Christian charity CARE is today (Thursday October 18) calling for the church to commemorate Anti-Slavery Day 2018 by dedicating time both this week and especially this coming Sunday to pray for victims of modern slavery.

Anti-Slavery Day is enshrined in law and is an opportunity for charities and organisations across the UK and the EU to shine a spotlight on the plight of those trapped in human trafficking.

Modern slavery is an abhorrent crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes – including for sex, forced labour, domestic servitude, criminal activity and even sometimes for organ harvesting.

According to recent estimates, there were 40.3 million people trapped in modern slavery in 2016 – around 70 per cent of those women and girls. In the UK alone, the most recent estimate shows that 136,000 people are trapped in exploitation, some ten times higher than was previously thought.

In the run-up to Anti-Slavery Day CARE has used social media to publish specific prayers for victims and those working against modern slavery and there are a vast range of resources available for church leaders on the CARE website.

CARE’s Senior Policy Officer – Human Trafficking, Louise Gleich said:

“Modern slavery robs people of their dignity, freedom and human rights and it has no place in our society.

“The sheer scale of the problem is frightening and many victims are hidden in plain sight.

“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the scale of modern slavery and wonder how we can help to tackle it but we think prayer is a great place to start.

“We know prayer has the power to change things. If the church gets behind this issue and spends dedicated time this week praying for victims of modern slavery, just think of the amazing impact it would have.

“It is hard for those of who have never encountered or experienced modern slavery to relate to the suffering and trauma victims experience.

“Victims face many challenges as they seek to rebuild their lives and they need our prayers, as do all those amazing organisations who devote time to helping them.

“For the church to step up and commit to pray for victims of modern slavery it would not only raise vital awareness about this crime but also send a powerful message to society about how the church supports the vulnerable in society.”

Ends

Notes to the editor:

For more information or interview requests please contact Rachael Adams on 020 7227 4731 / 07851 153 693 or rachael.adams@care.org.uk

CARE’s Anti-Slavery Day resources can be found here.

CARE has been publishing specific prayers for victims and those working against modern slavery on its Twitter account @careorguk

Click here to read a summary of what has happened across the UK since anti-trafficking legislation was passed across the UK. Written by CARE’s Senior Policy Officer – Human Trafficking, Louise Gleich.

Click here to read a write up of last week’s Westminster Hall debate on tackling modern slavery where MPs showed support for a new bill to support victims of modern slavery.

CARE is part of Free for Good, the UK’s campaign for the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill. Find out more here: http://freeforgood.org.uk

For more on CARE’s work on modern slavery see here: https://care.org.uk/news/human-trafficking