Nonprofits call on Obama to do more to FIGHT Modern-Day Slavery

Human Trafficking Awareness Day: Nonprofits Call On Obama To Do More To Fight Modern-Day Slavery

Huffington Post  |  By Jessica Prois Posted: 01/11/2013 9:38 am EST  |  Updated: 01/11/2013 9:44 pm EST

 

Updated Fri. Jan. 11, 10:36 a.m. EST

Many are captives who are trafficked for sex, sold by their poverty-stricken parents. Others toil in sweatshops, make rubber for our tires and harvest cocoa beans for our chocolate. Globally, there are more slaves now than ever before.

A number of nonprofits are calling on the government to do something about it on Jan. 11, Human Trafficking Awareness Day -- and in the wake of President Obama declaring January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Nonprofits are asking the Obama administration to renew the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which would provide resources for those trying to protect the 27 million people who are considered modern-day slaves engaged in forced labor and sex.

Congress allowed the TVPA to expire in 2011 after years of bipartisan support, leaving programs that fight trafficking at risk, according to a release from the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST). Nonprofits say the political inertia is stalling real progress.

"The time for political games is over. Congressional inaction on this legislation continues to weaken US global leadership in the fight against modern day slavery," Jesse Eaves, Senior Policy Advisor for Child Protection of World Vision, said in the release.

A White House release marking January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month called upon businesses, religious groups and families to learn more about the fight against trafficking and outlined what the government will do:
"We will continue to take action by empowering investigators and law enforcement with the training they need, and by engaging businesses, advocates, and students in developing cutting-edge tools people can use to stay safe," the release stated. "We will invest in helping trafficking victims rebuild their lives. And as one of the world's largest purchasers of goods and services, the Federal Government will keep leading by example, further strengthening protections to help ensure that American tax dollars never support forced labor."

Obama outlined steps to fight human trafficking in September at the Clinton Global Initiative, declaring that the White House issued new executive orders that will combat moder-day slavery in government contracting. The administration also said it was providing more training on human trafficking to those employed in legal positions, among others.

"It is barbaric and it is evil and it has no place in a civilized world," Obama had said at the event, noting that many children who are trafficked are the same age as Sasha and Malia, his own daughters.