A report on CNN earlier this month rendered the public speechless. Many refugees and migrants in Libya are being sold into prostitution and slavery. 

A bitter blend of the fall of Muammar Gaddafi and the rise of Nigerian migrants has raised opportunities for a new slave trade to emerge in Libya. 

”As shocking as it seems, it’s indeed true. The reason [the slave trade] can happen is because there is really no rule of law across much of Libya,” says Leonard Doyle of the International Organization of Migration during an interview with Al Jazeera news. 

For the past three years, each year, more than 150,000 migrants and refugees have come into Europe via Libya in hopes of turning a new leaf in a new continent. It is a bleak voyage and more than 3,000 people have drowned in each of the past four years just trying to cross the Mediterranean. 

“How can I help?”

There are many ways to take part in winning the war against modern day slavery. For starters, you could support organisations and charities which directly make a difference. Donate to anti-slavery organisations such as Free the Slaves, the Polaris Project, and End Slavery Now. For those who are able to attend, there will be a peaceful protest held on Saturday the 9th of December. This peaceful march from Belgrave Square to the Libyan Embassy in Knightsbridge will be to highlight the horrid injustices against black, african, modern day slaves. Inequality and unjust treatment of fellow humans is something that we are led to believe that we left in the nineteenth century. However, these issues are still prevalent. Join us at midday on Saturday the 9th of December 2017 to peacefully help end this tragedy.