February 27th, 2014
03:55 PM ET
'End It Movement' looks to shine a light on slavery
For more than a year, a coalition of several non-profits working to end human slavery has been running a campaign to raise awareness about modern-day slavery all over the world.
It’s called the “End It Movement”.
CNN talks to Nate Buzolic about the movement and the significance of the red “X” symbol.
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Senasook spent six years as a slave working on a Thai fishing boat, enduring regular beatings from the captain. Liktwitter.com/i/web/status/1…sW
When she was just a child, Sitara’s job was to carry heavy bricks at a kiln in northern India. She had no choice: Htwitter.com/i/web/status/1…SkeI
The Numbers
Dear All,
Am impressed about the efforts to end modern day slavery in all aspect of the especially in cocoa producing countries. In as much as it is important to use the media in addressing what has to be done little is seen on the ground considering the huge amount of millions of dollars made by the chocolate industry from cocoa.
I am a Ghanaian, who has followed the issues of child labour and human trafficking issues in Ghana since 2004. I have come to believe that in as much as education is good and must continue arrest and prosecution of pepertrators are equally important.
For instance in Ghana what we need is to provide capacity building training support for the law enforcement agencies (police, immigration officers) and social workers. These security agencies do not have the capacity to deal with the problem. There are emerging issues on modern slavery and the security agencies should be equiped with both the practical and technical skills to address the issues.
The chocolate industry are showing enough seriousness if they really want to end this kind of modern day slavery. What they are investing in cocoa producing countries to address the issue is akin to using a bucket of water to quench a 3-story building on fire. It will never yield result. They should do more to difuss the mind of people who think these talks are hypocritical. One of the worrying issues is that about 70% of the little financial allocation from the chocolate industry goes into travels, accommodation, meals and other allowances of those who call themselves monitoring team flying across the countries spend the very little monies on them selves. This is very worrying. Leaving only about 30% of the financial allocation to go into direct support to children caught up in this social problem.
I would want to impress on to ensure that at least 80% of the finance allocated to end modern day slavery to go into direct interventions.
These children need us and our options are limited than to save them.
Please whoever has some support please do not hesitate to come to Ghana or Cote D'viore.
Remember there are a lot of credible local partners that you can partner to reduce cost so that greater amount of the financial supoort can support a lot of the children.
Another area of concern is the inadequate shelters to provide temporal care for rescued children from this modern day slavery. Some children would have to be put in police cell with criminals at least for a night or two before they are referred to other places where necessary.
In conclussion, I want to say the as a Ghana, I believe we have the ability to solve these challenges. What we need is not foriegn consultants and technical teams but logistical support that will go directly to rescue these children and offer them the necessary support.
GOD BLESS ALL THOSE WITH PASSION TO END THIS MODERN DAY SLAVERY.
Best regards
Barnett Quaicoo
Chief of Party
International Development Associates (IDA)
Mr Quaicoo. You sound like a good person. You have brought up some very valid points
Hello Mr. Quaicoo,
Thank you for the thoughtful and salient points you've raised in this post. I am the executive editor of the CNN Freedom Project and would love to further the conversation about how best to provide support and care for these children. If you would like to as well, my email is Leif.Coorlim@turner.com.
I would like to tell CNN Freedom Project editors; The End it movement and who ever else cares about these issues Not US GOV to take a closer look to this problem in Mauritania. You guys have only seen the tip of the iceberg and thats word of an actual struggling slave and his people.. Im open for discussions and whatever comes to yalls minds. Peace be upon you.