Give hope – Take a stand against Trafficking in Persons

30 July 2014 - Each year millions of children, women and men from all regions of the world are trafficked into exploitation. Today the United Nations marks the first ever World Day against Trafficking in Persons. The Day is aimed at raising awareness around this global issue and to highlight the plight of the millions that are victims of trafficking, as well as at encouraging people to take action against this crime.

Being the inaugural World Day, this year focuses on the plight of all victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a global problem which knows no borders, affecting the lives of millions of people around the world and robbing them of their dignity. Traffickers deceive women, men and children from all corners of the world and force them into exploitative situations every day. While the best-known form of human trafficking is for the purpose of sexual exploitation, many victims are trafficked for the purposes of forced labour, domestic servitude, begging or the removal of their organs.

Globally more than a quarter of all human trafficking victims detected are children, but in some regions this percentage is far higher. The vast majority of detected trafficked persons are women, accounting for 55 to 60 per cent of victims detected globally.

To mark the first ever United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July, the United Nations encourage people across the globe to symbolically give these survivors hope. Join us and express your solidarity by returning hope to those that need it.

Here is how you can join:

- Take a photo of yourself or a friend forming a heart with your hands: it’s simple but it symbolizes offering hope to the millions of trafficking victims.

- Using the hashtag #igivehope, share your photo across social media and remember to post it on the Blue Heart Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BlueHeartHT

- Sign up for the World Day Thunderclap and amplify the #igivehope campaign to create one major show of solidarity with victims of human trafficking: http://thndr.it/1mqUUZI

Download the 'how to' for more details on how to get involved and remember to sign up for the 30 July Thunderclap.