Freedom Fortnight begins on April 23, 2018 in order to urge the Commonwealth countries   to end modern slavery.

End Modern Slavery Now

Modern slavery is a human right issue and people and governments all over the word must take action against it

Please read my words to understand better that modern slavery must not exist in the III millennium

Modern Slavery

Freedom Fortnight begins on April 23, 2018 in order to urge the Commonwealth countries   to End Modern Slavery Now.

In spring 2018, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will take place in the UK; the campaign – Freedom Fortnight- urges the Secretary-General and the 53 Heads of Government of the Commonwealth to promote the inclusion of modern slavery in CHOGM 2018.

Queen Elisabeth II , the head of the Commonwealth is reported to support all 52 Commonwealth countries passing modern slavery legislation in order to effectively tackle modern slavery and human trafficking

But human trafficking,   forced labor, and forced child marriage are problems all over the world and not only across Commonwealth countries.

Forced Labor and Kidnapped

Modern Slavery /Child Labor

In 52 countries of the Commonwealth, children form a significant part of the labor force.  Poverty increases   children’s vulnerability.  Desperate families sell   their children though they know their children will become slaves.

Handmade woolen carpet industry from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Morocco involves child labor.

Many children in Asia are kidnapped or trapped in servitude; they work in factories and workshops for no pay and receive constant beatings.

Bangladesh has  slave camps where children as young as nine are forced to work for 40 hours straight processing fish.  Slaves have reappeared following the old slave trade routes in West Africa.

Therefore, the children are kidnapped or purchased for $20–$70 each in poorer states, such as Benin and Togo. After that they sell them   into slavery in sex dens or as unpaid domestic servants for $350.00 each in wealthier oil-rich states, such as Nigeria and Gabon.

Human trafficking

Human trafficking or trade of humans for the purpose of forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation is also widespread all over the world generating huge profits for trans-national criminal organizations. Most of the victims are women and children.   Forced child marriage or the extraction of organs or tissues are other forms of human trafficking.  Refugees are also victims of human trafficking.

According to Trafficking in Persons report from 2017,  recruitment and use of children in combat in Syria continues to increase. Syrian government forces, pro-regime militias, and armed groups, including ISIS, continue to recruit and use boys and girls as soldiers, human shields, suicide bombers, and executioners, as well as to fill supporting role.

Freedom Fortnight & Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is not a problem of Commonwealth countries only ; it is a problem of the whole world  because we see the  consequences of it  everywhere around us. What I mean is: human trafficking,  sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation, forced child marriage or the extraction of organs or tissues. Also, most of the refugees are also victims of human trafficking. Most of the victims are women and children.

Thus, Modern slavery is a human right issue;  people and governments all over the word must take action against it.