Human trafficking meets human dignity

Every day I am reminded of our shrinking world. The speed that both desperation and hope can be transmitted across the world is amazing. Articulate survivors of human trafficking inspire whilst tragedy evokes compassion. The pain of those who are deceived into situations of exploitation is tangible; it can be measured in physical and mental scars, time away from loved ones, loss of trust and hope.

Revealing stories prompt responses to injustice and remind that people should not be used as goods for sale, highlighting the need for laws that really work in practice. But this is not enough. Human dignity is worth fighting for and involves more than a legislative response. We all have a real role and responsibility in ending the suffering of trafficking victims. Governments can legislate and implement, but indifference cannot be outlawed.

Being witness to unfolding stories of tragedy acts as a spur to those who fight for change. I found this many years ago working with children in Cambodia aged as young as ten who had been trafficked into prostitution. For a period, one in four victims that World Vision supported in a shelter was HIV positive. We supported several of these children through the last stages of their lives.

I recall the challenge of unclear legal status, discrimination and stigma in supporting children to return to their families and communities. It was painful but needed work, and I respect those who stood with the poor when it would have been easier to turn away. Pain, in general, helps the body to protect itself by responding to distress. The danger is that distress is not recognised or ignored, leading to greater sickness.

The same is true for a country. Martin Luther King Jr. in his quest for change observed that, “morality cannot be legislated, but behaviour can be regulated.” It may be true that the law cannot change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless and action to this end is needed on dark practices where human lives are traded.

The good news is that governments are increasingly active in their response. Delegates from the six governments of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam came together with partners in Hanoi, Vietnam last week during the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) meeting, reviewing actions they have taken to respond to trafficking victims.

Greater recognition of human need has been achieved since COMMIT was agreed between the six countries in 2004. I still remember the first official repatriation from Cambodia to Vietnam in the late nineties which took 11 months to complete in the absence of protocols and procedures. This challenge has been met with greater cooperation since then, with government agreements on repatriation now in place. In spite of the progress, budget shortages, insufficient staffing, and inadequate service delivery are still areas for further action.

Recognition of human dignity that underpins response has broader ownership and goes beyond government responsibility. That is not to say Governments are excused from their roles as duty bearers accountable for country commitments. It is to say that responses to address need extend to all of us. The question we should all ask ourselves is, “How can we link our dignity to the dignity of those in need?”

History shows that indifference results in poor treatment of those less able to protect themselves. Actions that build the wellbeing of all for the benefit of all involve many actors. The private sector can choose to apply principles of corporate social responsibility to review their supply chains to check they are free from trafficked labour. Consumers can choose to buy products and services that are free of trafficked labour. Campaigns on fair trade have resulted in people prepared to pay more for products to ensure they are free from exploitation.

Opinion formers in media have a role in building awareness, as do faith-based leaders in the community. They can share knowledge on laws, the right of protection that extends to all, and highlight need if a group is targeted by traffickers. Young people have a role as they become active in society. A youth movement in Australia called Vision Generation (V Gen) has mobilised their peers to influence the Australian government on its response to combat trafficking, both in Australia and globally.

Young people from Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have communicated effectively with their governments on issues of migration and human trafficking through the Mekong Youth Forum. One young person had the chance to share stories directly with high-ranking government officials during last week’s COMMIT meeting and present the recommendations of the gathered youth from six countries.

Sharing stories like this provides impetus to drive change. When actors at many levels hear these stories and value the dignity of others, we become a source of hope for change to drive away the darkness of human trafficking.

Laurence Gray leads World Vision’s Advocacy and Justice for Children in the Asia Pacific region.