Free the world, end modern slavery

We are a global, action-driven network of Rotarians dedicated to freedom fighting, justice, seeking, problem-solving, and advocating for basic human rights working together to abolish modern slavery.

Our Mission

The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery is committed to connect, empower and equip Rotarians to engage their communities to eradicate all forms of Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking locally and around the globe.

Who is RAGAS

What we do

The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery is committed to connect, empower and equip Rotarians to engage their communities to eradicate all forms of Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking locally and around the globe.

How we do it

We have developed a Community Awareness and Prevention Education (CAPE) Plan, which will equip and empower our members to execute local Community Awareness & Prevention Education projects in their communities – and around the world. RAGAS will assist members to connect with other like-minded Rotarians to take action to end human trafficking/modern slavery.

Why we do it

Freedom is a basic human right. We believe that collectively, we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues and because the world should be FREE of Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking. Without freedom, individuals and communities cannot achieve basic education, economic development, or peace. RAGAS Members, Clubs and Districts work together to promote education, peace, freedom, and healing in the world.

Modern Day Slavery

Modern slavery is a severe exploitation of others for personal or commercial gain. It is often linked to human and sex trafficking and to land and labor slavery, where a person is forced to work entrapped and controlled against their free will – either physically, financially or psychologically. Many fall into this oppressive trap because they are trying to escape poverty or insecurity, improve their lives and support their families. We are here to help free them.

By the numbers

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Million people in forced labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced marriages worldwide

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Billion dollars are made each year from forced labor, which translates to over $4,750 per second

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%

Women and girls are disproportionately effected by forced labor around the world

As former General Secretary of the United Nations, Kofi Annan reminds us all

There is no trust more sacred than the one that the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from want and fear, and that they grow up in peace.

Kofi Annan

Former General Secretary of the United Nations

Types of Exploitation

Sexual Exploitation

A person trafficked for sex may be controlled by violence, threats, substance abuse, deception or grooming, with extreme physical or psychological domination.

Forced Labor

Forced labour is work done under the threat of a penalty such as violence or harm to family. Victims are often further controlled by debt bondage.

Domestic Servitude

A person is forced to provide services with the obligation to live on or in a property without the possibility of changing those circumstances.

Debt Bondage

Debt bondage, also known as bonded labor, is a means by which traffickers exploit people and trap them in human trafficking. As payment for the debt, traffickers offer individuals the ability to work to pay off the debt.

Internal vs External Trafficking

Internal Trafficking

Internal trafficking occurs when a person is recruited in one area of a country or city and moved from area to area or city to city within the same country for the purposes of exploitation. An example would be a runaway girl picked up in Philadelphia, USA who is then driven from truck stop to truck stop up and down America’s East coast to be sold for sex.

External Trafficking

If a person is trafficked into one country from another country it is case of external trafficking. An example would be a homeless man in Warsaw, Poland who is offered a job in the UK and travels to the UK but then finds himself trapped in forced labour. He is unable to leave because he has no money, can’t speak English and his trafficker has taken his passport.

Partners Who Help The Cause