08.10.2024

UK Anti-Slavery Day

October 18th, serves as a powerful reminder of the silent suffering endured by millions around the world.

UK Anti-Slavery Day

Amidst headlines dominated by the U.S. Presidential Election, global conflicts and a dramatic increase in natural disasters, the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking can easily fade into the background. Yet, UK Anti-Slavery Day, on October 18th, serves as a powerful reminder of the silent suffering endured by millions around the world. Shockingly, 49.6 million people are trapped in modern slavery today – equivalent to the entire population of Colombia. Approximately 1 in 3 of these victims are vulnerable children, who have been robbed of their freedom and their innocence. UK Anti-Slavery Day provides an opportunity to focus public attention on those being exploited and to reinvigorate the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking.

Our patron Cherie Blair (CBE) highlighted that “exploitation is not something happening far away; it is embedded right here in British businesses”. A recent investigation revealed that a criminal gang exploited 16 vulnerable victims from the Czech Republic, forcing them to work at McDonald’s and a bakery supplying major supermarkets. They lived in cramped accommodation, paid only a few pounds a day, forced to work extreme hours, and controlled through fear and violence. Their wages were stolen by the traffickers and used to fund extravagant lifestyles, including the purchase of exotic holidays and expensive sports cars.

Trafficking is all about profit, with traffickers making an estimated $500 billion in revenue annually. Currently, trafficking is low risk and high reward. Traffickers generate approximately $200,000 in profit per victim exploited, for an associated likelihood of under $100 in risk of being fined, arrested or prosecuted (Avery Centre, 2021).

STOP THE TRAFFIK aims to disrupt the traffickers’ ‘business model’. Our prevention programmes arm at-risk individuals with the information they need to avoid exploitation, protect their human rights, and find safety faster. These programmes equip and empower vulnerable individuals with critical safety information and by signposting to vetted support organisations. For us at STOP THE TRAFFIK, communication is a matter of life and death. 

How to Spot the Signs of Modern Slavery

The most common red flags for modern slavery and human trafficking include if a person:

  • acts as though they are being told what to do by someone else, and or is they appear to be being forced or coerced to carry out specific activities
  • seems frightened or uncomfortable in front of their employer
  • works excessive hours, or appears excessively exhausted
  • demonstrates signs of physical or psychological abuse, such as lacking self-esteem, being afraid to speak about their work, being bruised or having untreated medical conditions
  • seems to be bonded by debt, for instance if they appear to be having money deducted from their wages
  • has little or no contact with family or loved ones, or seems concerns about the safety of themselves or their family
  • is not in possession of their own legal documents
  • does not have the proper safety equipment to do their job

How can you help?

Report Suspicions

You can help by learning to spot the signs and identify modern slavery and human trafficking. Once you have, please make sure to report any suspicions of exploitation. This Anti-Slavery Day, we ask you to consider downloading our completely free, anonymous reporting line, the STOP APP.

The STOP APP can be used if you have a suspicion that someone might be a victim of exploitation, but you are unsure or you only have a gut feeling that something is wrong rather than ‘evidence’. In instances like this, where your gut instinct might not feel like enough to meet the threshold for reporting to the police, we ask that you report those suspicions on the STOP APP.

Your report could help someone avoid or exit exploitation.

If you see someone in immediate danger, please always call emergency law enforcement in your location (999 in the UK).

Become a Champion

Whether in your work or personal life, become an advocate for the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking by learning more about the issue. At work, try speaking up for the use of ethical suppliers and best practice policies to avoid exploitation. In your personal life, try to buy ethically made goods as much as possible.

Join our Anti-Slavery Day Lunch& Learn event at 13.00 GMT 18th October 2024 for more advice on this topic. 

Volunteer

Use your existing skillset to support STOP THE TRAFFIK and other anti-modern slavery charities by giving a few hours of your time weekly or monthly to support on projects ranging from data analytics to research, communications or legal support!

Get Active

We love to welcome people to Team STOP THE TRAFFIK for active events all over the world. Why not sign up for a Marathon, Half-Marathon, Tough Mudder, Ironman or another event you are passionate about to raise awareness and vital funds to prevent modern slavery. Email [email protected] to find out more about our race places and events.

Support STOP THE TRAFFIK’s Anti-Slavery Day T-shirts

This Anti-Slavery Day, STOP THE TRAFFIK have partnered with No Sweat and Artists’ Community Support Group, to create sustainable, modern-slavery free t-shirts to raise awareness and support our mission to fight human trafficking worldwide. This month only, for every new donation of £25 you can claim your limited-edition t-shirt as a thank you gift. 

No Sweat is a grassroots international solidarity campaign against sweatshop labour in the garment industry. No Sweat source only from factories with strong workers’ rights and work closely with trade unions on the ground to make sure all clothes are made by workers that have democratic control of their work. Every wholesale T-shirt No Sweat sell sees a percentage of profits put into a Garment Worker Solidarity Fund, and the rest is used to support the No Sweat campaign.

The Artists’ Community Support Group provide printing services exclusively to community groups, individuals and charities, like STOP THE TRAFFIK, to support important missions by raising awareness and donations!

Receive your limited-edition T-shirt as a thank you gift!

These T-Shirts are available for this week only. Existing monthly donors can also receive a T-Shirt by giving an additional £25 donation.

Donate £25 or over

A donation of any size

A donation of any size is so impactful to our mission to fight slavery, and we appreciate every penny.

Donate your chosen amount today