Child Soldiers — THE WIRE // FAI ONLINE

Many Africans are being targeted by human trafficking networks made up of employment agencies, recruiters on university campuses, family, friends, and pastors. Many of which are trafficked to Middle Eastern nations. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report there is an estimated 40 million slaves globally. In 2016 it was estimated that 9.2 million trafficking victims were from Africa. Africans are especially vulnerable due to the lack of resources and opportunities in their home countries.

Traffickers prey on the desperate, weak, and vulnerable populations for financial gain. Victims are promised better opportunities for themselves and their families. Most have no idea they are entering a sophisticated network of organized crime. They are unaware of the trap set before them of sexual exploitation, domestic labor, baby factories, child labor and child soldiers. Once the reality of their situation sinks in, it is too late; they are already trapped in a situation many cannot escape. Those able to escape or are rescued are sent back to the desperation they were fleeing in the first place. They are as desperate and vulnerable as before but now secretly suffering the trauma endured from being trafficked. Many African nations do not offer support or trauma based care once victims return home. Without support and trauma care many victims are susceptible to being trafficked again.

Efforts to bring awareness and education on the tactics of trafficking networks are desperately needed. Without these efforts to prevent them falling prey to human trafficking disguised as opportunities for a better life; we will continue to see more and more Africans bought and sold as modern day slaves. We understand the severity of the global slave trade we also know prayer and action changes things. We ask you to join us in prayer for the vulnerable and the broken being trafficked world wide.

Photo: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report/

http://www.ipsnews.net/2019/10/human-trafficking-came-disguised-opportunity-lifetime/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49877287?SThisFB

https://reliefweb.int/report/senegal/iom-partners-combat-exploitative-labour-practices-human-trafficking-west-africa

https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/impoverished-cameroon-women-forced-into-human-trafficking-rings-31477954

https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/facts

https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/lang--en/index.htm

https://www.borgenmagazine.com/top-10-facts-about-human-trafficking-in-africa/

The world has her eyes on the events taking place in the Middle East. The concerns for security and stability in the region are mounting with each new threat. As long as war and conflicts rage so will human trafficking. Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and child soldiers, and organ harvesting will flourish with every rising conflict. Human displacement is an enabling environment for human traffickers, who exploit and target refugees, forced migrants, and internally displaced persons.

Human traffickers work within a sophisticated network of criminal enterprises to lure and trap desperate and vulnerable populations into trafficking situations. There is direct correlation between trafficking in persons, sexual violence, armed conflict, terrorism and transnational organized crime. The Middle East is no exception and has a high rate of trafficking due to the lack of measures taken to prevent and protect those most vulnerable, such as women and children.

Yemen is just one example of how war, violence, and terrorism have plunged an already struggling nation into the clutches of human trafficking networks. The sad truth is this is the narrative for most war torn areas throughout the Middle East.

We, the body of Christ, have a responsibility to engage in the areas where wars, conflict, and violence are raging. We are to be the voice for the voiceless and the protectors of the weak. We have a voice to speak out against the atrocities and violence against those caught between war and desperation. As we all continue to watch the events unfolding in the Middle East, we must pray. We must pray for the destitute and vulnerable. We must be willing to go. We must be a physical presence in their lives as to engage them with the gospel. We must rise up and be the light of the world Jesus has called us to be. It is in His light that all darkness is dispelled.

Photo: UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report/

https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/facts

https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/wars-violent-conflicts-main-drivers-human-trafficking-says-nuncio

https://citizentruth.org/yemens-forgotten-victims-of-war-children-being-sold-as-a-commodity-of-war/

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190902-report-saudi-arabia-using-human-trafficking-networks-to-recruit-child-soldiers/

https://www.mintpressnews.com/human-trafficking-booming-yemen-war/261818/