Hope For Justice
I first came across Hope For Justice last year. My mum was participating in a charity event, taking place in a Park near where I lived and had asked my boyfriend and I to come. Unfortunately, the raging whether made us abandon our promise and incidentally my mum and her wellies.
When the chance to help raise money for Hope For Justice (in a sheltered place) presented itself again, I eagerly accepted. It was not as much that I felt I had the opportunity to redeem myself but because I wanted to make a difference and help people who aren’t as fortunate at me.
Essentially, what Hope For Justice do is fight against slavery.
This pledge can use different forms: prostitution, forced labour, seclusion, child abuse and domestic servitude… Slavery is not something we think of every day, since it is not a common sight in the UK. Besides, it hard to believe that something so archaic could set foot in an industrialised country such as ours. Yet, upon watching the video on the charity’s website, it comes as a shock to realise that slavery certainly does exist in the UK:
Forced to work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week; forced to have sex with strangers for money; forced to do degrading things. In short, Hope For Justice fights against all kind of system that see human beings as pure merchandise. There is no price to a human life. It cannot be bought, exchanged or sold. Whether it be those who orchestrate prostitution networks in Syria or forced labour in China, Hope For Justice wants to bring them to justice and judged for who they really are: ignominious human beings.
“Every person, trapped in human trafficking is living a nightmare, they wish they could end.” - hopeforjustice.org
Founded in 2001 in London, the organisation is working on a worldwide scale, although it is only present in three countries: U.K, U.S and Cambodia. So far, Hope For Justice has helped people in 164 countries and raises over $3.3 billion in their fight against trafficking. There are 35.8 million estimated slaves worldwide. To make this number dwindle is not an easy thing. First, the charity needs to identify those who suffer from slavery, and cannot ask for help because frightened, ashamed or threatened. That is why HFJ works in close association with social services and homeless shelters, encouraging those suffering to come forward as well as those who believe to be witnesses to trafficking.
On top of their infrastructure and staff, Hope For Justice can rely on thousands of fundraisers.
“Human trafficking is one of the most serious criminal actions. It’s organized crime and at its roots is profit from human misery. Our response is a strategic one – focus on excellence, professionalism and outcomes to help victims find healing, hope and justice. Now is the time for all of us to act and end suffering.” - James Pond Director of Survivor Care.
Everyone can easily get involved and do your bit to help those in desperate need. If you would like to be a part of the amazing charity and help fight for freedom then visit: http://hopeforjustice.org
Also watch the Hope For Justice film to gain a better feel of what they do:
http://hopeforjustice.org/what-we-do/#what-we-do-film