30 July 2020

30 July marks the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

It is estimated that over 40 million people globally are trapped in slavery or slavery-like conditions – one in four of them a child. Some are trafficked into slavery and others forced to work in appalling conditions for a pittance.

Catholic Education Melbourne, ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne developed the Make Your School Slavery-free resource kit, an online tool to help schools make changes to the supply chain, which assists in liberating some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Launched earlier this year by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli at Academy of Mary Immaculate, Fitzroy, the resource contains practical ways schools can make small changes that will have a big impact on the lives of trafficked people. ‘It’s people who are being traded. It’s not chocolate, it’s not coffee, but it’s people’, said Sr Louise Cleary CSB from ACRATH. ‘Education can help to stop this. This kit is one of the ways we can become informed consumers.’

In addition to the kit, ACRATH has produced a resource, including opportunities for action and prayer, which can be used by school communities and is available on the RESource website.