By Caty Hirst
Copy Editor
A social work class is working together to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Students in Dr. Kim Kotrla's human trafficking class are showing a documentary Sunday released by the International Justice Mission and are urging football fans to wear purple armbands Saturday at the Baylor v. University of Texas football game. International Justice Mission is a human rights service organization that rescues men, women and children from human rights violations. One of their primary focuses is human trafficking.
"I think that we are a Christian university and as such we take advantage of [the] opportunity to show that we value those things that are in line with God's heart," said Kotrla, assistant professor in the School of Social Work. "Our God is a god of justice, and this is a justice issue."
The documentary "At the End of Slavery, The Battle for Justice in our Time," will show undercover footage about modern-day slavery and give first-person testimony from former slaves, according to the International Justice Mission Web site.
Human trafficking is a global issue that affects millions of people every year. According to International Justice Mission Web site, as the world's third largest criminal enterprise, the market value of human trafficking is in excess of $32 billion.
In 2004 alone, more people were trafficked as slaves than during the entirety of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. In 1850, a slave cost about $40,000 in modern currency. To purchase a slave today is $90. These people come from all over the world, though the majority are women and children.
More than 2 million children are trafficked into the sex trade every year and there are 27 million people living in slavery today.
Since the UT game will be covered nationally by Fox Sports Net, the students hope they can raise awareness about human trafficking on a large scale.
Pensacola, Fla., graduate student Saleta Hopkins is leading the project.
"Come to the game and wear the armbands," Hopkins said. "It is such a big game. I would love to have them pan around the audience and [have them see] everyone wearing these purple things. The curiosity will spark."
Kotrla requires her students to take on a communitywide service project of their choice.
"There were a lot of people in the class who wanted to take this on as their project, to not just raise awareness in the churches, but in the community," Kotrla said.
Hopkins stressed the need for students to be aware of the products they buy that are inadvertently promoting human trafficking. An easy way to avoid buying from companies that support human trafficking is to buy from companies that are Fair Trade certified. TransFair USA is a non-profit organization that is an objective third-party organization that certified companies based on labor standards, fair price and other standards, according to the TransFair USA Web site. Some products that have the Fair Trade certification include sugar, chocolate, vanilla, tea, rice and coffee.
"Every aspect of our life is touched by human trafficking and we don't even realize it sometimes," Hopkins said.
The students in Kotrla's class will be tailgating at the football game to answer any questions fans may have about human trafficking.
Some student groups have also agreed to sport the purple armbands, including the cheerleaders, the band and the freshman line.
"We have an opportunity at this moment to really raise awareness in a unique way about this issue," Kotrla said. "This is an issue that we are really just beginning to tackle. When you are just beginning to confront an issue as big this, it begins with raising awareness and educating people. I would challenge people to say 'Yeah, I'll wear an armband.'"
International Justice Mission representatives will be present for the showing of the documentary. Christa Hayden, regional director of church mobilization for International Justice Mission also plans to speak to the human trafficking class.
The social work class will show the documentary from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday in A108 Baylor Sciences Building. There will be another showing from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Antioch Community Church. Both showings are open to the public.
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