According to the  International Labour Organisation (ILO) more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. Modern slavery is a broad term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. It refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power.

December 2nd is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are leading the charge to address and end human trafficking in our communities.