An estimated 50 million people live in slavery worldwide*. 1 in 4 of those are children. $150 billion of financial profits are generated each year**.

People are being exploited for such things as:

• Forced labor
• Domestic servitude
• Sexual exploitation
• Organ harvesting
• Forced criminality

References:

* 50 million people in modern slavery: UN report | United Nations

** Economics of forced labour: ILO says forced labour generates annual profits of US$ 150 billion

Exploitation is the umbrella term we use at ‘Brave Bear Trust’ to describe ‘modern slavery’ and ‘human trafficking’. Child trafficking and modern slavery are child abuse.

Trafficking is where children and young people are tricked, forced, or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work, or sold. Children are trafficked for:

• sexual exploitation
• benefit fraud
• forced marriage
• domestic slavery – like cleaning, cooking, and childcare
• forced labor in factories or agriculture
• committing crimes, like begging, theft, working on cannabis farms, or moving drugs.

Trafficked children experience many types of abuse and neglect. Traffickers use physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as a form of control. Children and young people are also likely to be physically and emotionally neglected and may be sexually exploited.

Definitions are taken from the NSPCC:    https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-trafficking/

We all have a responsibility to stop exploitation. At ‘Brave Bear Trust’ we want to equip children and adults through our book, educational resources, and training. Here are some reasons and ideas about how you can play your part:

• Buy – We can make informed choices about how we spend our money to ensure people are employed fairly
• Responsibility – We all have a responsibility to treat everyone with value and worth, whatever our age.
• Assist – We can pass on any concerns we have to the appropriate authorities so they can provide the proper help.
• Value – All people have value and worth and should be treated equally.
• Educate – We can understand the signs that might indicate those who are not being treated fairly and could be being exploited.