HOPE FOR JUSTICE
BEN COOLEY
‘Ever since I can remember I have been abused, repeatedly raped, forced into horrific acts and degraded in the worst of ways. These are my only memories.'
Now life is very different for Katie*. Rescued by Hope for Justice, Katie has begun the long road to recovery. However, Katie is one of the lucky ones - the sad fact is that 99 percent of trafficked victims are never rescued.
Trafficking is a multi-billion pound industry. Humans are a great product - especially young vulnerable girls. They can be sold again and again, raking in thousands of pounds a year for the men and women who control them. Whether it is for sex or forced labour, these people are viewed as little more than commodities, completely at the mercy of those who abuse them.
Slavery is something that we, in Western culture, think died out with Wilberforce in the nineteenth century. We couldn't be more wrong. Today, a thriving underground market of at least 27 million people, are in some sort of slavery. More than at any other time in human history, including all those seized from Africa during the four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It is a difficult community to infiltrate. These women and men live lives in the very heart of darkness, in small stuffy rooms under strict rules. Nobody is looking for them - perhaps no one even knows who they are. But Jesus sees. And through the darkness Jesus saw Emma*.
Emma was sold for sex when she was just thirteen. To this day she still refuses to cry about her experience. Hesitantly, she recounts her past...
‘They raped me, broke me down, beat me, degraded me, humiliated me, they took everything from me. I wanted to die. It all began when my mum told me we were going to Italy for a holiday. She was an addict, and to pay for her drugs she sold me and left me there. The man who bought me raped me. He forced me to work and service one hundred men a day. That was my quota.
Things got worse when I was sold on. One time I was taken to a millionaire's house in Turkey. He beat me so badly I thought I was going to die. Then he raped me, filmed it all and posted it on the internet. I was stabbed in the face for trying to escape. My pimp told me if I ever ran away or tried to escape again...he would kill me."
William Wilberforce once said that:
‘If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.'
That is our mission at Hope for Justice. We want to be incurable fanatics about bringing an end to slavery. Our aim is to make this country uninhabitable for traffickers, a place where they can no longer continue in their despicable trade.
What can you do?
There are many different ways you can get involved in fighting trafficking and rescuing girls like Emma and Katie.
ACTFORJUSTICE
Anyone who is concerned about trafficking should consider joining or starting an ACTFORJUSTICE group. Everyone can do something, from praying to lobbying, and practically tackling trafficking in your local community. Resources and templates are available from Hope for Justice to help you campaign or lobby for change.
Become a LIFEGIVER
Emma Bull supports the work of Hope for Justice as a LIFEGIVER.
‘I first heard about the work of Hope for Justice at THE STAND after going with a group from my church, Kensington Temple. Hearing the real life stories of those affected by trafficking really affected me. It can be difficult to know what to do about trafficking. If someone is homeless you can feed them, give them a blanket or find them shelter. But with this, it's more difficult because the victims are hidden away. Praying for the cause is important but there is also a real need for funds to carry out the work. Investigating trafficking and rescuing lives is expensive. Before deciding to become a LIFEGIVER I researched the work of Hope for Justice. They are making a tangible difference and have a clear strategy to rescue victims, so I know my money is being put to good use.'
(*names have been changed to protect identities)
Ben Cooley is the founder and director of Hope for Justice. His vision is that through passion and determination we can end human trafficking once and for all. To find out more about Hope for Justice and what they do, please visit hopeforjustice.org.uk
Source: Prayer for Today
