2016 What Matters? Competition
YEAR 9/10 WINNER
Ramneek Thind, Blacktown Girls High School
21st Century Slavery
At nine years of age Radha is not a child. At nine years of age she does not play with other children,
she does not go to school, she does not laugh or smile. At nine years of age she is not "living". During
the day she is made to do various chores receiving almost nothing for her services. At night however,
she is raped 4, 9, or even 15 times by people who are three times her age. If she refuses, she is
beaten; if she resists, she is beaten; if she does anything besides remain compliant, she is beaten.
This should not be the life of a child.
But unfortunately this is the life of 2 million children across the world today.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It's the illegal trading of humans for commercial or
exploitive purposes and involves deceit, force and/or coercion. It's a grave violation of human rights.
It's an injustice. It's an epidemic. Trafficking has become widespread and occurs in nearly every
country regardless of whether it's developed or developing. It has also earned the title of being the
second-fastest growing crime in the world today and will soon become a larger financial industry
than the illegal drug trade.
Human trafficking also does not discriminate. Anyone can be a victim irrespective of their gender,
race, age and social or economic status. Although, over 50% of all trafficking victims are children and
this is largely because they're the most susceptible. They can easily be deceived by traffickers who
use special grooming tactics and fake promises to attain their trust.
Then once they're lured in, there is no escape.
Those trapped in the malicious cycle of trafficking are unaware of how it feels to have dignity, to be
respected and have secure feelings like we do. These individuals are exploited and forced to do
things against their will as they are constantly under the threat of violence. They're not treated like
humans and are unable to walk away.
Girls who are no older than 10 are subjected to rape and torture, destroying their reproductive
systems and robbing them of their natural right to motherhood. In the United Arab Emirates,
children are used as debt bondages and are forced to participate in camel jockey races for the mere
pleasure of spectators. Furthermore, in places such as Afghanistan and India where the practices of
"bachcabaazi" or "laundanach" are prevalent, young boys are made to dress up as girls and
entertain men, unknowingly being exploited for sexual abuse.
However, perhaps the vilest aspect of human trafficking is the victim's loss of liberty. Victims of
trafficking are forced to sell their inherent freedom, condemning themselves to a life that is
destructive and without purpose. Unless there is intervention, the only means for victims of escaping
their situation and reclaiming their most basic entitlement; freedom, is death. Death without dignity.
What is even more unfortunate is that the desperate pleas of trafficking victims often go unheard as
we choose to turn a blind eye towards this problem, in an attempt to shelter our privileged society
from the reality of this human tragedy, a disgrace upon mankind.
It is time that we seek to heal this wound that has existed for so long, on the body that is humanity,
and restore the freedom to all those who have suffered at the hands of trafficking.
It is time that we give Radha her life back so she can truly experience the remarkableness of "living".
It is time that we let them be human again.
It is time.
References:
http://arkofhopeforchildren.org/child-trafficking/child-trafficking-statistics
https://www.stopthetraffik.org/the-scale-of-human-traffiking