Three Ways Awareness Movements Can Help #EndHumanTrafficking
“Action starts with Awareness” is the driving force behind End It Movement’s global campaign recognized by the red X written drawn on hands every February. This movement, raising awareness about human trafficking, has even caught the support of big names such as Aaron Rodgers, Carrie Underwood, Sadie Robertson, and Kristen Bell! The question is, does it work? Do events and organizations that exist to bring awareness truly do anything to combat an issue as big as human trafficking?
At Freedom 4/24 we believe the answer is YES! Awareness is truly the first step in fighting human trafficking. Gary Haugen, CEO of International Justice Mission, says “nothing happens just because we are aware of modern-day slavery, but nothing will ever happen until we are.” Awareness is a tool that can be used to fight human trafficking in three ways.
More Awareness. More Voices.
For starters, awareness allows us to include more people in this fight! There are an estimated 40.3 million people trapped in slavery today. The more voices we have joining in this fight, the bigger impact we can make. If you don’t know this is happening, you can’t advocate for their freedom.
It’s happening in your city.
Secondly, awareness equips you to understand what human trafficking is, what it looks like, that it’s happening in your city, that it affects more people than you realize. You can’t end human trafficking if you don’t know anything about it. Awareness can lead to increased donations, volunteers, and support to organizations fighting this injustice.
Knowledge is Power
Finally, awareness is the first step in giving out life-saving knowledge and information that will allow you to recognize and possibly prevent human trafficking. Freedom 4/24’s Awareness and Education Initiative works with youth in the Central Virginia area to equip them with knowledge, confidence, and empathy to protect themselves and others from traffickers. Additionally, we provide occupation-specific awareness to provide ways in which businesses can play a part in ending human trafficking.
Awareness is the first step in ending human trafficking and awareness of this issue will hopefully move you to action! Are you in it to #EndHumanTrafficking with us?
Rachael Smith is the Programs Coordinator at Freedom 4/24. Passionate about rallying others to fight for justice, she’s honored to play a part in empowering others to use their voice, time, and resources to help bring freedom.
Outside of work, Rachael enjoys traveling, running, coffee dates with her husband, and playing board games with friends!