I'm currently reading Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, which is a book highlighting the oppression of women across the globe. The authors write about women who are abused, raped, murdered, and sold into sexual slavery, and tell stories of those who have survived the ordeal. It's a powerful book, and though I've yet to finish, it has made me think a lot about not only the plight of women sold into sexual slavery, but also human trafficking in general.
The UNODC makes a "conservative estimate" that the number of people being trafficked at any one time is a startling
2.5 million.
2.5 million.
I've heard of and seen and read about different industries that are famous for their use of slave labor. There are sites across the internet that encourage consumers to do some research before they make a purchase, but I've never really paid that much attention to them. It's only now that I'm beginning to wonder and having to ask...
How many slaves work for me?
Slavery Footprint provides its users with a quick survey designed to give the best estimate possible toward answering this question. They also provide some interesting facts along the way. When all of my data is entered, it's estimated that 34 slaves work for me, and that an average of 38 slaves work for everyone. They also have an iPhone app that allows you to check into stores to see whether or not their brands use slavery. Hit the button below to check your slavery footprint: