Fighting Modern Slavery
In her book (2004), Mende Nazer explains how she was kidnapped by the Mujahidin in the Nuba mountains in the South of Soudan and then sold to an Arab woman in Khartoum. She was kept there as a domestic slave for seven years. She's working very hard while still being a child. She doesn't get any pay or any single day off. She's not allowed to get out of the parcel, nor to talk to any stranger. One day, she's passed on by her cruel master to a rich relative in London, where her living conditions are not better. Fortunately, she manages to escape there. It's a gripping novel relating a true story that reveals what modern slavery is.
Modern slavery is not only an issue in poor or developing countries. Modern slavery is happening in each of our Western countries: in the UK, in the USA, in France... Recently, a 14-year-old girl from Ivory Coast was working as a slave to keep the household of a young French couple. She was not paid, wasn't allowed to go to school, and her identification documents had been confiscated. When her "masters" were not satisfied with her, she was beaten up. As many of young girls in less developed countries, she applied for a job as an au-pair girl in France but couldn't imagine was in store for her.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 20.9 million men, women and children around the world are slaves. In the 21st century, people are still sold as "properties", forced to work for little or no pay and at the complete mercy of their 'employers'. Nobody believes it and still, there might slaves right in your town, in your neighbourhood without you noticing it. Contemporary slavery takes various forms and affects people of all ages, gender and races. Don't hesitate to support children, if you think they are kept as slaves, and contact relevant associations!
In her book (2004), Mende Nazer explains how she was kidnapped by the Mujahidin in the Nuba mountains in the South of Soudan and then sold to an Arab woman in Khartoum. She was kept there as a domestic slave for seven years. She's working very hard while still being a child. She doesn't get any pay or any single day off. She's not allowed to get out of the parcel, nor to talk to any stranger. One day, she's passed on by her cruel master to a rich relative in London, where her living conditions are not better. Fortunately, she manages to escape there. It's a gripping novel relating a true story that reveals what modern slavery is.
Modern slavery is not only an issue in poor or developing countries. Modern slavery is happening in each of our Western countries: in the UK, in the USA, in France... Recently, a 14-year-old girl from Ivory Coast was working as a slave to keep the household of a young French couple. She was not paid, wasn't allowed to go to school, and her identification documents had been confiscated. When her "masters" were not satisfied with her, she was beaten up. As many of young girls in less developed countries, she applied for a job as an au-pair girl in France but couldn't imagine was in store for her.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 20.9 million men, women and children around the world are slaves. In the 21st century, people are still sold as "properties", forced to work for little or no pay and at the complete mercy of their 'employers'. Nobody believes it and still, there might slaves right in your town, in your neighbourhood without you noticing it. Contemporary slavery takes various forms and affects people of all ages, gender and races. Don't hesitate to support children, if you think they are kept as slaves, and contact relevant associations!