Loose The Chains
Human Trafficking Advocacy and Prevention
Scripture: Isaiah 58:6
Injustice
“People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used” (Unknown).
This is sadly the reality for so many people around the world who have been trafficked against their will, but thankfully we have a directive from the Lord for what we can and should do for those people. Isaiah 58:6 says, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (NIV)
This passage urges us to take a stand against injustice and oppression. In Isaiah 58:6, God conveys through the prophet Isaiah that genuine worship transcends mere rituals and fasting. It requires active participation in justice and compassion. This verse compels us to confront and dismantle the oppressive systems that ensnare individuals, including the heinous issue of Human trafficking.
Watch this short video to learn a little more about this issue:
https://youtu.be/XhbfGo7voB8?si=q7Sa_rODT_dG8r-b
As you saw in that video human trafficking represents a serious injustice impacting millions globally. Victims are frequently deceived by false promises and trapped in cycles of abuse and exploitation. As followers of Christ, we are called to “loose the chains of injustice” and “to set the oppressed free.” This involves taking concrete actions to fight against trafficking and support those who have survived it.
Here are just a few key statistics on human trafficking worldwide:
Global Prevalence: Approximately 49.6 million people are currently living in modern slavery, which includes forced labor and forced sexual exploitation. Out of these, 12 million are children.
Gender Distribution: Women and girls make up 54% of those trapped in modern slavery. They are often targeted for sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Child Victims: The number of detected child victims has increased by 31% from 2019 to 2022. Girls account for 38% of these detected child victims.
Forms of Exploitation: The most common forms of exploitation are forced labor, sexual exploitation, and forced criminality. Forced labor cases surged by 47% between 2019 and 2022.
Economic Impact: Forced commercial sexual exploitation generates approximately $173 billion in illegal profits annually.
Detection Increase: There was a 25% increase in the number of trafficking victims detected globally in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic figures in 2019.
Watch this video to see how The Salvation Army in the UK is responding to Human Trafficking. https://youtu.be/GmDiBoh1f_w?si=Y_whOJjaeMC06GYp
These statistics and the video highlight the widespread and severe nature of human trafficking and indeed highlight the need for us as Christians to respond to this crisis and do everything we can to ensure the chains of injustice are broken.
So, what can you do? That might be the question you have right now. I have listed some practical action steps you can take to “loose the chains of injustice’ right where you are.
Action Steps:
Lament: One way we can respond to injustice is to lament alongside and with those who have been trafficked the world over. A lament is deep and passionate cry directed to God over the brokenness of our world. Allow yourself to be disturbed and broken by the despair you have heard about today. Allow yourself to weep and be broken for those people who are represented in the statistics that were shared. Lament opens the way for you to name the brokenness, and to mourn with those who mourn and weep with those who weep. It is an ongoing action that helps us stay close to the heart of God.
Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding the complexities of sex trafficking is one of the first steps you can take. Learn about the signs, risk factors, and ways to help. Share this knowledge with your community to raise awareness.
Support Survivors: Get involved with organizations that provide support and rehabilitation for trafficking survivors. Your time, resources, and advocacy can make a significant difference in their lives.
Advocate for Change: Use your voice to advocate for stronger laws and policies that protect victims and hold traffickers accountable. Engage with local and national efforts to combat trafficking.
Group Activity
Choose one of the following activities to do together as a group project:
-Organize a fundraising event, such as a bake sale, charity run, or silent auction, to support anti-trafficking organizations. Use the event to raise awareness and educate attendees about human trafficking.
-Organize a prayer service dedicated to victims and survivors of human trafficking.
-Design and distribute posters around the community to raise awareness about human trafficking. Include information on how to recognize signs and report suspected trafficking.
-Put together a resource folder of all the organizations that serve trafficking survivors in your community.
Reflection
Listen to this song and spend some time in prayer for those caught in trafficking around the world. “Don’t Walk Away” https://youtu.be/VAhKtNdWisE?si=zA_rX5dAnjBqw0oe
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts for those trapped in the darkness of sex trafficking. We ask for Your compassion to fill us as we learn about this issue and seek ways to serve those who suffer. Open our eyes to injustice around us and grant us the courage to speak up and act on behalf of the oppressed. Help us to become instruments of Your peace and advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
By reflecting on Isaiah 58:6, we are reminded that our faith calls us to action. Let us commit to being agents of change, working to break the chains of injustice and bring hope to those in need. Amen.
Further Educational Resources
Holly Austin Smith: Walking Prey: How America’s Youth are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014
Denise Brennan. Life Interrupted: Trafficking into Forced Labor in the United States. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2014
Kevin Bales and Zoe Trodd. To Plead Our Own Cause: Personal Stories by Today’s Slaves. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2008.
Bukola Oriola. Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim. Spring Lake Park, MN: Bukola Publishing, 2012.
References
Statistics
https://ourrescue.org/education/research-and-trends/human-trafficking-statistics
