Combating human trafficking, a scourge which impacts an estimated 40 million people worldwide, is the goal of the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery and several cause-based Rotary clubs.
Of the many global issues, human trafficking (or modern slavery, as it is sometimes called) is one of the toughest to combat. It's estimated that more than 40 million people are trafficked across the world. "It's probably the largest human rights travesty existing today," says Karen Walkowski, founder of the Rotary Club of District 5950 Ending Human Trafficking. "Bigger than all the refugees, all the displaced people. It's one of the three largest illegal industries, bringing in about $150 billion in revenue every year." "I tell people to think of New York City or London or any major city in the world," says Sujo John, founder of the nonprofit YouCanFreeUs, which has partnered with Rotary clubs. "Now think of six or seven times the population of those cities that are now in slavery. These are people who have been kidnapped or cheated or told that if you come to the city, or go to another country, there's a better opportunity waiting for you."