When you think of nationwide, major crimes, drug and weapon trafficking will probably be on that list. But there’s another form of trafficking that’s just as serious, if not more, and it is usually thrown to the wind, human trafficking. It is even possible that it is happening here in Florence, Alabama.
Human trafficking is over a seven billion dollar global industry. At least one person is trafficked every minute. Anyone, despite age, race, or gender can be trafficked for many reasons with prostitution and domestic labor being at the top. There are over twenty-seven million people enslaved around the world today and over half are under the age of eighteen.
What is being done to stop this? Nationally, Nashville was the original founder city of a group called Faceless International. It is one of the few cities in the country to be deemed a safe place for refugees. According to Stephen Christian, co-founder, Faceless International was created simple purpose for people to get involved.
Faceless International defends and helps people worldwide who have gone unknown, faceless, for far too long. They aim to raise awareness throughout the globe. They provide first-hand experience and education by going on trips around the world.
UNA’s Bethany Oliver recently took at trip to Nashville where she learned about Faceless International. She started a group here on campus and it is actually the first college chapter. It is already at five hundred people and growing. When asked why she decided to start this group, Bethany replied, “It is happening everywhere and people need to pay attention. This group is to help raise awareness.”
Why the name Faceless? These people have been taken from their homes, from their families, and from their countries and forced to come to America. They are put into poor living conditions and when they are no longer needed they are all alone with no one to turn to.
Bethany says, “These people are vulnerable and they will keep to themselves. It is our job to put a face to them and be their voice. We are here to help them get going.”
Could this be happening here? “Maybe,” says Oliver, “but there is no way to know for sure. It is our job to raise awareness and get people to pay attention.”
Take a stand and help put a face on the faceless. Meetings are held Monday nights at 8 p.m. in Room 207 of the GUC. You can also follow Faceless at UNA on Facebook and Twitter. If you have any questions or want to find out more you can visit the website at https://www.facelessinternational.com.