francene--blog. Year 2013
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Oct 17th

10/17/2013

 
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Modern slavery is in the news again. And so it should be. What a shocking state of affairs for this injustice to happen these days. We're not pirates or slave-traffickers any more, stealing people from their home and shipping them overseas for profit, where they stand shackled in a market place awaiting their fete.

But it seems this practice of forcing another human being to work without their consent still goes on in what is called a 'hidden crime'.

The UK couple who trafficked a 10-year-old girl to the UK have been convicted. She was repeatedly raped and kept as a domestic servant for nearly a decade. The victim was only found after trading standards officials visited their home investigating allegations of illegal activity.


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She was found in the cellar, which was described as sparse, cold and damp. Police said the girl cleaned and cooked at the house, and was taken to other houses belonging to the family to carry out domestic chores. First brought to the UK as a child, she was unable to hear or speak and had no formal sign language through which to communicate, no family or friends to turn to, had never been to school and had no knowledge of this country's culture and society.

Details of the victim's ordeal only emerged after she was taught sign language, enabling her to be interviewed by police. Thankfully, the bright girl is now being supported, living a good life, and has achieved her potential. But others aren't so lucky, if you can call it that.

In a ranking of 162 countries, nearly 30 million people around the world are living as slaves. The Global Slavery Index 2013 says India has the highest number of people living in conditions of slavery at 14 million, followed by China, Pakistan and Nigeria. Read more here. Mauritania has the highest proportional figure with about 4% of its population enslaved.


Estimated number of slaves:

    India - 13,956,010

    China - 2,949,243

    Pakistan - 2,127,132

    Nigeria - 701,032

  
Ethiopia - 651,110

    Russia - 516,217

    Thailand - 472,811

    DR Congo - 462,327

    Burma - 384,037

    Bangladesh - 343,192
Picturewww.1902encyclopedia.com
  Australian-based rights organization Walk Free Foundation compiled the index using a definition of modern slavery that includes debt bondage, forced marriage and human trafficking.

I know. We don't want to face more bad news. Why can't we live our own lives and ignore what goes on elsewhere? But this could be happening near you. If everyone is aware of this shocking crime, perhaps more can be done to rescue the unseen sufferers so they can share the wonders of our modern world.

I will hold them in my prayers.


Nicole Gangloff link
10/16/2013 07:42:35 pm

Francene,
thanks for sharing your thoughts. As long as there are slaves, it reflects the human beings being slaves to their thoughts and believes of lack and it shows our disconnection. What I can do is question my thoughts about being a slave to my own mind. This allows me to take action and creates freedom and wealth for as many people as possible. This post is not about negative news. It is about reality. And we have to put a light on it, if we want to change it.
With love
Nicole

Francene Stanley link
10/17/2013 03:07:22 am

I'm with you all the way. We must change this state of affairs.

Cher link
10/16/2013 09:54:27 pm

Wow, that poor girl! We have such a beautiful world and yet such ugliness remains - could only be humans!

Francene Stanley link
10/17/2013 03:08:09 am

It breaks my heart to think of such inhumanity to a child.

Amy link
10/16/2013 11:08:38 pm

There are organizations in the US that work to set free these pitiable young slaves. I can't believe anybody could be so callous and cruel as to do this to a young child. I have a feeling that there will be a special, awful place in hell for those who abuse children. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay."

Francene Stanley link
10/17/2013 03:09:28 am

I agree about the low place these people will go to once they pass away.

Leah Griffith link
10/16/2013 11:29:16 pm

Hi Francene. Wow! I had no idea that slavery was so prevalent. I am surprised at the numbers. Yes, it's bad news, but putting our heads in the sand will not help the situation. Thanks for the information. I intend to use it to move forward in standing against such atrocities.

Francene Stanley link
10/17/2013 03:10:49 am

We should all strive to do something to help those in slavery. Only by being aware, can we change anything.

Phebe Bodelle
10/17/2013 04:10:12 am

It's just a thought, but a lot of the countries where slavery is present are also the countries the UK gives millions of pounds in foreign aid to. Surely there should be checks and balances forcing recipient governments to do more to stamp out this horrendous practice. The fact that this goes on in the UK is totally appauling. I'm just waiting for somebody to say "we'll make sure it can't happern again."

Francene Stanley link
10/17/2013 07:16:45 pm

Your suggestion is so right, Phebe. Why does the UK give foreign aid to all these countries, when so much is wrong with the system?

Tom Foster
10/17/2013 05:34:31 am

Only humanity knows how to truly be inhumane, and sad as it might be, evil doesn't necessarily need the absence of good people to prevail, it does that all on its own. I understand the evils that humans do to each other as I've seen it up close, but speaking objectively, its another side of the same coin. If we had no evil in this world, what good could individuals such as yourselves do? This is not to defend evil acts, but instead to add a sad note of reality to an ongoing struggle. I admire those who wish to make the world a better place, but leaving one eye open is not wise, nor will it allow anyone to realize that as human beings, we still have a long way to go.

Francene Stanley link
10/17/2013 07:19:21 pm

Thank you for your deep thoughts on this, Tom. I agree with you completely. My novel Tidal Surge centers around the battle between good and evil thoughts. I'm sure we all have a little of both inside. But we only listen to one side.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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