Women in slavery in the UK

[flibbertigibbert]

Did anyone see 'I Am Slave' on Channel 4 earlier? It was about a young Sudanese woman who was a 'domestic worker' for a rich family in the UK, but in actual fact was treated like a slave. The programme ended with the statistic: 'There are 5000 women in slavery in London.' I knew it was bad but 5000?!

I lived in West Africa in my gap year a few years ago and I learned about how it's very much accepted for poorer families to send away their children - usually daughters - to be domestic workers for wealthier families, where they basically become slaves. I found it horrendous there, but the thought of it going on in London where we have so many more resources to stop it is just terrible.

I want to do something but I feel so helpless. I felt like I had to post because I was so upset by it.

Thanks for the links Prolesworth - I've contacted one of the organisations to enquire about volunteering.

I'll also look into letter writing once I've got my big uni essay out of the way.

I watched both programs as did dh. dh is now trying to find out if he can help on of the charities Kalayaan in a legal capacitity (he's a solicitor).

A big round of applause to channel 4 for showing it

I haven't seen the program but there was an aricle in the Guardian yesterday.

It mentions a charity Kalayaan.

Oh just seen your link Proles - for my benefit to make these easier to find in the future:

Liberty

An independent human rights organisation which works to defend and extend rights and freedoms in England and Wales.

Kalayaan

Kalayaan is a member or a coalition of nine NGOs including Anti-Slavery International, Amnesty International UK, and ECPAT.

AFRUCA (Africans Unite Against Child Abuse)

Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (UK) is an organisation concerned about cruelty against the African child.

The Centre for Filipinos

The Centre For Filipinos (CF) is a UK-based organisation formed to provide services for Filipino nationals and their families.

Anti-Slavery International

Promotes the eradication of slavery and slavery-like practices, and freedom for everyone who is subjected to them.

I engaged a cleaning company a few months ago.

I don't have a contract with the company but the cheque is made payable to "XYZ Cleaning" and the lady who runs it is (apparently from what I've heard) a local Mum.

I always have 2 cleaners for 1 hour - 1 speaks better English than the other. I did not know from what country they originate so I decided to ask in a nice friendly way as DS was playing with his blow-up globe.

So it turns out they are from the Phillipeans.

I will print out some info from that Filipino website and I will make it my business to ask them if they are properly employed/what wage do they receive/are they treated fairly/what famiy do they have back home etc.

I feel bloody ashamed that I have not done this already - but I suppose I just assumed that all is well - which it may well be - but I want them to know that they could come to me to ask for help if they needed to.

If you want to do something that really makes a difference this week go to The Body Shop (online or in stores) they have a fantastic campaign against child trafficking together with children's rights organisation ECPAT UK (www.ecpat.org.uk) You can sign a petition or buy the handcream 'Soft Hands Kind Heart' - all profits go to the work of ECPAT UK to campaign against child trafficking in the UK. It's a brilliant campaign and Body Shop staff will talk to you about what you can do to get involved. :)

auntharriet - ethical conflict on that one I'm afraid as I boycott Nestle who profit from L'Oreal who now own The Body Shop.

wastingaway - appreciate the ethical stance but hope you have a look anyway.

If you want to make a difference with less ethical conflict, there's activities happening this week to raise money for Stop the Traffik.

Donate here
www.justgiving.com/FreedomTicketForLife