Stop The Traffik! Campaign

Many people think slavery ended centuries ago. The truth is that slavery is more widespread than ever. Up to 27 million people are trapped in slavery, and enslaved people can be found in almost every country on earth. The US State Department estimates that every year 600,000-800,000 people are trafficked across international borders and forced into slavery, including 14,500-17,500 people trafficked every year into the USA and forced to work as slaves on farms, in factories, in brothels and in homes. Project Respect estimates that up to 1,000 women are trapped in forced labour in the Australian sex industry and the Australian Federal Police has a taskforce dedicated to investing human trafficking.

Slavery is different today than during the transatlantic slave trade of the 1700s and 1800s. Today slavery is illegal everywhere, making the slave trade the world's third largest criminal enterprise (after drugs and arms). But like slavery from centuries ago it is marked by the threat of violence against those who try to escape and a refusal to pay people for the labour they provide.

Slaves can be found in the product chain of almost every product sold today.

In 1995 a 13 year old Thai girl was trafficked into Australia after the traffickers promisedher impoverished parents she would be give work as a nanny. Instead Ning was forced to work in a brothel and told she would have to provide sex to 650 men to pay off the $35,000 it cost to bring her to Australia. Ning was freed after a police raid on the brothel.
In 2001 a British documentary exposed the use of slaves in the production of cocoa in the Ivory Coast. Given the Ivory Coast provides the majority of the world's cocoa this meant chocolate we eat may have been made on the back of slavery. The chcoloate industry, the Governments of Ghana and Ivory Coast and some NGOs have formed a partnership to try and address the problem. Many believe they have not acted decisively enough.
In 2006 Ford Motor Co stopped buying pig iron from a particular Brazilian supplier after Bloomberg magazine reported on the use of slaves. The 2006 article read, in part, The products of Latin American slave labor end up in cars and trucks made in the United States by Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. Pig iron that goes into steel used by Whirlpool Corp., the world's largest appliance maker, and is used in foundries at Kohler Co., which makes sinks and bathtubs, can be traced back to slaves in Brazil.

These are just some of the 27 million slave stories from around the world today.

In 2008 Catalyst groups began campaigning to end the global slave trade. We campaigned under the 'Not for Sale' banner, but in 2009 we come together with a number of other groups to be part of the 'Stop the Traffik' coalition. Catalyst groups are asking the Australian Government, Australian businesses and Australian consumers to play their part in ending the slave trade.

Campaign Actions

Thanking Cadbury

Now that Cadbury's switched their Dairy Milk milk chocolate to Fairtrade, we're urging all those that lobbied them to make this change to now say thank you.

Campaign Achievements

Preventing Slavery
Australian companies have taken steps to prevent slavery occuring in their supply chains. Read more

Protection of Victims
In 2008 the Australian Government took action to improve the way Australia responds to victims of trafficking. Read more

Promoting Fair Trade
Catalyst groups successfully promoted Fairtrade in their churches and communities. Read more

Campaign Resources

Bible Studies
Let My People Go! is a four part bible study series for small groups that explores the issue of slavery. Download the studies and print them out for use in your local church. More Info | Download

Bonded Labour Role Play
Bonded labour is the most common form of slavery in the world today. This role play shows how people can become trapped in it. More Info | Download

Campaign Poster
An A3 size poster you can print out and use to promote the campaign. More Info | Download

Child slaves in West Africa
Short film slavery in the cocoa industry More Info | Download

MP Talk Sheet
A talk sheet to help you speak with your MP about the global slave trade. More Info | Download

Not for Sale Movie
A three minute film that tells the stories of four modern day slaves and calls people to join the campaign to end slavery. More Info | Download

Paper: A Plan to End Slavery
A plan to end the modern day slave trade within 25 years. More Info | Download

Paper: Background Briefing
A paper that overviews the modern day slave trade and what we can do about it. Includes a number of stories of people trapped in slavery. More Info | Download

Paper: Policy Proposal
A policy proposal outlining the steps required to improve Australia's treatment of trafficking victims. More Info | Download

Paper: Preaching Guide
Some background notes and sermon suggestions for those who are delivering a talk on the bible and slavery. More Info | Download

Paper: Slavery Fact Sheet
A two page fact sheet about modern day slavery. You can print it out for people in your family, church, workplace, community group, etc. More Info | Download