Rotarian Action Group Against Modern Slavery- Mark Little Thursday 22 July 2021 @ 18.45 for chat 19.00 meet

ROTARY ACTION GROUP AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY

There was little comfort for members when Mark Little talked to the Club about the appalling impact of modern slavery.  Mark, a past President of the Rotary Club of Norwich St Edmund and recognised by Rotary as a Champion of Change, told the Club that he had been unaware of the scourge of modern slavery until he watched a Channel 4 documentary in 2001. Motivated by what he saw, he visited a rehabilitation centre in India that was caring for victims rescued from slavery.  Here, Mark said, he was brought face to face with the enormity of this appalling trade in human beings.  Those living in poverty are particularly vulnerable; but now those fleeing from regions of conflict and natural disaster offer new opportunities for traffickers.   Those they trade are largely unprotected by law and are regarded as disposable; hidden from sight, they have, in effect, no human rights. Mark instanced young boys forced to work in a stone quarry; a girl forced to work in real danger as a circus performer; and a young boy locked in a tiny room forced to work 18 hours a day weaving rugs. All are unpaid and live with pain, hunger and the constant fear of violence.

To give an indication of the extent of this horrific problem, Mark pointed to the Global Slavery Index which estimates that, worldwide, 40.3 million people are subject to some form of slavery.  It is likely that a quarter of those suffering are children.  What is particularly disgraceful is that 47 countries have not criminalized trading in human beings; and 96 countries have not criminalized forced labour. 

Turning to the United Kingdom, Mark suggested that this slavery may be seen as a problem only for less developed countries.  Not so: an assessment in 2016 estimated that there were 136,000 in some form of slavery in the UK.

So, what to do?  As a Rotarian, Mark recognized the potential benefits of mobilizing the international Rotary movement.  He initially established an Action Group for this purpose. Subsequently, the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery was confirmed in 2013 as the Rotary vehicle to coordinate Rotary clubs’ efforts to fight slavery. It works to create awareness of slavery, and to support projects that help protect children and adults from slavery. There are now more than 60 countries actively engaged with this Action Group. 

Thankfully, there are successful efforts to rehabilitate those who are rescued or escape from captivity. Mark illustrated an example in Mumbai where the organisation You Can Free Us has rescued young women from prostitution. However, there continues to be a lack of awareness of the enormity of the problem, and, overall, a shortage of sufficient resources.