How the idea of 'modern slavery' is used as political click bait
Elizabeth A Faulkner, Staffordshire University There has been an explosion of interest in modern slavery and human trafficking in recent years. Figures such as British prime minister Theresa May , UN secretary general Antonio Gutteras and Pope Francis have come together to fight against this “ scourge ”. Awareness campaigns are part and parcel of this initiative. Anti-Slavery Day , for example, has been held every year on October 18 since 2010. The day is an opportunity to “raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery, and encourage government, local authorities, companies, charities and individuals to do what they can to address the problem”. The introduction of this national day is seen as a positive step by many. But to me, it sums up the major flaws of the contemporary anti-slavery movement. The problem? That the aim is to raise awareness. This may seem a controversial statement. What better way to tackle contemporary slavery than through awareness rai...