Twenty-seven million people are enslaved at this moment. 80% of those slaves are women, and 50% are children. On Tuesday November 24th Seattle Against Slavery, a coalition of a dozen organizations working to combat human trafficking locally, nationally and internationally is hosting a Volunteer Fair in the U-District.

Among the organizations attending the fair are the International Rescue Committee, Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN), Asian Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center, YouthCare, the International Justice Mission and the Not for Sale Campaign. These local and national organizations are working to raise awareness on human trafficking as well as providing direct services to survivors.

Recently, actress Emma Thompson brought human trafficking to light after she learned about trafficking that occurred in a massage parlor down the street from her house. She’s added her voice to the rising anti-slavery movement with her participation in an art exhibit taking place currently in New York that attempts to bring the issue into the faces of mainstream America. The exhibit “uses seven shipping containers to chronicle the seven stages of a trafficked woman’s experience.”  Below is a video Thompson participated in, giving rise to the voices of victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking has also been in the news recently. Yesterday five-year-old Shayina Davis of North Carolina was found dead after reportedly being sold into sexual slavery. Her mother, Antionette Davis, has been charged with human trafficking and felony child abuse. A man, Andrette McNeill, will face felony kidnapping charges, after being filmed taking the child into a hotel.  To learn how to become involved and add your voice to the fight, visit Seattle Against Slavery’s Volunteer Fair.