On October 18^th I made my way to Russell Square to show my support for Anti-slavery Day. There I met David, Stacey & Stephanie from Anti-Slavery International (www.antislavery.org) whose knowledge of slavery past and present was incredible. As anyone who knows me will attest, this is a subject very close to my heart because, as is the case with most people of Afro-Caribbean descent here in the UK, my forefathers were slaves… My parents were born in Barbados (as were their parents and their parents before that, probably going back at least 300 years) and whilst the more obvious indicators of slavery are no more (the buying and selling of human beings, the chaining, the whipping, the mutilations and the rapes) the chattel houses and chimney stacks that sit cheek by jowl with the golden beaches and the luxury hotels are a stark reminder of a past steeped in state sponsored beatings, bondage and blood.

I also learned a lot more about modern day slavery and was shocked to hear how there are millions of people around the world who live under the shadow of slavery, and how it exists even in Britain today.  You may recall the case a couple of months ago of Bedfordshire police freeing 24 people allegedly held against their will on a travellers’ site near Leighton Buzzard. Whilst their situation may not have involved the whips and chains of my forebears, five people were arrested under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, for the offence under the act of ‘holding another person in slavery or servitude or requiring them to perform forced or compulsory labour’. Whilst the act is predominantly used to help legislate against human trafficking, mainly of women in to the sex industry, it’s clear that forced labour is not unique to one group of vulnerable people.

So you might be asking what you can do add your support for the eradication of slavery? Well firstly, I’d say check out www.antislavery.org. The site is a huge resource of information on slavery as it existed throughout the ages and as it exists today. Slavery is a blight on our country’s history, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it (lest we repeat it). By learning from the past we can try to ensure that it never happens again. Secondly, if you live in or near London and/or are planning on watching the Olympics next year then sign-up to their new campaign: Slavery-Free London…

The 2012 Olympics is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our great country and capital, but it’s also an opportunity for criminal gangs and people traffickers to lure desperate people over here for jobs that don’t exist or for clothing/merchandise manufacturers to use forced labour to increase profits. The campaign calls upon the Government and the relevant authorities to ensure that the risks of slavery in connection with the 2012 Olympics are properly addressed. Finally, tell others about it! The more who know the bigger the noise and the better the chance that we can get something done.

So go on, sign up to the Slavery-Free London pledge: http://www.antislavery.org/english/campaigns/slavery_free_london/default.aspx

Whilst sadly we may not be able to rid the world of slavery in one go, at least we can do our best to ensure that the Olympic Games in London is slavery free.

Working hard to make slavery a thing of the past