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Is Slavery Really Over?

Although Sierra Leone has marked its 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act, slavery still exists today in various forms with the most critical being that of trafficking in humans, especially children.

Globally, an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year for the purpose of exploitation including prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. Girls in the age of 10 to 18 years of age (UNHCR 2001 New York) are sold into prostitution by their own parents due to extreme poverty.

Most parents are unaware of the sole reason why their children are being sold; all they care is to make some money as a means of survival and hope that their kids will have a future as an adventurist; (YGI Field Assessment Team 2009).

Most never hear back from their children as many get killed “in the line” of duty due to mal-treatment; and if they ever make the attempt to escape, they will be severely punished.

Trafficking in humans is as lucrative as drug trafficking; as an estimated $9.5 billion is generated annually from trafficking humans, attracting organized criminal gangs and leading to corruption on a global scale. Sierra Leone once the haven for freed slaves, for which its capital Freetown got its name, continues to grapple with several post conflict emerging challenges including that of child trafficking.

According to a recent analysis on child trafficking (2005, usaid.gov); it was revealed that Sierra Leone is primarily a source country both for internal trafficking (from rural to urban areas) as well as abroad.

The factors that contribute to the vulnerability of children are rife in Sierra Leone. Birth registration which is a basic right of every child is only at 48%, leaving over 50% of children without an official identity.

Facts

  • It is a known fact that handouts do not work; if they worked, the billions of dollars in donations given to non-profits would’ve ended the vicious cycle of dependency in third world nations. But instead of the problems getting better, there is a pressing need for more and more donations every day since millions of children slip through cracks everyday; dying every second from preventable and easily curable diseases.

 

  • Non-profits are allowing millions of children to slip through cracks in the system while millions of dollars are being donated annually.

    Most non-profits use their donations by re-donating to individuals or other organizations without any accountability.

    (Read link below for more information of non-profit accountability)

  • Most non profits raise millions of dollars annually; the cost to construct infrastructure that will provide permanent reliable electricity in over 20 districts in an African country is less than $3 million.

  • Funds raised so locals can drink clean water for a limited period of time unless donations keep pouring in exceeds 10 million dollars. The cost to construct permanent infrastructure for permanent clean water supply in 20 districts in an African country does not exceed 5 million dollars.

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