Walk raises awareness of human trafficking

The initiative, which was happening in Guernsey for the first time, was connected to the seventh Walk For Freedom, a global initiative happening on the same day organised by A21 – an organisation whose goal is to end modern day slavery.

‘Though some might consider Guernsey to an isolated place, human trafficking is taking place world wide,’ said event organiser Emma Guilbert, 25, who works for the Co-op.

‘When people think about human trafficking, many will think of sex-trafficking, but there is also forced labour, drug mules, and children who are trained as soldiers and made to fight.’

Traffickers preyed on vulnerable people, she said, victims who felt they had no way out.

Human trafficking was exploitation and could include making false promises of jobs to people or the grooming of children via social media.

According to UN figures, some 40.3m. people have been trafficked to date and the industry is worth £115.5bn per annum.

Mrs Guilbert said she was delighted with the turnout and she hopes to make the event an annual one.

‘I expected about 10 people so when I saw 30 it brought me to tears,’ she said.

Also taking part was piano teacher Karen Lenormand, 48.

‘I think many people will think that human trafficking could not happen here but it could,’ she said.

While in Cambodia in about 2000, Mrs Lenormand said she saw first hand how dire the plight of some people was.

‘I know of a couple who sold their five-month-old baby because they were so desperate,’ she said.

‘People go there just to have sex with children.’

Mrs Lenormand said she had supported children in Cambodia.

Her church, Delancey Elim, had previously put people in the country to provide support and the progress they made was now being built upon by local people.

In 2019, A21 had 500 walks in 50 countries around the world. Collectively, there were more than 85m. people reached through social media.