Human trafficking and slavery is the exploitation of people for profit. It can happen to men, women and children. They are not free and they are exploited over and over again.
Through increasing demand for cheap goods and services, and the subsequent demand for cheap labour, consumers like us can be unaware that trafficking and exploited labour might have been used to produce the goods we buy.
Men, women and children can all become vulnerable to trafficking and slavery, and it can be found in industries all around the world.
World Vision’s Don’t Trade Lives campaign is uniting Australians against human trafficking and slavery by seeking changes from governments, businesses and individuals to protect workers and children from exploitation and abuse.
Why should Christians be involved?
In a global culture that often values people for their productive capacity, rather than as children of God, the church has a role to play. By labelling people as products and commodities, human trafficking and slavery diminishes fullness of life – replacing safety, community, and freedom of choice with imprisonment and captivity.
By changing our own daily choices to minimise demand for exploited labour, we can shed light on this injustice and change the way our society values people. We advocate for those who are enslaved, help restore unjust relationships, and live closer in step with Jesus by helping our society better reflect the principles of God’s Kingdom.
What can your church do?
Abolitionist Sunday
More than 200 years ago, Christians campaigned successfully for the abolition of state-sanctioned slavery. Despite their achievements, slavery still exists today.
Each November, on the Sunday before Advent, churches and Christian organisations around Australia (and the world) participate in Abolitionist Sunday.
Become part of the next generation of Abolitionists in November - get your church involved in
Abolitionist Sunday.
Demand a sweeter deal from Chocolate companies
For years, the big chocolate companies like Cadbury, Ferrero, Mars and Nestle have known that forced and child labour is used to harvest cocoa in West Africa where most of the world’s cocoa is produced.
Our
Don’t Trade Lives campaign, in partnership with churches, youth and community groups, has campaigned to bring an end to this horrific trade.
While many chocolate companies have a few ethically certified items available, this is just a drop in the ocean.
Your church can help continue this important change in many ways:
Additional Resources:
Church notice |
Ethical Easter giving slip |
DIY ethical Easter eggs Run a Church Information Workshop
The issue of human trafficking and exploitation is complex and often leaves people feeling helpless or perplexed.
World Vision’s workshop on trafficking and exploitation helps individuals and churches improve their understanding of the issue and discuss practical actions that can be taken.
To find out more about running or hosting a workshop in your church,
contact us.
Other resources: - Use the Ethical Consumer Guide to help you decide which products to buy.
- Help others find ethically certified products by using and adding information to Fairly Local.
- How many slaves do you have? Take this test and see how your lifestyle habits may contribute to human trafficking and slavery worldwide. Share your results and educate more people about labour exploitation today! Visit Slavery Footprint.
- Consider the gift that keeps on giving and purchase from World Vision’s Gift Catalogue.
More actions and resources can be found on the
Don’t Trade Lives page.