In 1883, the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. This meant that the purchase or ownership of slaves became illegal within the British Empire, with the exception “of the Territories in the Possession of the East India Company.
To our shame, millions of people, especially women and young girls, are still being trafficked and held in slave-like conditions in many modern day industries such as hospitality, agriculture, domestic help and construction. Others are treated as slaves in the pornography and sex industry. Human trafficking still occurs in practically every country around the world.
Brigidine Sisters are involved in advocacy and awareness raising to help eliminate trafficking and slavery in the countries and regions where we live as well as globally. Like Pope Francis, we believe human slavery is “a plague on the body of contemporary humanity”.
On the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons we recommit to praying and working for an end to all forms of human slavery.