Governments Governments should be leading the way in the eradication of slavery. Why? Because they already promised to end slavery. Every country has enacted laws banning slavery, making it a crime, and promising to wipe it out. But passing a law and enforcing it are two different things. While there is a law against slavery on the books in every country, most countries don’t bother to spend money on the enforcement of that law. Worse, in some countries corruption means that officials are taking bribes from slaveholders and supporting slavery. In Brazil a company or person caught using slaves is put on an official “dirty list”. In addition to prosecution and imprisonment, that company or person is excluded from receiving any sort of government permits, grants, loans, or credits. Since much of the slavery in Brazil occurs where land is being developed in the Amazon and other remote areas, being denied government benefits can drive slave-using companies out of business. |
According to the US government between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into slavery in the US every year. This is about the same number of people who are murdered in America each year.
But while more than 90% of murders are cleared up, only 1% of slavery cases are ever solved. Why? Every police department has a homicide squad, but only a handful of police departments have anyone assigned to human trafficking and slavery.
Slavery grows when the rule of law breaks down or is not enforced. When corruption creeps into law enforcement, slaveholders have a field day - they bribe police to do whatever they like. For example, in Japan, the government has left open a backdoor for human traffickers by granting them “entertainer” visas for the women they import for forced prostitution. Once in massage parlors and brothels, local police take bribes to look the other way. On the other hand, Brazil shows what can happen when the government takes a stand against slavery. In early 2003 the president of Brazil set up a commission to end slavery. Laws were strengthened and more money was given to the anti-slavery squads. In 2003, 4,879 people were rescued from slavery; by 2005 another 6,878 had been rescued. More than $3 million was given to liberated slaves to help them get back on their feet. Every government can build a national plan to end slavery within its borders. They can do this by bringing together all relevant existing government agencies, and appointing an anti-slavery ambassador charged with coordinating their efforts and actively involving the local anti-slavery organizations in their countries who are closest to the problem. The ambassador should be charged with leading the development of a national plan which outlines everything that will be required (including what help will be needed from other countries and groups) to stop all forms of slavery. National leaders must be committed to this plan if it is to be effective. And, of course, the plan needs to be followed up with action. Having a national plan helps focus government agencies’ efforts and gives constituents of that country a means of holding their government accountable. |
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