Ending slavery one "X" at a time

Trafficking and Slavery are still relevant

By Josh Christiansen, Editorials Editor for The Freedom Forum

   A new revolution is taking over the globe by storm; the “End It” Movement. Thousands of private companies, non-profit organizations, government groups, and individuals are teaming together to fight slavery. 

   According to the enditmovement.com, slavery is happening in 167 countries and 87 percent of all nations worldwide. An estimated 20 million to 45.8 million people are trapped in this
   “Slavery has many forms and names, but it’s still slavery. And it’s still wrong. Can you imagine being forced to work without pay, trapped, unable to walk away, subject to violence or the threat of violence, by another person as they control you? Own you? Isolated, yet hidden in plain sight. This is reality for those trapped in slavery today. Slavery is illegal in every single country in the world. Yet it still exists,” said the End It Movement website.
   This organization has helped raise $4 million since 2013, has 66 global projects, and boasts over 500 million social media shares of the group’s famous red “X” symbol.
   Slavery is a real issue, one that is not often discussed, and if it is, not very often and not on the correct forums. This specific group of companies and organizations like World Vision, the Salvation Army, Polaris, and individuals from across the world are helping to change that, by creating a marketable campaign through the use of social media and celebrity backings.
   Recently, at a Human Trafficking and Slavery Congressional Subcommittee hearing, actor Ashton Kutcher, bearing a red “X” pin, testified to congressmen about his work combatting trafficking and slavery. 
   “But the right to pursue happiness for so many is stripped away, it's raped, it's abused, it's taken by force, fraud or coercion. It is sold for the momentary happiness of another. And this is about the time when I started talking about politics that the internet trolls tell me to just stick my day job,” said Kutcher during the Congressional hearing. 
   Kutcher’s “day job” is the co-founder of the anti-human trafficking network Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children.
   With more help from the government and corporate America, as well as the general public, slavery can be knocked out for good. Anyone can help end human trafficking and slavery, especially from the help of the End It Movement. Help fight slavery by supporting the movement’s efforts in these four areas: awareness, prevention, rescue, and restoration. The website provides online resources, promotion products, apparel, and information on the topic of ending slavery.
   Together, society can end slavery. All it takes is for organizations like the End It Movement and cooperation from everyday citizens.