The Tamarind
The word ‘slavery’ may make
us think about past history or distant
societies, but the contemporary
realities are little different.
When asked by a researcher working
on the subject, Xavier, 44, a modern day slave in Amazonia, Brazil
reported: “They thrashed me with a whip. I treated the cuts with oil
from a tree. But when the overseer saw that they were healing, he
threw gasoline over them, and then I saw stars.
Going further in investigating such realities, it soon becomes apparent
that the majority of workers in India and Pakistan are in bonded labour,
that child labour in sub-Saharan countries is considered “normal”, and
that coerced female prostitution is one of the biggest tourist attractions
in Thailand.
The list continues dramatically, when looking at the working conditions of
eastern and southern countries: forced labour is not only still alive, but
often takes place in broad daylight.
The problem is far reaching: slavery is a plague that affects even the
United Kingdom. The only difference is that we hide it, and people
generally ignore the underbelly of what is labelled the “informal economy”.
Talking with activists of the non-profit organization Anti-slavery
International (ASI), based in London, they reported the words of a
domestic worker, who didn’t wish to be named, and who used to
work for a couple in their twenties in London: “I would get up at 6am
and work all day until after midnight. I never had any breaks, or
the time to take a bath or sometimes even to go to the toilet. I was
only allowed one day off a month and I wasn’t ever allowed to
leave the house” (M/F) Her example is just one of thousands '
estimated.
Ironically the United Kingdom is one of the leading states
fighting slavery, since its elimination from the colonies in 1807. The
British government has also institutionalized a national “Anti-Slavery Day”
on every 18th of October, which was commemorated for the second
time this year.
“The day was thought to increase awareness among people.” explained
Paul Donohoe who works at ASI: ”We went out doing education in
schools and we launched new campaigns against trafficking.”
More than 4,000 labourer are trafficked in the UK every year,
to be coerced into work such as domestic labour or prostitution.
Given that enslavement is illegal, the entire trade of slavery is hidden
in the hands of a few traffickers, working as the missing link between
entrepreneurs and slaves, and who are often settled in developed
countries.
According to the International Labour Organization the market in trafficking
produces $32 million of profit. “Making use of the Antislavery Day,”
continued Mr. Donohoe, “we called on people to sign a document asking
the UK Government to incorporate a proposed EU directive designed to
protect victims of trafficking and increase prosecutions of traffickers.”
Organizations that work to protect human rights and labour freedoms
strongly believe in the necessity of an international governmental coalition
in eradicating forced labour. To date 27 million people live under
conditions of slavery, producing only $13 million of extra profit (less than
what the United States spends on Valentine’s Day). (M/F)
Though the new Antislavery Day may succeed in raising awareness among
some Britons, these are the real images of deep economic exploitation
across several different countries and cultures.
that child labour in sub-Saharan countries is considered “normal”, and
that coerced female prostitution is one of the biggest tourist attractions
in Thailand.
The list continues dramatically, when looking at the working conditions of
eastern and southern countries: forced labour is not only still alive, but
often takes place in broad daylight.
The problem is far reaching: slavery is a plague that affects even the
United Kingdom. The only difference is that we hide it, and people
generally ignore the underbelly of what is labelled the “informal economy”.
Talking with activists of the non-profit organization Anti-slavery
International (ASI), based in London, they reported the words of a
domestic worker, who didn’t wish to be named, and who used to
work for a couple in their twenties in London: “I would get up at 6am
and work all day until after midnight. I never had any breaks, or
the time to take a bath or sometimes even to go to the toilet. I was
only allowed one day off a month and I wasn’t ever allowed to
leave the house” (M/F) Her example is just one of thousands '
estimated.
Ironically the United Kingdom is one of the leading states
fighting slavery, since its elimination from the colonies in 1807. The
British government has also institutionalized a national “Anti-Slavery Day”
on every 18th of October, which was commemorated for the second
time this year.
“The day was thought to increase awareness among people.” explained
Paul Donohoe who works at ASI: ”We went out doing education in
schools and we launched new campaigns against trafficking.”
More than 4,000 labourer are trafficked in the UK every year,
to be coerced into work such as domestic labour or prostitution.
Given that enslavement is illegal, the entire trade of slavery is hidden
in the hands of a few traffickers, working as the missing link between
entrepreneurs and slaves, and who are often settled in developed
countries.
According to the International Labour Organization the market in trafficking
produces $32 million of profit. “Making use of the Antislavery Day,”
continued Mr. Donohoe, “we called on people to sign a document asking
the UK Government to incorporate a proposed EU directive designed to
protect victims of trafficking and increase prosecutions of traffickers.”
Organizations that work to protect human rights and labour freedoms
strongly believe in the necessity of an international governmental coalition
in eradicating forced labour. To date 27 million people live under
conditions of slavery, producing only $13 million of extra profit (less than
what the United States spends on Valentine’s Day). (M/F)
Though the new Antislavery Day may succeed in raising awareness among
some Britons, these are the real images of deep economic exploitation
across several different countries and cultures.
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