I imagine all of us have seen the horrifying pictures of capsizing boats in the Mediterranean as women, men and children are fleeing from conflict and warfare.
The picture I’ll never forget is the one of a boat with over 500 people, the size which could not safely even accommodate one-fifth of that number, capsizing with the loss of over 100 lives.
We don’t know the particular circumstances which were leading these women, men and children to embark on this perilous journey; but, we can be sure that they face huge risks once – or even if – they’ve made it to land. They face starvation, unemployment, homelessness, poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and many, many more struggles. But beyond all of these challenges, migrants are also incredibly vulnerable to traffickers as they have to find work or pay off debts from the journey.
End Slavery Now provides concrete actions which each of us can take in the fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Please share our website with your friends; please sign on to our Facebook page. Let’s do all we can to stop the tragic loss of life. I hope you’ll join this force of modern-day freedom fighters.
John E. Pepper, Jr. is the retired Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Procter and Gamble. He currently serves as Honorary Co-Chairman of the Board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Mr. Pepper also served as Chairman of the Board of the Walt Disney Company from 2007 to 2012 and served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Yale University from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Pepper has devoted important effort over the past 25 years to Early Childhood and Youth Development. Pepper graduated from Yale in 1960, where he served on the Board of the Yale Daily News.
Thousands of migrants have perished off the coast of Libya since January. These people, both irregular and regular migrants, are among some of the most vulnerable for human trafficking schemes.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina whipped through the southern part of the United States. Most haven’t heard of the 500 Indian men exploited to work as welders and pipe fitters on the damaged oil rigs in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
