Wednesday 18 October 2023

Every year, Anti-Slavery Day provides an opportunity for individuals, charities, churches, schools, communities and businesses to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitation. It was created by the Anti-Slavery Day Act, a Private Members Bill introduced Anthony Steen CBE, now Chair of the Human Trafficking Foundation.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people through the use of violence or deception in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labour or sexual exploitation for financial or personal gain.

People can be trafficked and exploited in many forms, including being forced into sexual exploitation, labour, begging, crime (such as growing cannabis or dealing drugs), domestic servitude, marriage or organ removal.

  • An estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.
  • There are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
  • 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
  • Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors.

Data source: UN / ILO

What are we doing at SJOG?

Raising awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking and supporting survivors of this abhorrent crime is a priority for SJOG.

SJOG is currently the UK’s largest provider of safe houses for people subject to modern day slavery and trafficking, and provides a voice for this marginalised and vulnerable group, and specialist support to help people recover from their experiences, to rehabilitate and rebuild their lives.

Modern day slavery – real stories

As part of our continuing effort to raise awareness of the consequences of modern day slavery, this newly commissioned film tells the story of people who have been subjected to this crime. These are stories directly from people who we support. Their identities have been protected.

We are immensely grateful for their contribution.


Modern Day Slavery

SJOG’s Modern Slavery Services provide accommodation and outreach services to support victims of trafficking or modern day slavery. Safe-houses provide a safe space and a supportive environment with specialist support to help people rehabilitate and recover from their experiences.

Working in partnership with The Salvation Army as part of the Government’s Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), teams across the country support people to reflect, recover and rebuild their lives.

Opening more than 15 new services since the beginning of 2020 to meet an ever growing need, SJOG is currently the UK’s largest provider of safe houses for people subject to modern day slavery and trafficking, and provides a voice for this marginalised and vulnerable group, and specialist support to help people recover from their experiences, to rehabilitate and rebuild their lives.

All of our safe houses have specialist support teams to provide and provide an environment for victims of trauma due to trafficking and modern slavery to recover and rehabilitate.


Click above to watch an interview with one of the people we support in our safehouses. (Spoken in Punjabi with English subtitles)