafficking uses the blue awareness ribbon for its cause. January is human trafficking awareness month. Human trafficking refers forced labor in many different forms including sexual slavery. Through awareness we can all help to stop sex trafficking!

Here are facts and information from the International Labor Organization (ILO) about human trafficking and forced labor:
Forced labour takes different forms, including debt bondage, trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. The victims are the most vulnerable – women and girls forced into prostitution, migrants trapped in debt bondage, and sweatshop or farm workers kept there by clearly illegal tactics and paid little or nothing.

Facts and figures

Almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour – 11.4 million women and girls and 9.5 million men and boys.
Almost 19 million victims are exploited by private individuals or enterprises and over 2 million by the state or rebel groups.
Of those exploited by individuals or enterprises, 4.5 million are victims of forced sexual exploitation.
Forced labour in the private economy generates US$ 150 billion in illegal profits per year.
Domestic work, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and entertainment are among the sectors most concerned.
Migrant workers and indigenous people are particularly vulnerable to forced labour.

Read the ILO's Handbook on combating human trafficking.

"The Abolitionists," a documentary about international modern human trafficking. The movie follows nonprofit organization Operation Underground Railroad on sting missions in Colombia, Haiti and Honduras that they say rescued 57 young girls and put seven human traffickers behind bars. The group says its efforts have freed more than 500 girls in countries including Peru and Thailand.

Learn more about the movie on the movie website at: http://theabolitionistsmovie.com/
Read a review about the movie on the LA Times website.

Follow this link to learn more on this ILO course about human trafficking in East and Southeast Asia.
"The online course was developed to help participants have a clearer understanding of issues such as forced labour, trafficking in persons, substandard working conditions and labour migration, as well as of the root causes and vulnerabilities that put people at risk of falling victims to labour exploitation. It builds upon ILO’s experience in combating forced labour and promoting decent work and aims to equip participants with the necessary tools to identify and respond to cases of exploitation of workers, as well as to strengthen prevention measures."

Here are some samples of awareness ribbon merchandise available for purchase: