The #1Step1Voice campaign from @IJM addresses an important act that will help combat modern-day slavery.
The Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons is one of the world’s most cited sources when it comes to modern-day slavery. They are responsible for releasing their annual Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) report that is considered the most comprehensive resource into the scope and nature of global anti-trafficking efforts. The Human Trafficking Prioritization Act will essentially turn the “Office” to Combat Trafficking in Persons, to a “Bureau.” With the name change will come more power — such as the ability to participate in high-level government meetings that they are now not allowed to participate in. This will elevate the status of slavery to where it belongs, so that when we speak of “development” or of international issues we might actually have someone in the room who understands the horrors of modern-day slavery and can provide a voice for the victims and survivors.
The International Justice Mission is asking everyone in the anti-slavery movement to get involved on November 19. They want you to call your members of Congress, fill out postcards and/or simply send out a Tweet or ReTweet with the hashtag #1Step1Voice. What’s in a name? In this case, an awful lot.
Follow the International Justice Mission at @IJM on Twitter.
Additional Reads:
– Anti-slavery: collaboration begins to come of age
– Evolving Our Image of Human Trafficking
– Mindfulness as Method to Combat Human Trafficking