This is Robert Cohen with the VOA Special English DevelopmentReport.
American officials estimate that at least 800,000 people a yearare brought across borders, into slavery. But they admit thisestimate is probably low. Last June, the International LaborOrganization estimated that at least 1,200,000 children a year arevictims of trafficking. Slavery involves the sex trade, as well asother kinds of forced labor and military service.
One of the groups fighting to end the slave trade is theInternational Justice Mission. This non-profit group in the UnitedStates helps nations enforce laws against slavery.
Gary Haugen started the group in 1997. He was a trial lawyer forthe United States Justice Department. He fought cases of policewrongdoing. He also assisted the United Nations. He directed theinvestigation into the 1994 killings in Rwanda.
The International Justice Mission receives information from aidand religious workers about possible cases of slavery. IJM lawyersthen build legal cases against those responsible. Investigatorssecretly gather evidence. They use tape recorders and video cameras.The group intervenes once it has enough information to support acase. Members go to local officials to seek legal charges.
IJM estimates that it helps free several hundred people a yearfrom slavery. Its Web site includes the story of a boy named Sridharin southern India. It says his parents sold him to a localmoneylender to pay for food. He was 10 years old at the time. Hisparents owed the moneylender $31.
So, for six days a week, the boy made cigarettes to pay off thedebt. The amount he earned each day would have kept him in slaveryuntil he was an adult. IJM investigators say they helped the boyappeal to the local government. They say he is now free andattending school.
Another job of the group is education. IJM officials say have areligious duty to fight slavery. The group says it provides peopleof faith with the training, tools and resources to become active.
Gary Haugen says international treaties are important. But hesays sometimes the best way to fight slavery is to attack it at thelocal level.
The International Justice Mission Web site is ijm.org. Themailing address is post office box 58147, Washington, D-C, 20037,USA.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss. This is Robert Cohen.