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How does buying Fair Trade fight Human Trafficking?

This may be a question you are asking whether you are already a committed buyer of Fair Trade products, or even if you have not bought into the Fair Trade idea yet.  Maybe this correlation will stir and motivate you to begin buying Fair Trade and be an advocate for ethically produced products.    Either way, it is important to understand the far-reaching implications of Fair Trade and how a simple purchase goes a long way towards fighting global systems of injustice and restoring people’s lives to reflect the Kingdom of God.

So here is the startling reality about Human Trafficking, also known as Modern Day Slavery.  After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing.  It is estimated that up 27 million people are currently enslaved in various forms of sexual and labor exploitation throughout our world, more than at the height of the trans-atlantic slave trade (Kevin Bales, www.freetheslaves.net).  The U.S. Department of State estimates that approximately 800,000 people–80% of which are female and 50% are children–are trafficked across international borders every year (This estimate does not include domestic trafficking).

According to the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, “The movement to stop human trafficking includes significant efforts to address factors that ‘push’ victims into being trafficked, but it also recognizes a ‘pull’ factor as part of the cause…One key to addressing such demand is raising awareness about the existence of forced labor in the production of goods…In the global marketplace for goods, ensuring that complex supply chains are untainted by forced labor is a challenge for both businesses and consumers…Any successful effort to combat human trafficking must confront not only the supply of trafficked humans, but also the demand for forced labor and commercial sex that fuels it.”

In regard to fighting Human Trafficking, Fair Trade works through three avenues:

1. Prevention by creating dignified and safe employment for vulnerable populations
2. Alters the market demand for cheaply produced, slave-made goods.  A corporation’s “race to the bottom” can lead to or result in exploitive and abusive work environments for the most desperate and impoverished people groups.
3. Rehabilitation, hope, and healing for survivors by earning a living-wage, as well as sometimes being provided with on-site child-care, job skills, education, and counseling.

Good News Goods is proud to partner with Rahab Bazaar, Nightlight, and StopStart, all of which are innovative, socially minded businesses who work with vulnerable populations and/or rescued victims, giving them dignity, stability, and a chance to start over. Their work addresses the various hurdles faced by rescued victims, as they search for ways to support themselves and their families while also protecting themselves from falling back into the same trap.  You can read more about and purchase from our Fair Trade producers at goodnewsgoods.com.

There are many avenues to combat human trafficking, such as raising awareness in your community, voicing your concerns to your local, state, and US representatives, or donating to an anti-trafficking organization.   Possibly the easiest and most effective way, however, is to continually use your consumer power to support abolition with your wallet by purchasing fair trade certified products and gift items made by survivors of human trafficking.

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

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